aJj-c^Oi-^ 


/TiHa/ 


c^ 


^Y^I3i 


'  * 


Itheological  seminary 

c^         ,       Princeton,  N.  J. 


OF  THE 

Theological   Seminary, 

PRINCETON,    N.  J. 


BV  2370  .B8.09  1817 
Owen,  John,  1766-1822. 
The  history  of  the  origin 
and  first  ten  years  of  the 


^^      V. 


.■'    1 


i: 


THE 

HISTORY 

OF    THE 
OF    THE 

BRITISH  AJSD  FOREIGN 

BIBLE   SOCIETY. 

— — S)S^i\i'<i- — 

BY  THE 

REV,  JOHX  OWEX,  A.  M. 

LATE  FELLOW   OF   CORPUS   CHRISTI   COLLEGE,   CAMBRIDGE, 

RECTOR  OF   PAGLESHAM,   ESSEX, 

AND 

ONE   OF   THE  SECRETARIES   TO   THE   BRITISH   AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


"Aod  I  saw  aDother  Angel  fly  in  the  midst  of  Heaven,  having  the  everlasting 
Gospel  to  preach  unto  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth,  and  to  EVERY  NATION, 
AND  KINDRED,  AND  TONGUE,  AND  PEOPLE."  Rev.  xiv.  6- 


NEW-YORK: 
I'VBUSHED  BY  JAMES  EASTBURN  &  CO. 

AT   THE   LITERARY   ROOMS. 

>♦-< 

A.   PAUL,   PRINTER. 

1817. 


TO 
THE  RIGHT  HONOURABLE 

JOHN, 

IMRJB  TEIGJfMOUTM^ 
PRESIDENT 

OF  THE 

BBITISH  AJS^B  FOREIGX  BIBLE  SOCIETF, 


MY  LORD, 

IJV  dedicating  to  your  Lordship  the  following 
work,  I.  have  no  ambition  either  to  bespeak  patronage,  or  to 
offer  praise.  My  object  is,  simply  to  testify  the  sense  I 
entertain  of  your  Lordship^s  invaluable  services  to  the  Insti- 
tution of  which  it  treats,  and  to  express,  at  the  same  time,  the 
his;h  degree  of  respect  and  attachment  with  which 
I  have  the  honour  to  be 
My  Lord, 

Your  Lordship'' s 
Faithful  Servant, 

JOH^  OWEJ\r. 


4 


PREFACE. 


Nearly  two  years  have  elapsed  since  the  author,  influenced  by 
the  earnest  and  reiterated  sohcitations  of  many  respectable  indivi- 
duals, engaged  to  prepare  a  "  History  of  the  origin,  progress,  and 
actual  state  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society."  It  having 
been  recommended  that  the  work  should  be  printed  by  subscription, 
proposals  to  that  effect  were  drawn  up  and  issued  accordingly. 

The  plan  was  no  sooner  made  known,  than  it  met  with  the  warm- 
est encouragement.  The  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  and  the  Bi- 
shop of  Durham,  honoured  it  with  their  prompt  and  munificent  patron- 
age, and  the  example  which  they  set  was  very  generously  and  exten- 
sively followed. 

Of  the  illustrious  individuals  whose  names  have  been  mentioned, 
as  well  as  of  the  subscribers  at  large,  the  author  has  to  request,  that 
they  will  accept  this  pubhc  expression  of  his  gratitude.  To  Sir 
Digby  Mackworth,  and  Mr.  Philhps,*  (and  more  especially  to  the 


*  In  referring  to  Mr.  Phillips,  a  member  of  the  "  Society  of  Friends,''  the  au- 
thor has  a  pleasure  in  acknowledging  the  great  kindness  which  he  has  experienced 
from  numerous  individuals  connected  with  that  body  of  Christians.  To  one  above 
the  rest — by  whose  sudden  and  lamented  removal  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society  was  deprived  of  "  one  of  its  eaf liest  members,  its  brightest  ornaments, 
and  its  most  useful  conductors,"* — ^he  is  indebted  for  testimonies  of  friendship, 
which  make  the  name  of  Wilson  Birkbeck  a  subject  of  his  most  grateful  and  affec- 
tionate remembrance. 

*  Authot'8  speech  at  the  formatioa  of  the  Southnark  Auxiliary  Bible  Society 


yl  PREFACE. 

latter)  the  author  feels  an  obligation  for  their  liberal  and  persevering 
co-operation,  which  he  is  as  little  able  to  describe  as  to  repay.  To 
these  acknowledgments  (which  might  easily  be  multiplied)  the  author 
desires  to  add  his  thanks  to  Messrs.  Hatchard,  Seeley,  and  Arch,  for 
their  disinterested  services  in  promoting  subscriptions ;  and  to  his 
colleague  and  friend  Mr.  Hughes,  for  his  obliging  assistance  in  the 
correction  of  the  press. 

Having  disposed  of  what  seemed  first  to  require  his  attention,  the 
author  will  now  proceed  to  such  observations  as  relate  more  imme- 
diately to  the  performance  of  his  task. 

The  design  which  he  proposed  to  himself,  in  writing  the  History 
of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  having  been,  to  exhibit  a 
faithful  and  perspicuous  account  of  its  origin,  and  its  principal  trans- 
actions, the  author  considered  it  his  duty  to  adopt  such  a  method, 
as,  whatever  recommendations  it  might  othei'wise  want,  should  ap- 
pear best  adapted  to  the  accomplishment  of  that  end.  The  simpli- 
city of  the  Society's  object,  and  the  uniformity  of  its  operations,  dis- 
couraged every  attempt  at  ingenious  and  artificial  distribution.  To 
do  justice  to  the  subject,  it  seemed  necessary  that  the  facts  should  be 
stated,  as  nearly,  as  possible,  in  the  order  in  which  they  occurred  ; 
and  that  such  connexion  should  be  preserved  among  them,  as  might 
show  their  mutual  relation  to  each  other,  and  their  derivation  from 
the  same  common  original.  For  this  purpose,  the  course  suggested 
by  the  Society's  Annual  Reports,  appeared  that  which,  on  the  whole, 
it  would  be  expedient  to  prefer ;  inasmuch  as,  while  it  conducts  the 
reader  through  the  several  transactions,  both  domestic  and  foreign,  it 
reminds  him  periodically  of  the  degree  in  which  they  combine  to 
manifest  the  growth,  and  to  extend  the  usefulness,  of  the  Parent  In- 
stitution. 

Adopting,  therefore,  this  principle  as  the  basis  of  his  plan,  the  au- 
thor selected  from  the  Society's  printed  Reports,  and  unpublished  re- 
cords ;  from  the  different  publications  of  AuxiHary  Societies  and  in- 


PREFACE,  ^\l 

dividuals  ;*  and  from  such  papers,  whether  private  or  official,  as 
were  in  his  possession,  or  came  within  his  reach,  whatever  could 
throw  light  upon  the  facts  which  it  would  be  his  business  to  record. 
At  the  same  time,  with  a  view  to  relieve,  in  some  measure,  the  mo- 
notony of  annual  detail,  he  cast  the  decad  into  three  general  parts, 
agreeably  to  certain  epochs,  very  distinctly  observable  in  this  por- 
tion of  the  Society's  History  ;  and  gave  to  the  years  which  fell  within 
them  respectively,  the  form  and  denomination  of  chapters. 

Of  the  manner  in  which  the  plan  has  been  executed,  the  author 
may  be  permitted,  in  general,  to  say,  that  he  has  done  the  best  which 
his  peculiar  circumstances  would  allow.  The  variety  and  urgency 
of  his  official  duties  in  the  Society,  added  to  the  concerns  of  a  nume- 
rous family,  and  the  interruptions  of  frequent  indisposition,  render- 
ed his  task  not  a  little  onerous,  and  will,  he  trusts,  be  accepted  as 
some  apology  for  the  delay  and  the  imperfection  with  which  it  has 
been  performed. 


*  Among  the  publications  conveying  useful  information  relative  to  the  Society 
may  be  specified, 

Reports  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 

Summary. 

Brief  View. 

Compendium. 

Reports  of  Auxiliary  Bible  Societies  5  particularly  of  those  established  in  Scot- 
land. 

To  which  may  be  added,  of  a  more  general  nature — 

Scott's  Sermon  on  the  Bible  Society,  (first  printed  in  1811.) 

Short  History  of  the  Bible  Society.  Ih^ 

A  Narrative  of  the  principal  Proceedings  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, by  the  Rev.  W.  Napper,  (of  New  Ross.) 

Address,  explanatory  of  the  Principles,  Views,  and  Exertions  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society^  by  the  Stirlingshire  Auxiliary  Bible  Society. 

The  Formation,  Progress,  and  Effects,  of  Bible  Associations,  as  detailed  by  the 
Committee  of  the  Southwark  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  in  their  Second  Report  and 
Appendix. 

Historical  Sketch  of  the  Translation  and  Circulation  of  the  Scriptures,  from  the 
earliest  Period  to  the  present  Time,  by  the  Rev.  Blessrs.  Thomson  and  Orme. 

Chalmers  on  the  Influence  of  Bible  Societies, 

The  Religious  Periodical  Publications  generally  j  but  more  particularly  the 
Christian  Observer. 


^iii  fREFACE. 

On  one  or  two  points  the  author  thinks  it  expedient  to  offer  a 
more  particular  explanation. 

He  is  aware  that  an  objection  may  be  brought  against  certain  parts 
of  his  narrative,  as  scrupulously,  and  even  unnecessarily  minute. 
Against  the  force  of  this  objection,  he  has  to  plead,  that,  from  the 
knowledge  which  he  possessed  of  the  disposition  of  many  of  the 
Society's  friends,  and  the  conduct  of  most  of  its  enemies,  he  consi- 
dered such  minuteness  indispensable  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  one, 
and  the  confutation  of  the  other.  By  the  former,  indeed,  he  expects 
to  be  oftener  charged  with  omissions  than  redundancies ;  and,  with 
regard  to  the  latter,  he  is  persuaded,  that  their  misrepresentations 
could  not  in  any  other  way  have  been  so  completely  and  eflfectually 
exposed.  "  Those  who  have  been  members  of  the  Society  from 
the  time  of  its  original  institution,  will  doubtless  recollect,  with  how 
much  jealousy  our  proceedings  were  observed ;  how  severely  every 
warm  expression,  and  every  vigorous  measure,  was  criticised,  by 
that  little  party,  which  has,  from  the  beginning,  railed  at  the  progress 
which  it  could  not  impede."*  To  those  who  enter  into  the  spirit  of 
this  remark,  an  attention  to  minuteness  will  not  appear  to  require  any 
further  justification. 

The  author  thinks  it  not  impossible,  that  some  of  his  readers  may 
be  of  opinion,  that  he  would  have  done  better  to  have  said  less  on 
the  subject  of  the  controversy,  if  not  to  have  omitted  it  altogether. 
Concurring  most  heartily  in  the  sentiments  so  admirably  expressed 
by  the  "  British  Critic/^ in  the  following  passage,  he  had  sincerely  to 
regret,  that  he  was  not  at  liberty  to  follow  that  writer's  example  : 

"  If  authority  could  decide  a  question,  perfectly  cognizable  by 
common  sense,  we  should  be  inclined  to  bow  to  the  authority  which 
(very  unhappily,  we  think)  opposes  itself  to  the  Bible  Society.     Or, 


*  Speech  of  «he  JRev.  Reginald  Heber,  at  the  Anniversary  of  the  Shropshire 
Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  (July  8, 1815.) 


PREFACE.  . 

if  acute  and  subtle  argument  could  possibly  make  us  believe  white 
to  be  black,  we  should  doubtless  be  staggered  by  the  logic  which  has 
(with  equal  unhappiness)  been  wasted  on  this  subject.  But,  as  it  is, 
we  can  only  lament,  and  deeply  lament,  that  invincible  propensity  to 
take  different  sides  on  every  question,  which  breaks  out  even  in  the 
clearest  and  plainest  concerns  of  human  life. 

"  If  it  be  a  clear  point,  that  Bibles  and  Testaments,  unsophisticated 
and  uncommented,  cannot  possibly  do  harm — 

'*  If  it  be  clear  that  such  a  gift  cannot  be  vitiated  by  the  giver — 

-'  If  it  be  certain,  that  a  Society  seUing  cheap  Bibles  and  Testa- 
ments, and  also  other  excellent  works  on  theology,  cannot  possibly 
be  hurt  by  having  a  great  part  of  its  expense  voluntarily  borne  by 
another  Society, — it  is,  and  must  be,  clear  to  us, 

."1.  That  the  Bible  Society  is  a  good  thing. 

•  2.  That  it  tends  to  assist,  rather  than  to  injure,  the  excellent 
Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge. 

"  Ten  thousand  volumes  of  controversy  cannot,  in  our  opinion, 
invalidate  these  plain  truths,  and  therefore,  of  such  volumes  we 
take  no  notice,  that  we  may  not  perplex  our  readers  and  ourselves 
in  vain."* 

The  historian  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  is  placed 
in  very  different  circiimstances,  and  it  becomes  his  duty  to  act  ac- 
cordingly. He  finds  the  controversy  almost  coeval  with  the  Institu- 
tion itself;  and  can  scarcely  advance  through  a  single  stage  of  its 
history,  without  discovering  the  opponent,  under  one  form  or  other, 
watching  its  steps,  and  plotting  its  destruction.  The  means  he  per- 
ceives, indeed,  to  have  been  varied,  but  the  end  uniformly  the  same. 

*  British  Critic,  March,  1813,  pp.  309,  310. 


"  Delenda  esV  has  been  inscribed  on  the  banners  of  every  assailant 
who  has  taken  the  field  against  the  Society ;  and  the  object  of  each, 
and  of  all,  has  been,  not  merely  to  contract  the  dimensions  of  the 
edifice,  but  to  "  cause  the  work  to  cease."  In  a  case,  therefore,  of 
this  description,  wherein  he  who  "wrought  in  the  work  with  one  of 
his  hands,"  has  been  compelled  "  with  the  other  to  hold  a  weapon,"* 
the  operations  of  labour  and  of  conflict,  of  building  and  defending, 
hav^e  become  so  closely  associated,  that  they  cannot  be  consistently 
separated  the  one  from  the  other. 

But  while  the  author  contends  for  the  propriety  of  noticing  the 
controversy  as  matter  of  historical  record,  he  deprecates  most  seri- 
ously (except  on  very  rare  and  extraordinary  occasions)  the  choice 
of  it  as  a  theme  for  commemorative  and  popular  addresses.  Occa- 
sions, he  admits,  will  arise,  in  which,  for  the  vindication  of  charac- 
ter, or  the  just  defence  of  the  cause,  it  may  be  necessary  to  discuss 
such  objections,  as,  either  by  their  own  subtilty,  or  by  the  authority 
of  the  objectors,  have  acquired  a  serious  consideration.  This,  how- 
ever, should  be  done,  when  it  is  done  at  all,  in  an  argumentative  and 
dispassionate  manner :  without  any  of  those  stimulating  appeals  to 
the  angry  feelings,  which  minister  to  strife  and  vain-glory,  and  prove 
injurious  to  the  interests  of  charity  and  peace.! 

It  were  much  to  be  desired,  that  in  Anniversary  Meetings,  in  ge- 
neral, controversial  topics  should  be  wholly  avoided,  as  ahen  from 
the  nature  of  such  conomemorations,  and  adverse  to  the  purposes  for 
which  they  are  held. 

The  observations  of  the  Oxford  Committee,  at  the  first  Anniver- 
sary of  that  Institution,  place  this  subject  in  so  judicious  a  light,  that 

*  Neheraiah  iv.  17,  18. 

t  For  au  admirable  specimen  of  an  Address,  wherein  objections  from  a  hi2:h  ec- 
clesiastical quarter  were  refuted  with  firmness,  perspicuity,  and  moderation,  see 
the  speech  of  Archdeacon  Corbctt,  President  of  the  Shropshire  AuNiliary  Bible 
Society,  at  the  Anniversary  before  referred  to. 


PREFACE.  j^- 

they  deserve  the    serious   consideration   of   Auxiliary  Societies  in 
every  part  of  the  empire. 

"  At  a  period  when' the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  has  not 
merely  survived  the  perils  which  threatened  its  infant  growth,  but 
has  struck  root  so  deep,  and  thrown  out  such  vigorous  shoots,  that 
it  might  defy  the  tempest,  from  whatever  quarter  it  should  blow,  it 
is  hoped  that  no  discordant  voice  may  here  be  heard,  that  no  feeling 
may  ever  be  suffered  to  intrude  into  such  an  assembly  as  the  present, 
which  will  not  completely  harmonize  with  its  present  object, — the 
diffusion  of  that  heavenly  wisdom,  pure  and  peaceable,  which  brings 
into  subjection  every  proud  and  uncharitable  thought.  They  think 
it  more  becoming,  as  unquestionably  it  is  far  more  agreeable,  where 
we  behold  none  but  friends  and  supporters,  to  expatiate  on  the  rapid 
and  triumphant  progress  of  our  cause,  and  record  the  yearly  acces- 
sion of  towns  and  counties,  yea  even  of  independent  kingdoms,  to 
this  pious  and  benevolent  confederacy  of  nations,  for  promoting  the 
instruction  and  happiness  of  all  mankind,"* 

So  far  is  the  author  from  designing,  by  any  thing  contained  in  the 
ensuing  narrative,  to  widen  the  breach  so  unhappily  made  between 
parties  who  ought  never  to  have  been  put  asunder,  that  he  would 
gladly  make  any  sacrifice,  consistent  with  duty  and  conscience,  by 
which  he  might  hope  to  prove  instrumental  in  healing  it.  WitJi 
Archdeacon  Daubeny,  (with  whom  he  is  glad  to  find  an  opportunity 
of  agreeing,)  he  would  say : 

"  The  advocates  for  the  new  Bible  Society,  and  the  members  of 
the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  have  both  professed- 
ly the  same  object  in  view  ;  namely,  the  dissemination  of  the  Gospel. 
The  only  difference  between  them,  appears  to  be  a  difference  of 
opinion  with  respect  to  the  7node  by  which  this  desirable  object  may 
be  most  efTectually  accomplished.  What  cause,  then,  among  Christians, 
for  uncharitable  judgment  on  either  side.'''] 

*  First  Report  of  the  Oxford  Auxiliary  Bible  Society.        f  Charge  for  181-2. 


xii  PREFACE. 

In  fact,  the  history  of  every  controversy  is  but  a  developement 
of  human  infirmity ;  and  in  few  controversies  has  this  infirmity  been 
more  unhappily  manifested,  than  in  that  of  which  sp  much  will  un- 
avoidably appear  in  the  pages  of  this  work.  The  first  wish  of  the 
author  is,  that  it  were  possible,  to  consign  the  controversy  to  obli- 
vion ;  but  as  that  cannot  be,  his  next  wish  is,  that  from  the  memorial 
which  must  be  preserved  of  it,  both  himself  and  others  may  learn  a 
useful  lesson  of  forbearance,  moderation,  and  peace. 

"  Happy  will  it  be"  (to  use  the  words  of  the  venerable  Dean  of 
Carlisle)  "  for  the  honour  of  the  cause  of  God,  happy  for  the  credit 
of  the  religion  of  His  Son,  if  both  parties  should  learn  to  improve 
in  Christian  charity  and  moderation :  if,  on  the  one  hand,  the  advo- 
cates of  the  Bible  Society  should  learn  to  bear  their  successes  with 
a  grateful  tranquillity  and  decorum ;  and,  on  the  other,  their  adver- 
saries should  set  an  impressive  example  of  a  pacific  disposition,  and 
of  Christian  good-will  !"* 

In  taking  leave  of  the  reader,  the  author-  has  only  to  observe, 
that,  though  he  felt  reluctant  to  break  off  his  narrative  at  the  close 
of  the  tenth  year,  he  has,  in  completing  the  first  decade,  done  every 
thing  which  he  had  promised,  and  as  much  as  he  could  perform. 
Whether  he  may  be  induced  to  advance  any  further,  will  depend 
upon  the  reception  given  to  this  work,  and  his  future  health  and 
avocations.  In  the  mean  time,  he  commends  what  he  has  written  to 
the  candour  of  the  public,  and  to  the  countenance  of  Him,  without 
whose  blessing  the  "  best  intentions  and  most  persevering  exertions 
to  promote  even  his  glory,  would  be  of  no  avail."! 

*  Strictures  on  Dr.  Marsh,  &c.  p.  398. 
t  Seventh  Report  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 


February  1«,  1816. 


THE 


HISTORY 

OF  THE 

BRITISH  A^B  FOBEIGX 

BIBLE    SOCIETY, 


CHAPTER  iS^umMk 


"TV-^ 


Nothing  is  more  natural  than  a  desire  to  investigate  the  rise, 
and  ascertain  the  progress,  of  whatever  has  acquired  sufficient  im- 
portance to  excite  our  astonishment,  or  command  our  admiration 
We  feel  a  sort  of  instinctive  curiosity  to  know  the  source  from  which 
the  instrument  of  our  gratification  has  been  derived;  and  expect  to 
find  our  pleasure  increase,  in  proportion  as  we  discover,  by  what 
means  it  has  been  brought  from  its  simplest  elements  and  its 
smallest  dimension.,  to  its  actual  state  of  symmetry  and  grandeur. 

If  it  might  have  been  presumed  that  one  object  should  have  awa- 
kened  a  curiosity  of  this  description,  rather  than  another,  that  object 
would  have  been  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  Such  m 
fact  has  been  the  case:  and  so  numerous  and  importunate  have 
been  the  inquiries  into  the  manner  of  its  production,  both  abroad  and 
at  home,  that  it  seems  expedient  no  longer  either  to  refuse,  or  delay 
the  desired  satisfaction.  j        u-    w 

Under  this  impression,  the  author  proposes  to  introduce  his  tiis- 
rory  of  the  Transactions  of  the  Institution,  by  drawing  aside  the  veil 


2  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH.  [PART  I. 

which  has  hitherto  concealed  the  circumstances  of  its  origin  ;  and 
tracing,  as  distinctly  as  he  may  be  able,  the  gradation  of  causes,  by 
which  it  attained  that  maturity,  which  qualified  it  for  extensive  and 
efficient  apphcation.  In  performing  this  task,  he  will  cherish  a  hope, 
that  he  may  be  doing  something  towards  illustrating  the  ways  of  Him, 
"  whose  never-failing  Providence  ordereth  all  things  both  in  heaven 
and  in  earth,"  and  who  alone  is  "  wonderful  in  counsel  and  excellent 
in  working." 

The  primary  occasion  of  all  those  measures,  out  of  which  grew  the 
institution  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  was  the  scarci- 
ty OF  Welsh  Bibles  in  the  Principality,  and  the  impracticability  of 
obtaining  adequate  supplies  from  the  only  source  existing  at  that 
period,  whence  copies  of  the  authorized  version  were  to  be  derived 
— THE  Society  for  promoting  Christian  Knowledge. 

So  early  as  the  year  1787,  this  scarcity  had  been  discovered  in 
some  districts  of  the  Principality;  and  induced  applications  for  relief, 
on  the  part  of  those  under  whose  observation  it  had  more  particular- 
ly fallen,  and  whose  compassion  it  had  very  naturally  excited.  To 
what  difficulties  and  discouragements  these  apphcations  were  subject- 
ed, may  be  readily  inferred  from  the  manner  in  which  the  subject  is 
treated  by  a  Clergyman  in  London  ;  who,  on  the  15th  of  May,  1787, 
thus  addresses  a  Brother  Clergyman  in  Wales. 

"  In  consequence  of  what  you  wrote  concerning  the  scarcity  of  Bi- 
blea,  I  have  received  twenty-five  from  the  Society  for  distributing 
Bibles  among  the  soldiers  and  sailors,  &c.*  Besides  this,  I  am  col- 
lecting money  to  send  you  some  more,  which  I  buy  of  the  Society  for 
Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  ;  ziaho  alone  in  Loridon  have  got  any 
Welsh  Bibles :  the  other  Society  having  had  theirs  from  them.'''' 

Nearly  a  year  had  expired,  before  the  writer  of  this  letter  was 
able  to  announce  to  his  impatient  correspondent  the  success  of  his 
project ;  and  then  he  was  compelled  to  do  so  in  terms  which  greatly 
diminished  the  value  of  the  intelligence. 

"  I  have  delayed"  (says  this  London  Clergyman)  "  so  long  to 
write,  in  hopes  of  sending  you  some  good  tidings  about  the  Welsh 
Bibles  ;  but  alas !  I  have  only  waited  for  a  disappointment.  There 
was  a  prospect  of  obtaining,  through  the  assistance  of  another  Soci- 
ety, and  with  the  help  of  Mr.  T.'s  purse,  no  less  a  number  than  1000  ; 
but  the  Society  (viz.  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge) 
refuses  to  part  with  more  than   500,  and   those  at   a  price  which  allo- 


*•  Now  denominated  «  The  Naval  and  Military  Bible  Socie«y." 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  § 

gether  makes  5s  Gd.  each.  This  has  entirely  defeated  tlie  design,  as 
far  as  I  am  concerned  in  it." 

In  the  course  of  the  next  two  or  three  years,  this  scarcity,  which, 
from  the  scantiness  of  supplies  either  directly  or  circuitously  trans- 
mitted, would  naturally  have  increased,  began  to  manifest  itself  by 
stronger  symptoms  and  louder  complaints.  Among  others,  a  Cler- 
gyman, on  his  return  from  visiting  the  Principality,  of  which  he  was 
a  native,  in  the  month  of  November,  1791,  thus  piously  and  ener- 
getically expresses  his  sentiments,  in  reference  to  this  subject. 

"  Being  fully  convinced,  that  every  Christian  ought  to  be  diligent, 
and  do  all  he  can,  to  serve  his  God  and  his  generation,  before  he 
falls  asleep,  I  have  been  lately  planning  and  laying  a  foundation  for 
a  great  work.  When  I  was  in  Wales  last,  I  heard  great  complaining 
amongst  the  poor,  for  want  of  Bibles  ;  and  that  there  were  none  to  be 
had  for  money.  I  have  thought  much  of  the  matter  of  late,  and  it  has 
impressed  me  much  :  for,  is  there  poverty  like  unto  their  poverty, 
who  have  not  the  Bible  of  God  ?  I  have  taken  some  steps  towards 
procuring  a  cheap  edition  of  Welsh  Bibles,  to  be  sold  at  a  reduced 
price.  But  my  plan  thus  far  is  rather  immature,  and  in  no  great 
degree  of  forwardness.  But,  with  God's  help,  which  I  earnestly  en- 
ti-eat,  I  resolve  to  go  on.  I  wish  to  hear  from  you,  what  size  Bible 
would  the  generality  of  the  people  wish  to  purchase,  and  what  num- 
ber will  be  wanted ;  and  every  other  infomrdtion  which  you  can  fur- 
nish me  with,  will  be  thankfully  received." 

In  consequence  of  the  resolution  taken  by  this  benevolent  and 
patriotic  Clergyman,  a  series  of  efforts,  both  insulated  and  combined, 
took  place,  in  order  to  induce  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian 
Knowledge,  (the  only  public  body  competent  to  such  a  work,)  "to 
undertake  a  new  impression  of  Welsh  Bibles. 

The  nature  of  these  efforts,  the  earnestness  with  which  they  were 
pursued,  and  the  disappointment  in  which  they  expired,  may  be  dis- 
tinctly collected  from  the  Extracts  of  Correspondence  on  the  subject, 
which  appear  in  the  Appendix*  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dealtry's  Vindica- 
tion of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  Having  carefully  ex- 
amined the  originals  from  which  those  Extracts  were  made,  the  au- 
thor can  with  conscientious  satisfaction  refer  to  them,  as  containing  a 
faithful  representation  of  the  vicissitudes  which  attended  this  strenu- 
ous, but  abortive  attempt,  to  obtain  means  of  supplying  the  poor  of 
the  Principality  with  the  word  of  God  in  their  own  language.     As  it 

*  P.  G3.    Second  Ecfilion. 


4  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  1. 

xvould  be  charging  these  pages  unnecessarily,  to  transcribe  what  is 
already  in  the  hands  of  the  pubhc,  the  author  will  satisfy  himself, 
after  this  general  reference,  to  Mr.  Dealtry's  Appendix,  with  exhibit- 
ing only  such  passages  from  the  Letters  which  it  contains,  and  from 
others  now  before  him,  as  may  appear  necessary  to  establish  his 
general  assertion,  respecting  the  scarcity  of  Welsh  Bibles,  and  the 
difficulty  of  procuring  a  supply. 

Adverting  to  his  plan  for  a  new  "  edition  of  the  Welsh  Bible,"  the 
Clergjrman  before  quoted  proposes  to  his  correspondent,  (in  a  letter 
of  December  27,  1791,)  that  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian 
Knowledge  should  be  solicited  to  publish  10,000  Bibles  ;  with  an  en- 
gagement on  the  part  of  the  applicants,  "  to  take  and  pay  for  5000, 
as  soon  as  they  were  printed."  "  Would  not  this"  (says  the  writer) 
"  be  a  step  that  would  weigh  with  them,  and  an  inducement  to  under- 
take the  work  ?  I  would  undertake  to  procure  one-half  of  the  money 
necessary  for  that  purpose,  till  the  Bibles  were  sold  :  and  that  number 
■ZL'ould  S0071  go  off'.  And  should  the  Society  refuse  to  assist,  (which  1 
hardly  think  they  will,)  I  think  it  is  clearly  our  duty  to  proceed,  and 
trust  kind  Providence,  and  not  consult  flesh  and  blood,  <tc.  Furnish 
me  with  every  particular  direction  you  can  think  of:  then  I  shall 
make  a  trial  of  the  Society." 

Previously  to  the  proposed  trial  being  made,  the  individual  through 
whom  the  application  to  the  Society  was  to  be  presented,  thought  it 
expedient  to  require  "  a  long  list  of  namcR,  as  a  satisfactory  proof, 
that  Welsh  Bibles  were  much  wanted;  'which  the  Society  seemed  to 
doubt.'"  Advice  was  therefore  given  by  the  principal  agent  in  this 
business  to  his  correspondent  in  Wales,  "to  lose  no  time  in  pro- 
curing as  long  a  list  of  names  as  he  could ;"  with  the  addition,  at  the 
same  time,  of  this  observation: — "yet  even  now,  I  expect  we  must 
stand  to  our  former  engagement ;  that  is  to  say,  to  pay  doxi-n  for  four 
thousand.''^ 

Very  shortly  after,  (viz.  on  the  10th  of  May,  1792,)  this  writer  in- 
forms his  correspondent,  that  he  had  done  what  the  Society  request- 
ed him,  viz.  given  them  security  for  4000  copies  as  soon  as  publish- 
ed ;  and  on  the  17th  of  July,  that  "  the  Society  had  accepted  of  his 
proposal  respecting  a  new  edition  of  the  Welsh  Bible,  and  would  un- 
dertake the  work.  But  he  accompanies  this  latter  statement  with  an 
intimation,  that  the  movements  of  the  Society  »vere  painfully  slow, 
and  not  to  be  accelerated.  This  complaint  is  repeated  in  still 
stronger  terms,  and  with  much  evident  dejection,  by  another  corres- 
pondent; who,  in  a  letter  from  London,  dated  October  29,  1792, 
thus  expresses  his  feelings :  "  I  am  sorry  the  Society  is  so  dilatory, 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  5 

indecisive,  and  reluctant;  but  trust,  that  the  Lord,  who  hath  put 
it  into  the  hearts  of  so  many  in  Wales  to  love  His  holy  word,  will 
also  put  it  imio  the  hearts  of  some  of  their  more  wealthy  brethren 
in  England  to  use  eifective  methods  of  supplying  them  with 
Bibles." 

At  length,  in  the  month  of  April,  1793,  the  individual  through 
whom  the  negotiation  with  the  Society  was  conducted,  gave  such  a 
representation  of  the  existing  difficulties,  arising  from  the  disbelief 
of  the  Society,  that  "  a  large  number  of  Bibles  could  be  got  off;" 
its  disinclination  to  incur  the  great  expense  which  an  edition  of  the 
Welsh  Bible  would  cost;*  and  the  impracticability,  from  "the  bad- 
ness of  the  times,  of  undertaking  the  work  by  private  subscrip- 
tion ;" — that  the  original  projector  of  the  edition  was  compelled  to 
inform  his  correspondent,  that  "  if  a  considerable  number  of  subscri- 
bers cannot  be  obtained,  the  business  must  be  given  ujj."  The  idea  of 
procuring  such  a  number  of  subscribers  was,  it  must  be  supposed, 
considered  impracticable  :  for  the  same  writer,  after  a  lapse  of  a 
year,  thus  addresses  his  correspondent:  "Have  you  altogether 
dropped  your  former  intention  of  having  a  new  edition  of  Welsh  Bi- 
bles ?  It  is  clear  that  the  times  are  rather  unfavourable  for  any  un- 
dertaking, where  great  sums  of  money  will  be  required.  I  can  only 
say,  that  I  am  ready  to  assist,  as  far  as  I  can,  if  any  attempt  is  made 
in  this  business." 

From  the  tenor  of  this  passage,  and  the  termination  of  the  corres- 
pondence, there  is  reason  to  conclude,  that  the  obstacles  to  "a  new 
edition  of  Welsh  Bibles"  were  deemed  insurmountable  ;  and  that 
'•  the  intention  of  having"  such  an  edition  was  consequently  "  drop- 
ped," and  "  the  business  given  up." 

Such  was  the  unhappy  issue  of  the  first  attempt  to  obtain  a  supply 
of  Welsh  Bibles  for  the  poor  of  the  Principality.  Every  step  ap- 
pears to  have  been  taken  by  those  who  interested  themselves  in  the 
business,  to  bring  it  to  a  successful  conclusion :  but  without  effect. 
They  had  not  themselves  the  means  of  providing  a  remedy  for  the 
evil  of  which  they  complained ;  and  they  could  not  offer  a  sufficient 
inducement  to  those  who  alone  were  competent  to  provide  it. 

A  considerable  interval  was  suffered  to  take  place,  during  which, 
as  far  as  appears,  no  measures  were  adopted  to  satisfy  those  wants, 
which  were  only  not  urged,  because  they  had  already  been  so  re- 
peatedly urged  in  vain. 


*  "  Being',  as  they  reasoned,  from  1,500^  to  2,000/.  without  reimbursement^ 
that  is,  the  defect  hetween  tho  prime  cost,  and  the  sale,  including  the  binding." 
3 


6  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I, 

Impressed,  however,  as  it  is  presumed,  by  recurring  applications, 
with  a  sense  of  the  necessity  for  some  further  exertions,  the  Society 
for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  determined,  at  length,  to  obey 
those  calls,  for  wliich,  either  from  a  disbelief  of  their  reasonable- 
ness, or  a  doubt  of  its  own  ability  to  answer  them,  it  had  hitherto  de- 
clined to  make  any  provision.  An  order  was  accordingly  passed  at 
its  Board,  in  1796,  for  a  new  edition  of  the  Welsh  Bible,  Common 
Prayer,  and  singing  Psalms,  to  the  amount  of  10,000  copies,  with 
2000  extra  Testaments ;  and  in  1799,  this  order  was  executed. 

With  a  liberahty  which  deserves  the  warmest  commendation,  this 
venerable  Society,  when  the  impression  was  ready  for  deliver}^,  gave 
notice,  through  a  printed  circular,  that  copies  might  be  had  "  neatly 
bound  in  calf,  by  any  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Principality,  through 
the  medium,  and  upon  the  application  of  any  Member  of  the  Society, 
at  one-half  of  the  prime  cost  in  sheets.''^ 

Thirty  years  had  now  elapsed  sinre  the  last  edition  of  the  Welsh 
Bible  was  printed ;  and  so  greatly  had  the  demands  for  the  Holy 
Scriptures  accumulated,  during  this  long  season  of  drought,  that  this 
impression,  large  as  it  was,  and  liberal  as  it  might  appear  to  the  So- 
ciety which  had  so  generously  provided  it,  was  almost  immediately 
absorbed  ;  and  considerable  districts,  in  different  parts  of  the  Princi- 
pality, particularly  in  the  counties  of  Montgomery,  Cardigan,  and 
Carmai'then,  had  to  lament,  that  they  could  obtain  no  refreshment 
whatever  from  this  most  seasonable  but  pai'tial  irrigation.  If,  as  has 
been  credibly  reported,  the  joy  of  those  who  received  the  Bibles 
amounted  to  exultation,  the  grief  of  those  (and  they  were  many)  who 
could  not  obtain  a  copy,  fell  little  short  of  anguish.  Their  "  expres- 
sions of  regret,"  says  a  beneticed  Clergyman  in  Montgomeryshire, 
who  had  witnessed  their  disaj)pointment,  "  were  truly  affecting." 

But  as  this  is  an  assertion  which  may  seem  to  require  proof,  it 
will  be  proper  to  adduce  a  few  authorities  in  support  of  it. 

"  The  Welsh  Bibles"  (says  one  Clergyman)  "  are  all  sold,  every 
copy.  I  applied,  through  the  interest  of  a  friend  in  London,  for 
300  ;  but  too  late :  the  Bishop  of  St.  Asaph  applied  the  same  day  ;  but 
in  vainy 

"  The  demand"  (says  a  Clergyman  in  London)  "  has  already  so 
far  exceeded  the  impression  of  10,000  copies,  that  each  person  is  pvi 
qfp  -jcith  fezaer  than  he  applied  for,  and  thought  he  had  secured." 

"  Pray  how  are  you  off  in  North  Wales"  (writes  a  Clergyman  in 
South  Wales)  "  with  respect  to  the  last  edition  of  the  Welsh  Bible  ? 
Out  of  250  copies  promised  me,  I  received  but  150  ;  and  ought  to  bo 
exceedingly  thankful  even  for  that  number :  for  I  have  been  more 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  7 

successful  in  my  application  than  any  of  my  neighbours  hitherto. 
Not  a  single  copy  reached  these  parts,  except  fifty  copies,  (which) 
the  Rev.  Mr.  W.  received.  I  was  under  the  necessity  of  laying 
aside  the  List  of  Subscribers,  being  more  than  300  names,  &:c." 

"  The  last  Oxford  edition"  (writes  a  Clergyman  in  Cardiganshire) 
"  was  disposed  of  before  I  was  informed  of  it.  I  applied  to  Dr. 
Gaskin  for  some  quantity  of  Welsh  Bibles :  his  answer  was,  that 
they  were  all  gone  ;  that  there  were  only  10,000  printed,  and  that 
twenty  (hovsand  would  not  answer  half  the  demand.''^ 

And  finally,  a  beneficed  Clergyman  in  Montgomeryshire,  makes 
the  following  statement ;  which  has  in  part  been  quoted  before. 

"  A  large  district  in  this  neighbourhood  coidd  not  obtain  one  of  the 
late  Oxford  edition  ;  and  the  expressions  of  regret  among  the  people  on 
that  account,  were  truly  affecting.-'' 

From  these  testimonies,  a  judgment  may  be  formed  of  the  insuffi- 
ciency of  the  edition  of  1799,  and  of  the  defective  manner  in  which 
it  operated  as  a  remedy  for  that  scarcity  which  during  ten  years  had 
been  the  subject  of  painful  solicitude  and  ineffectual  complaint. 

Such  being  the  state  of  things  in  the  Principahty  in  the  year  1800, 
applications  were  now  made  from  various  quarters  to  the  venerable 
Society  betore-mentioned,"'in  order  to  ascertain  whether  any  further 
supplies  might  be  expected.  Some  of  these  were  addressed  through 
channels  of  the  first  respectabiUty,  both  Lay  and  Ecclesiastical  ;* 
and  an  expectation  was  entertained,  that  their  influence  would  not 
be  exerted  in  vain.  But  the  result  was  the  same  in  all  cases.  The 
Society  had  either  done  its  utmost,  or  erroneously  conceived,  that  it 
had  done  sufficient ;  and  no  encouragement  was  given  to  hope,  that 
any  thing  more  would  be  attempted. 

For  more  than  two  years  the  disappointed  candidates  for  Welsh 
Bibles,  among  whom  were  many  diligent  and  laborious  Parish  Minis- 
ters, persevered  in  the  mortifying  business  of  importunate,  but  un- 
availing application.     In  the  course  of  this  time,  that  want  which  was 


*  "  I  have  done  all  I  could"  (writes  the  late  Bishop  of  Peterborough,)  "  re- 
specting the  Welsh  Bibles,  and  shall  always  be  glad  to  forward  what  you  wish.  I 
wrote  to  Dr.  Gaskin  lately  upon  the  subject ;  but  whether  I  can  be  of  any  further 
service,  I  know  not." 

Referring  to  these  words,  the  Clergyman  to  whom  they  were  addressed  ob- 
serves: "I  have  written  to  my  Bishop,  and  he  to  the  Society;  since  then,  I  got  a 
friend  to  call  on  Dr.  Gaskin,  to  ask  if  they  had  any  intention  of  publishing 
another  edition :"  the  answer  was :  "  No,  we  have  not."  This  correspoudeuce 
took  place  in  Juno,  1800. 


g  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  IfART  I, 

at  first  considerable,  had  greatly  increased  ;*  and  the  progress  which 
education  was  making,  chiefly  through  the  medium  of  Sunday  Schools, 
tended  at  once  to  augment  the  demand  for  Bibles,  and  to  render  the 
difficulty  of  procuring  them  a  subject  of  deeper  and  more  general  re- 
gret. 

At  length,  in  the  summer  of  1802,  all  prospect  of  relief  from  the 
source  so  often  referred  to,  being  finally  closed,!  a  project  was  con- 
ceived for  accomplishing  an  object  which  seemed  scarcely  to  admit  of 
any  further  delay,  by  contracting  with  a  well-qualified  Printer  for  a 
competent  impression  of  Welsh  Bibles,  and  defraying  the  expense  of 
a  reduction  of  price,  or,  where  necessary,  a  gratuitous  distribution  to 
the  poor,  by  means  of  a  private  subscription. |  Matters  had  arrived 
at  this  point,  and  the  speculation  described  was  undergoing  discussion, 
when  an  occurrence  took  place,  which  changed  the  whole  complex- 
ion of  the  business,  and  laid  the  foundation  of  a  permanent  supply  of 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  not  only  to  the  inhabitants  of  Wales,  but  to  the 
whole  human  race. 

In  the  month  of  December,  1802,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Charles,  B.  A. 
of  Bala,  an  ordained  Minister  of  the  Established  Church,  but  offi- 
ciating in  connexion  with  the  Welsh  Calvinistic  Methodists,  a  man  of 
zealous  piety,  and  indefatigable  exertion,  and  by  his  habit  of  itinera 

*  The  want  in  1800,  may  be  in  some  measure  conceived,  by  an  estimate  made 
of  the  number,  not  which  could  be  gratuitously  disposed  of,  but  actually  sold. 
"  In  case,"  (says  a  Clergyman,  writing  in  July,  1800,)  "  the  Society  can  be  pre- 
vailed upon  to  undertake  an  edition  some  time  hereafter:  yet,  so  far  as  I  can  be 
able  at  this  distance  to  judge,  an  edition  of  three  or  four  thousand  might  be  sold 
before  the  Svciety''s  comes  out." 

t  "  We  have  long  talked,"  (writes  one  of  the  Clergymen  interested  in  this  busi- 
ness) "  about  another  edition  of  Welsh  Bibles,  which,  I  doubt  not,  is  greatly 
wanted,  in  South  Wales  in  particular-  /  have  repeatedly  tried  the  Society  for 
Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  through  the  medium  of  my  friends,  men  of  influ- 
ence; andfound,  that  7W  further  help  is  to  be  expected  from  them  noio ;  they  gave  a 
decided  answer  more  than  twice  over." 

J  This  plan  appears  to  have  been  designed  by  its  projectors  to  have  had  a  very 
liberal  operation.  The  following  sentiments,  as  expressive  of  their  views,  are  wor- 
thy of  admiration. 

"  But  the  grand  difiiculty  is  yet  to  come.  Where  can  we  find  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  men  to  distribute  the  Bibles  with  impartiality,  in  the  fear  of  God  ?  Every  one 
has  his  relative,  his  favourite,  his  pious,  kind  neighbour;  these  must  be  favoured 
at  the  expeuKC  of  justice  and  mercy,  against  conscience  and  against  duty.  If  this 
business  is  seriously  taken  in  hand,  the  plan  must  be  well  matured,  ami  faithfully 
e.recuted;  and  we  must  try,  not  to  accommodate  any  particular  xort,  hut  all  men 
that  xr.anl  Bibles,  and  upon  the  terms  they  can  afford." 


CHAP.  I]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  g 

ting,  and  promoting  Sunday  Schools,  rendered  intimately  familiar  with 
the  wants  of  his  countrymen,  was  in  London  ;  when  he  proposed  a  con- 
tribution, in  aid  of  the  plan  for  printing  and  distributing  the  Scrip- 
tures among  them.  On  the  7th  of  that  month,  the  subject  having  been 
introduced  by  Mr.  Joseph  Tarn,  the  present  Assistant  Secretary  and 
Accountant  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  in  a  circle  of 
friends  who  had  met  to  transact  a  different  business,*  Mr.  Charles 
preferred  his  suit  on  behalf  of  his  countrymen  ;  describing  the  want 
of  Welsh  Bibles,  and  the  failure  of  all  attempts  to  obtain  them  in  the 
usual  channel,  and  urging  with  importunate  earnestness  the  necessity 
of  resorting  in  this  painful  extremity  to  "  new  and  extraordinary 
means."! 

This  proposition  gave  rise  to  a  conversation  of  some  length  ;  in  the 
course  of  which,  it  was  suggested,  that,  as  Wales  was  not  the  only 
part  of  the  kingdom  in  which  such  a  want  as  had  been  described 
might  be  supposed  to  prevail,  it  would  be  desirable  to  take  such  steps 
as  might  be  likely  to  stir  up  the  public  mind  to  a  general  dispersion 
of  the  Scriptures.  To  this  suggestion,  which  proceeded  from  the 
Rev.  Joseph  Hughes,  a  Baptist  Minister,  one  of  the  Society's  pre- 
sent Secretaries,  and  which  was  warmly  encouraged  by  the  rest  of 
the  company,  we  are  to  trace  the  dawn  of  those  measures,  which,  ex- 
panding with  time,  and  progressive  discussion,  issued  at  length  in  the 
proposal  and  establishment  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 

The  propriety  of  exciting  the  attention  of  the  public  to  the  general 
dispersion  of  the  Scriptures  having  been  thus  casually  suggested,  Mr. 
Hughes  was  desired  to  prepare,  in  writing,  such  an  Address  as  might 
contain,  in  a  more  digested  form,  the  substance  of  his  unpremeditat- 

*  It  is  due  to  "  The  Relig'ious  Tract  Society"  to  state,  that  the  parties  here  al- 
luded to,  and  to  whom  reference  will  hereafter  be  so  frequently  made,  were  the 
Committee  of  that  very  active  and  useful  Institution. 

t  The  names  of  Ambrose  Martin,  and  Henry  Boase,  Esqs.  ought  not  to  be  sup- 
pressed. These  two  Gentlemen  took  a  most  lively  and  liberal  interest  in  the  object 
of  Mr.  Charles's  application :  and  made  very  generous  exertions  in  favour  of  it, 
previously  to  the  formation  of  that  Society,  which  rendered  all  further  exertions  of 
this  description  on  the  part  of  individuals  unnecessary.  In  a  letter  of  the  latter 
gentleman,  (dated  August  12,  1803,)  which  now  lies  before  me,  there  isso  much  to 
admire,  that  I  trust  I  shall  obtain  his  excuse  for  extracting  a  passage  from  it  for  the 
reader's  satisfaction. 

"  From  the  time  you  first  mentioned  the  want  of  a  new  edition  of  (he  Sacred  Scrip- 
>urc)s  in  the  Welsh  language,  my  thoughts  have  been  much  occupied  by  that  impor- 
tant subject.  I  CANNOT  WITHOUT  PAIN  REFLECT,  THAT  ANY  PERSON  IN  THIS 
HIGHLY-FAVOURED  LAND  SHOULD  BE  ABLE  AND  WILLING  TO  READ  THE  BIBLE, 
AND  WANT  THE  MEANS  OF  SO  DOING." 


40  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

ed  observations  ;  in  order  that  the  project,  if  it  should,  upon  reA'ision, 
appear  practicable  and  important,  might  be  regularly  submitted  to 
the  consideration  of  the  Public. 

In  the  mean  time,  certain  measures  were  pursued,  which  tended 
materially  to  advance  the  progress  of  the  undertaking.  A  communi- 
cation was  made  of  the  object  contemplated,  to  some  persons  of  dis- 
tinguished reputation  for  piety  and  philanthropy.  Among  these,  was 
William  Wilberforce,  Esq.  who,  at  a  private  interview,  conferred 
with  the  parties  who  had  solicited  his  advice  ;  and  furnished  such 
hints  as  his  enlightened  mind  and  liberal  heart  would  be  likely  to 
suggest,  in  order  to  improve  their  plan,  and  facilitate  its  introduction 
to  public  acceptance.  A  similar  communication  was  made  to  Charles 
Grant,  Esq.  and  attended  with  a  similar  result. 

The  Rev.  C.  F.  A.  Steinkopff,  Minister  of  the  German  Lutheran 
Church  in  the  Savoy,  and  one  of  the  Society's  present  Secretaries, 
voluntarily  tendered  his  services  to  promote  the  design,  in  the  course 
of  a  journey  which  he  was  about  to  make  to  the  Continent  of  Europe. 
His  offer  was  thankfully  accepted,  and  he  was  accordingly  requested 
to  inquire  particularly  into  the  want  of  the  Scriptures  in  such  places 
as  he  should  have  occasion  to  visit.  Similar  inquiries  were  directed 
to  be  promoted  in  Ireland,  and  in  other  parts  of  the  United  Kingdom  ; 
and  the  following  queries  I'elating  to  the  same  object  were  addressed 
to  the  country  at  large,  through  the  medium  of  certain  Periodical 
Publications. 

"   J.  Can  the  poor  in  your  neighbourhood  generally  read  ? 
"  2.  To  what  extent  are  they  furnished  with  the  Holy  Scriptures  ? 
"  3.   Do  they  discover  a  solicitude  to  read  them? 
"   4.  What  has  been  done  towards  supplying  this  want  ? 
"  5.  Are  there  persons  in  your  neighbourhood  willing  further  to 
encourage  the  distribution  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  in  our  own  and  in 
foreign  lands  ?"* 

These  transactions  took  place  antecedently  to  the  close  of  May, 
1803;  and  in  the  course  of  that  month,  Mr.  Hughes  presented  an 
impression  of  an  Essay,  prepared  in  compliance  with  the  wishes  ex- 
pressed at  the  primary  Meeting,  under  the  title  of"  The  Excellence 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures  an  Argument  for  their  more  General  Disper- 
sion."" In  this  Essay,  which  may  be  regarded  as  containing  the  ru- 
diments of  the  future  Society,  the  author  expatiates  on  the  transcen- 
dent excellence  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  enumerates  the  difTcrcnt 
Religious  Societies  more  or  less  concerned  in  promoting  their  circu- 

»  Sec  Evang.  Mag.  and  Clirlst.  Ob3.  for  June,  180 J. 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  j  i 

lation,  and  describes  the  limitations  of  their  respective  constitutions, 
and  their  consequent  inadequacy  to  the  work  of  a  general  distribu- 
tion. Mr.  Hughes  then  represents  the  importance  of  an  association 
of  Christians  at  large,  with  a  view  exclusively  to  the  circulation  of 
tlie  Holy  Scriptures  ;  and  points  out  a  variety  of  advantages,  both  di- 
rect and  collateral,  which  might  be  expected  to  result  from  the  ope- 
rations of  such  an  Institution. 

As  the  enumeration  given  by  Mr.  Hughes  of  the  Religious  Societies, 
exhibits  a  fair  account  of  all  the  charitable  sources  at  that  time  in  ex- 
istence, from  which  a  distribution  of  the  Scriptures  might  be  expect- 
ed, it  seems,  on  every  ground,  expedient  that  the  reader  should  see  it. 

"  The  many  thousands  of  Bibles  already  circulated  by  various  So- 
cieties, do  them  honour,  and  claim  our  fervent  wishes  for  their  lasting 
prosperity.  Together  with  the  Bible  they  circulate,  for  the  most  part, 
several  volumes  and  tracts  intended  to  familiarize,  vindicate,  and  en- 
force the  principles  of  the  Bible  ;  nor  can  it  be  doubted  that,  in  this 
way,  the  cause  in  which  they  are  embarked  has  been  materially  as- 
sisted The  chief  of  the  Societies  are  included  in  the  following  list : 
the  figures  subjoined  denote  the  year  in  which  each  was  founded. 

TJic  Society  for  •promoting  Christian  Knowledge 1698 

T7jc  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  1701 

The   Society  in   Scotland  for  propagating  Christian  Knowledge  1709 

The  Society  for  promoting  Religious  Knowledge  among  the  Poor  1750 

The   Bible    Society 17C0 

The  Society  for  the  Support  and  Encouragement  of  Sunday  Schools  1785 

"  The  Society  for  promoting  Christian  Knowledge  is  composed  of 
subscribing  and  corresponding  members.  The  former  hold  regular 
meetings,  and  transact  the  general  business  of  the  Society.  The  lat- 
ter are  such  persons  in  Great  Britain,  Ireland,  and  other  Protestant 
countries,  as  are  chosen  to  correspond  with  the  Society  on  the  state 
of  religion  in  their  neighbourhoods,  to  suggest  such  methods  of  doing 
good  as  occur  to  them,  to  distribute  Bibles  and  other  books  recom- 
mended by  the  Society,  and  to  remit  occasional  or  stated  contribu- 
tions. Under  the  patronage  of  this  Society,  Charity-Schools  have 
been  erected,  Bibles,  Prayer-Books,  and  Religious  Tracts  dispersed, 
and  foreign  Missions,  particularly  in  the  East  Indies,  supported.  It 
has  printed  the  New  Testament  in  Arabic,  the  whole  Bible  in  the 
language  of  the  Isle  of  Man,  and  four  editions  of  it  in  the  Welsh  lan- 
guage.   AH  members  of  the  Society  are  entitled  to  Bibles,  Testaments, 


12  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

Prayer-Books,  and  the  other  pubhcations  of  the  Society,  at  the  redu- 
ced prices  mentioned  in  its  annual  catalogue. 

"  The  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts 
appears  to  have  grown  out  of  the  Society  for  promoting  Christian 
Knowledge,  which  refers  to  it,  we  beheve,  in  all  its  annual  accounts. 
The  object  of  this  Society  is  limited  by  charter  to  Foreign  Parts,  and 
more  especially  to  the  Plantations,  Colonies,  and  Factories,  be- 
yond Seas,  belonging  to  the  Kingdom  of  England.  Missionaries,  Cat- 
echists,  and  Schoolmasters,  are  employed  by  this  Society  in  New- 
foundland, Nova  Scotia,  New  Brunswick,  Upper  and  Lower  Canada, 
Cape  Breton,  the  Bahama  Islands,  the  Coast  of  Africa,  New  South 
Wales,  and  Norfolk  Island.  The  Missionaries  are  suppHed  with 
books  for  a  library,  and  Bibles,  Prayer-Books,  and  small  Religious 
Tracts,  to  distribute  among  their  people  as  occasions  may  require. 
This  and  the  preceding  Society  are  directed  entirely  by  members  of 
the  Established  Church  of  England. 

"  The  Society  in  Scotland  for  propagating  Christian  Knowledge 
employs  Schoolmasters,  Catechists,  and  Missionaries,  and  distributes 
the  Holy  Scriptures  and  a  few  other  religious  books.  The  Scriptures 
have  been  translated  at  the  Society's  expense  into  Gaelic.  A  Parent 
Board  is  established  at  Edinburgh  for  conducting  general  business  ; 
but  a  considerable  accession  of  strength  accrues  from  a  Correspond- 
ent Board  estabUshed  in  London,  before  which  annual  sermons  are 
preached  by  ministers  of  different  denominations.  The  exertions  of 
this  Society  extend  over  the  Highlands  of  Scotland,  the  contiguous 
Islands,  and  a  part  of  North  America. 

"  The  Society  for  promoting  Religious  Knowledge  among  the  Poor 
distributes  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  a  great  variety  of  pieces  on  re- 
ligious subjects.  Every  subscriber  of  a  guinea  annually  is  entitled 
once  in  two  years  to  Bibles  or  other  books  circulated  by  the  Society, 
according  to  his  option,  to  the  amount  of  forty  shillings  ;  subscribers 
of  more  than  one  guinea  annually  are  entitled  to  Bibles  or  other 
books  to  a  proportionally  higher  amount.  The  prices  at  which  the 
books  are  estimated,  appear  in  the  annual  accounts,  and  in  a  slip  of 
paper  which  accompanies  the  parcels  sent  to  subscribers.  At  these 
prices  the  Public  in  general  may  become  purchasers. 

"  The  Bible  Society*  was  instituted  for  the  sole  use  of  the  army 
and  navy  of  Great  Britain.     It  circulates  only  the  Scriptures.     The 

*  In  a  note  appended  to  the  second  edition,  "  the  Dublin  Association"  is  men- 
tioned with  the  honour  which  it  deserved,  as  having:  "  distributed  among  the  poor 
in  Ireland,  10,000  Bibles,  and  12,000 Testaments,"  and  as  "  advancing-  towards  it>^ 


CHAP.  I.J  AJVD  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  j3 

Committee  state  that  they  have  been  enabled,  by  the  aid  of  subscri- 
bers, and  collections  made  at  different  places  of  worship,  to  distribute 
among  the  regiments  and  ships  specified  in  their  printed  account, 
30,000  Bibles,  and  a  considerable  number  of  Testaments.  The 
mode  of  application  is  a  request  signed  by  an  ofiicer  in  the  army 
or  navy,  addressed  to  the  Committee,  expressing  the  number  un- 
der his  command. 

"  The  Society  for  the  Support  and  Encouragement  of  Sunday 
Schools  provides  Bibles,  Testaments,  and  SpeUing-Books,  and  re- 
ceives applications  from  any  part  of  England  and  Wales.  The 
founders  of  Schools  are  expected,  when  they  apply  for  aid,  to  inform 
the  Secretary,  by  letters,  of  the  number  of  the  scholars,  and,  in  the 
event  of  a  second  or  third  application,  to  state  their  progress  and 
behaviour.  The  letters  are  presented  to  the  Committee,  and  a  gra- 
tuitous supply  voted  according  to  the  exigency  of  the  case. 

"  In  addition  to  the  above-mentioned  means  of  diffusing  scriptural 
knowledge,  we  may  notice  the  existence  of  private  donations  and 
bequests  relating  to  the  same  object,  the  numerous  charity-schools 
maintained  throughout  the  week,  and  the  more  recent  Institutions 
under  different  forms  for  disseminating  inspired  truth  both  in  our  own 
and  in  foreign  countries." 

To  this  enumeration  of  existing  Societies,  Mr.  Hughes  would 
doubtless  have  added,  had  he  been  acquainted  with  the  fact,  a  refer- 
ence to  an  Institution  then  recently  dissolved — The  French  Bible 
Society.  As  this  Society  was  altogether  unknown  to  Mr.  Hughes, 
and  is  little,  if  at  all,  known  to  the  pubhc  in  general,  a  brief  account 
of  it  in  this  place  will  scarcely  be  deemed  an  improper  digression. 

The  French  Bible  Society  was  instituted  in  May,  1792,  and  com- 
menced its  operations  by  opening  a  correspondence  with  a  respecta- 
ble Minister  of  the  Reformed  Church  at  Paris,  and  treating  with  a 
Printer  of  reputation  in  that  capital  for  an  edition  of  the  French 
Bible,  of  which  the  Protestant  Minister  who  had  recommended  him 
was  to  take  the  superintendence.  The  revolutionary  war  having  put 
a  period  to  all  communication  between  the  two  countries.  The 
French  Bible  Society  suspended  proceedings,  and  invested  the 
amount  subscribed,  (with  the  exception  of  4,000  livres  advanced  to 
the  Printer  at  Paris,)  in  the  public  funds.  On  the  re-establishment 
of  intercourse  between  France  and  England  in  the  year  1801,  the 
Society  learnt  by  a  letter  from  the  Protestant  Minister,  that  the  Prin- 


oi  iginal  object, '  that  no  house  or  cabin  in  Ireland,  in  which  there  is  a  single  person 
>rhn  can  read,  shall  be  destitute  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.'' " 

4 


14  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  f 

ter  was  living,  but  that  the  revolution  had  totally  ruined  him.  "  That 
respectable  father  of  a  family"  (says  this  correspondent)  "  has 
great  difficulty  to  extricate  himself  from  his  embarrassments.  The 
funds  remitted  to  his  hands  from  England,  are,  I  imagine,  consumed  ; 
while  the  task  he  had  undertaken  has  totally  failed.  We  have 
lived"  (he  adds)  "  in  times  which  have  destroyed  every  thing,  over- 
turned every  thing  :  and  all  must  be  begun  afresh." 

The  Society,  discouraged  by  these  and  similar  difficulties,  and  ap- 
prehending that  their  original  design  of  circulating  French  Bibles 
among  the  Roman  Catholics  in  France  was  become  impracticable, 
resolved  to  apply  the  money  of  which  they  had  been  so  long  possess- 
ed, to  the  purchase  of  English  Bibles,  for  distribution  among  "  poor 
Catholics  and  others  in  the  TTaited  Kingdom  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland:"  2,000  copies  were  accordingly  procured  ;  of  which  1,000 
were  entrusted  to  the  care  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Coke,  a  principal 
Minister  in  the  Wesleyan  connexion,  to  be  dispersed  "  by  the  means 
of  their  Missionaries  among  the  Catholics  in  Ireland."  A  letter  hav- 
ing been  received  from  William  Hall,  Esq.  of  Dublin,  pointing  out 
other  channels  through  which  "  10,00  Bibles  might  be  usefully  dis- 
tributed in  Ireland,  and  oifering  to  guarantee  their  correct  distribu- 
tion, the  remaining  1,000  copies  were,  in  the  month  of  August,  1803, 
placed  at  his  disposal :  and  after  this  act,  and  the  necessary  formali- 
ties of  pecuniary  settlement,  The  French  Bible  Society  was  finally 
dissolved. 

The  following  Prospectus,*  issued  by  the  above  Society,  soon  after 
its  formation  in  1792,  contains  so  much  of  the  liberal  spirit  and  prac- 
tical views  which  have  characterized  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  that  the  author  of  this  work  would  deem  himself  inexcusable 
were  he  to  dechne  giving  it  insertion. 

"  THE  FRENCH  BIBLE  SOCIETY 

is  formed  for  the  purpose  of  disseminating  pure  Christian  Knowledge 
in  France,  by  obtaining  a  general  distribution  of  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
printed  in  the  French  tongue,  throughout  that  nation. 

"  To  accomplish  such  a  design,  would  be  too  arduous  and  exten- 
sive an  undertaking  for  any  individual,  or  for  a  small  circle.     The 


*  For  this  document,  by  means  of  which  he  first  became  acquainted  with  the  sub- 
ject of  the  French  Bible  Society,  the  author  is  indebted,  through  his  friend  Mr. 
Hughes,  to  a  gentleman,  highly  and  deservedly  esteemed  for  bis  learning,  piety, 
and  amiable  spirit — the  Rev.  Dr.  Smith,  of  Homerton. 


CHAP.  I]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  15 

general  concurrence  of  all  who  know  the  value  and  feel  the  influ- 
ence of  the  sacred  writings  is  therefore  invited. 

"  It  is  intended,  that  as  far  as  possible,  those  persons  in  the  French 
nation,  who  are  now  destitute  of  this  divine  treasure  in  an  intelligible 
language,  shall  be  furnished  with  copies  of  it  in  their  mother  tongue. 
The  Poor  will  be  supplied  (gratis  where  necessary,  or)  at  a  very  low 
price  ;  and  quantities  will  be  lodged  with  ministers  and  other  proper 
persons  well  known  in  the  different  provinces,  that  those  who  wish 
it  may  purchase  at  usual  rates,  and  the  wealthy  and  benevolent  may 
be  supplied  at  reduced  prices  with  quantities  to  distribute.  For  this 
purpose,  large  contracts  will  be  entered  into  on  the  most  reasonable 
terms  that  can  be  obtained.  The  persons  to  whom  the  books  may  be 
sent  will  be  desired  to  act  as  agents  for  the  General  Society,  and  at 
convenient  intervals  to  transmit  an  account  of  distribution  or  sale, 
and  of  receipts. 

"  The  Society  now  formed  in  London  under  the  above  name,  have 
by  their  Committee  begun  a  correapondp.ncfi  with  some  Gentlemen 
in  Paris,  who  are  friends  to  this  scheme,  and  who  have  expressed  an 
intention  of  forming  a  similar  Society  there ;  to  whom,  when  embo- 
died, will  be  committed  the  management  of  the  business  in  that  king- 
dom ;  to  superintend  the  press  for  those  editions  which  may  be  print- 
ed there ;  to  distribute  the  books  into,  and  to  establish  and  conduct 
correspondence  with,  the  different  parts  of  the  nation  ;  to  obtain  the 
assistance  and  encouragement  of  their  countrymen  to  this  undertak- 
ing, and  from  time  to  time  to  transmit  to  this  Society  what  informa- 
tion they  may  collect  of  the  progress  and  success  thereof. 

"  The  plan  has  also  been  made  known  in  Holland,  and  considera- 
ble assistance  is  with  good  reason  expected  from  thence ;  and  it  is 
not  doubted,  that  smaller  societies  will  be  formed  in  the  provincial 
towns  of  France,  to  assist  the  general  plan.  From  this  source,  espe- 
cially, may  authentic  and  early  communications  be  received  by  the 
different  bodies  composing  this  Society,  respecting  the  success  attend- 
ing, and  the  advantages  arising  from,  this  Institution. 

"  At  present,  the  business  of  this  Society  is  conducted  by  a  Com- 
mittee, which  is  chosen  at  the  General  Meetings  of  the  Subscribers. 
The  amount  of  the  subscriptions  is  lodged  in  the  hands  of  respecta- 
ble Banking-houses,  subject  to  the  order  of  the  Society. 

"  The  Society  wish  to  engage  the  assistance  of  every  friend  to 
the  spreading  religious  knowledge,  and  would  beg  leave  to  recom- 
mend the  forming  of  Societies  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  to  assist 
them  in  the  attainment  of  their  object ;  and  if  Clergymen  and  Ministers 
of  every  denomination,  would  recommend  the  cause  to  their  different 


IQ  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I 

congregations,  and,  where  convenient,  would  make  public  collections 
for  the  support  and  extension  of  it,  it  would  certainly  tend  much  to 
the  forwarding  of  this  important  design." 

But  to  return  : 

While  the  whole  of  Mr.  Hughes's  Essay,  from  the  good  sense 
which  it  contains,  and  the  candour  which  it  breathes,  is  worthy  of  pe- 
rusal, the  following  passages,  both,  from  their  intrinsic  excellency, 
and  from  their  accordance  with  subsequent  events,  have  a  peculiar 
claim  to  attention. 

"  Let  us  then  cast  a  friendly  eye  over  distant  countries,  and  be  the 
parents  of  the  first  Institution  that  ever  emanated  from  one  of  the 
nations  of  Europe,  for  the  express  purpose  of  doing  good  to  all  the 
rest." 

"  The  proposed  Society  would  bespeak  much  attention  which  was 
never  yet  brought  to  bear  on  a  subject  so  truly  grand  and  momen- 
tous. Religion  would  occupy  a  larger  space  in  the  public  mind, 
and  the  advocates  of  religion  enjoy  a  new  opportunity  of  testifying 
the  strength  of  their  convictions  and  the  fervour  of  their  zeal.  A 
new  impulse  would  be  given  to  kindred  Institutions  ;  and  measures 
hitherto  unthought  of  would  be  added  to  those  which  have  long  dis- 
played their  beneficial  effects." 

"  We  have  specified  Europe ;  at  the  same  time  we  would  allow 
ample  scope.  Correspondence  might  more  or  less  include  every 
quarter  of  the  globe." 

"  Many  arrangements  must  be  left  to  the  determination  of  experi- 
ence. Light  will  break  in  as  the  friends  of  the  Institution  advance  : 
they  will  act  as  occasions  dictate ;  always  having  that  to  do,  which 
will  either  connect  with  remoter  branches  of  their  design,  or  stand 
well  insulated  and  alone." 

It  is  impossible  to  reflect  on  these  observations,  written  nearly  a 
year  before  the  Society  was  formed,  without  being  forcibly  struck  by 
the  remarkable  exactness  with  which  they  have  been  verified. 

The  conclusion  is  in  a  strain  so  diametrically  opposite  to  that  spirit 
of  rivalry  in  which  the  Society  has  been  said  by  some  of  its  oppo- 
nents to  have  been  projected,  that  I  cannot  allow  myself  to  omit  it. 

"  But  God  puts  honour  upon  mortals  by  emi)loying  their  agency 
in  the  fulfilment  of  his  promises,  and  the  promotion  of  his  glory  : 
and  if  those  of  his  designs  may  be  considered  as  indicating  an 
approach  toward  maturity,  which  most  unite  and  engage  his  ser- 
vants ;  is  it  not  probable  that  knowledge  and  salvation  will  follow 
close  in  the  train  of  those  labours,  to  which,  with  respectful  defer- 
ence, we  now  call  tbo  attention  of  the  christian  world  ?     May  we  not, 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  .17 

therefore,  look  forward  to  a  large  meeting  of  our  fellow-christians, 
whose  unanimous  and  loud  voice  shall  encourage  us  to  go  and  do  all 
that  is  in  our  hearts  ?  But  should  we  in  this  respect  be  disapjjointed, 
our  labour  will  not  be  regretted,  if  it  serve  in  a  few  instances  to  draw 
more  attention  to  the  Bible,  if  it  contribute  to  the  strength  of  Societies 
already  established,  and  especially  if  it  promote  the  spirit  of  distribu- 
tion among  those,  who  having  long  regarded  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Je- 
sus, have  yet  done  little  toward  enriching  the  world  with  its  trea- 
sures. Conscious,  however,  of  having  discharged  a  duty,  and  en- 
couraged to  expect  some  favourable  result ;  we  here  conclude,  leav- 
ing our  exhortations  with  the  consciences  of  men,  and  our  prayers 
in  the  bosom  of  God." 

Copies  of  this  Essay  were  now  put  into  circulation  through  a  va- 
riety of  channels ;  and  it  cannot  be  questioned  that  they  must  have 
contributed  materially  to  prepare  the  way  for  proceedings  of  greater 
publicity  and  decision. 

It  was  not  till  the  month  of  January,  1004,  that  the  measures  had 
attained  a  sufficient  degree  of  ripeness,  in  the  estimation  of  the  Con- 
ductors, to  justify  the  consideration  of  steps  for  carrying  them  into 
actual  execution.  An  outline  of  a  plan  for  the  projected  Society 
had,  early  in  the  preceding  year,  been  prepared  by  Samuel  Mills,  Esq. 
a  gentleman,  who,  to  the  service  he  rendered  in  laying  the  foundation 
of  the  Society,  has  added  that  of  a  judicious  and  useful  co-operation  in 
the  promotion  of  its  interests,  and  the  management  of  its  concerns. 

The  plan  thus  sketched  out  was  now  regularly  completed  ;  and  the 
title  was  altered,  at  the  suggestion  of  the  same  individual  from  whom 
the  first  idea  of  the  Institution  proceeded,  from  "  A  Society  for  pro- 
moting a  more  extensive  circulation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  both  at 
home  and  abroad,"  the  form  in  which  it  originally  stood ;  to  the  de- 
finite and  comprehensive  designation,  of  "  The  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society."* 

Things  being  thus  far  advanced,  it  was  determined  to  convene  a 
a  public  meeting:  a  circular  address  was  accordingly  drawn  up  ;  and 
copies  of  it  were  forwarded  to  such  individuals  as  were  thought  like- 
ly to  favour  the  proposed  undertaking,  or  at  least  to  give  an  impar- 
tial hearing  to  what  should  be  urged  in  its  recommendation.  The 
circular  address,  which  bore  for  its  title  "  The  Importance  of  a  fur- 


*  These  particulars  are  stated  with  the  more  miiiuteuess,  in  order  to  show  how 
utterly  unfounded  was  the  insinuation  of  one  of  the  Society's  earliest  adversaries, 
that  Tracts  formed  a  part  of  the  orig'inal  plan.  See  Country  Clerg'yman's  Letter 
to  Lord  Teignmouth,  p.  36. 


13  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I, 

ther  Distribution  of  Bibles,"  briefly  touched  upon  the  principal  to- 
pics which  had  been  discussed  in  the  Essay,  and  referred  to  that 
publication  for  more  complete  and  detailed  information. 

The  following  extract  from  this  address  will  be  found  to  deserve 
particular  attention,  as  it  explains  the  views  of  the  projectors  in  re- 
commending the  formation  of  the  proposed  Society  ;  accounts  for  the 
delay  by  which  the  measures  preparatory  to  its  formation  had  been 
retarded;  and  discovers  the  spirit  of  candour,  concihation,  and  amity, 
in  which  it  was  designed  that  its  future  operations  should  be  conduct- 
ed, both  at  home  and  abroad. 

"  Several  Societies  have  been  formed  for  the  propagation  of  Scrip- 
ture-truth, but  there  is  room  for  several  more.  This  assertion  is 
affectingly  confirmed  by  the  result  of  specific  inquiries  recently  made 
both  in  Britain  and  on  the  Continent.  A  few  individuals,  the  promo- 
ters of  these  inquiries,  have  had  frequent  discussions  on  the  subject, 
and  are  at  length  encouraged  to  hope  that  they  shall  realize  their 
wishes  in  the  formation  of  a  new  Society. 

"  Their  views  are  considerably  detailed  in  an  Essay  printed  at  the 
commencement  of  last  year.  Europe  was  then  in  peace,  an  they 
were  flattered  with  the  prospect  of  extensive  co-operation,  at  home 
and  abroad.  But  the  flames  of  war,  bursting  again  with  augmented 
violence,  and  spreading  unusual  alarm  through  the  country,  occasion- 
ed a  suspension  of  measures  requisite  for  maturing  the  plan.  Now 
that  the  public  mind  is  partly  recovered  from  its  consternation,  though 
we  may  not  proceed  with  all  the  advantages  attached  to  a  time  of 
peace,  we  may  be  laying  a  solid  foundation,  and  preparing  suitable 
materials  against  a  happier  season. 

"  If  the  present  period  is  not  the  most  auspicious  to  such  under- 
takings, neither  is  there  any  danger  of  its  being  fatal  to  them.  '  The 
wall  of  Jerusalem,'  it  is  written,  '  shall  be  built  in  troublous  times.' 
In  fact,  how  many  successful  eflbrts  for  the  promotion  of  human  hap- 
piness have  been  made,  amidst  the  clouds  and  tempests  of  national 
calamity !  It  should  also  be  remembered,  that  the  present  is  the 
only  period  of  which  we  are  sure.  Our  days  of  service  are  both  few 
and  uncertain  ;  whatsoever,  therefore,  our  hands  find  to  do,  let  us  do 
with  our  might. 

"  Under  these  impressions,  it  has  been  proposed  by  the  individuals 
referred  to  above,  to  institute  a  Society  entitled 

THE  BRITISH  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 

"  Its  object — to  promote  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  in  some 
of  the  principal  living  languages. 


CHAP.  I]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  jtj 

"  The  sphere  of  its  activity — First,  the  United  Kingdom  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,  and  the  European  Continent:  afterwards,  re- 
moter regions,  as  the  state  of  the  finances  may  admit,  and  the  ur- 
gency of  particular  cases  may  require. 

"  The  object  and  the  sphere  of  such  a  Society,  considered  in  their 
union,  distinguish  it  from  all  existing  Societies. 

"  The  Bible  Society  distributes  the  Scriptures  only,  but  confines 
its  distributions  to  the  British  Army  and  Navy. 

"  The  distribution  of  Bibles  in  other  Societies  forms  only  a  part 
of  their  plan ;  and,  with  a  very  few  exceptions,  the  exertions  of  those 
Societies  are  limited  to  Britain. 

"  The  projected  Society,  not  refusing  to  co-operate  on  the  same 
ground,  would  traverse  scenes  which  other  Societies  are,  by  their 
regulations,  forbidden  to  occupy;  and,  presenting  nothing  but  the  in- 
spired volume,  would  be  sure  to  circulate  truth,  and  truth  alone  ; 
hereby  avoiding  the  occasions  of  controversy,  and  opening  a  channel 
into  which  Christians  of  every  name  might,  without  scruple,  pour 
their  charitable  contributions. 

"  Several  persons  have  expressed  much  solicitude  on  the  subject, 
and,  together  with  those  whom  it  has  chiefly  interested,  look  cheer- 
fully forward  to  the  time  when  a  Society,  founded  on  so  extensive 
and  liberal  a  principle,  shall  be  able  to  announce,  in  a  very  public 
manner,  its  ample  patronage,  and  its  beneficent  exertions." 

To  these  observations  the  following  notice,  with  the  accompanying 
signatures,  was  subjoined ; 

"Sir, 
"  The  prefixed  Address  is  respectfully  submitted  to  your  perusal. 
A  Public  Meeting  will  be  held  relative  to  the  formation  of  the  pro- 
posed Society,  at  the  London  Tavern,  on  Wednesday  the  7th  of 
March,  when  your  presence,  if  you  approve  the  object,  is  requested 
by 


Granville  Sharp, 
William  Alers, 
Joseph  Benwell, 
Henry  Boase, 
Robert  Cowie, 
Samuel  Foyster, 
Joseph  Smith  Gosse, 


Richard  Lea, 
Alexander  Maitland, 
Samuel  Mills, 
Joseph  Reyver, 
Herman  Schroeder, 
Christopher  Sundius, 
George  Wolff. 


"  The  chair  will  be  taken  at  twelve  o'clock  precisely.' 


20  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  1. 

It  was  in  this  stage  of  the  business,  and  through  the  medium  of  the 
circular  above-described,  that  the  writer  of  this  History  became  first 
acquainted  with  the  plan  on  which  so  much  has  been  said,  and  in  the 
subsequent  execution  of  which  he  was  induced  to  take  so  considera- 
ble a  part.  As  his  own  conduct  is  so  greatly  mixed  up  with  the 
transactions  which  it  will  be  his  duty  to  record,  he  trusts  he  shall  be 
excused  for  advei'ting,  both  in  this  and  in  other  parts  of  his  History, 
to  such  particulars  of  a  personal  nature,  as  appear  necessary  to  the 
perspicuity  and  connexion  of  the  work. 

Early  in  the  summer  of  1803,  the  author  received  from  Mr. 
Htighes,  with  whom  he  was  but  very  slightly  acquainted,  two  copies 
of  the  Essay  on  "  The  excellence  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  <!vc."  ac- 
companied with  a  request,  that  he  would  accept  one  for  his  own  use, 
and  present  the  other  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  and  soHcit  his  Lord- 
ship's patronage  to  such  an  Institution  as  that  Essay  was  designed  to 
recommend.  The  author  complied  with  so  much  of  Mr.  Hughes's 
request  as  respected  the  presentation  of  his  Essay  to  the  Bishop  ; 
but  beyond  that,  he  neither  felt  himself  authorized  nor  inclined 
to  proceed.  The  project  for  attempting  the  universal  circulation  of 
the  Scriptures,  and  for  uniting,  in  pursuit  of  that  end,  the  Members, 
Pastors,  and  Prelates  of  the  Established  Church  with  the  different 
sects  and  denominations  of  Dissenters,  appeared  to  be  fraught  with 
so  many  and  such  invincible  difficulties,  that,  regarding  it  as  utterly 
chimerical,  he  took  little  pains  either  to  understand  or  to  recommend 
it.  So  completely  indeed  had  the  presumption  of  its  impracticability 
taken  possession  of  his  mind,  that  he  is  not  aware  of  having  given 
the  plan  any  further  consideration,  till  the  receipt  of  the  circular  re- 
vived the  recollection  of  it ;  and  the  name  of  his  intimate  and  valued 
friend  Granville  Sharp,  at  the  head  of  the  signatures,  determined 
him  to  attend  the  Meeting,  at  which  its  merits  were  to  be  publicly 
and  solemnly  discussed. 

On  Wednesday  the  7th  of  March,  1804,  the  Meeting,  as  convened 
by  the  circular  notice,  took  place  at  the  London  Tavern,  Bishopsgate 
Street  Having  the  preceding  evening  conferred  with  Mr.  Granville 
Sharp,  who  appeared  to  have  allixed  his  signature,  rather  out  of  re- 
spect to  the  object,  than  from  any  particular  knowledge  and  approba- 
tion of  the  means,  the  author  accompanied  him  by  ajjpointmcnt  to 
the  scene  in  which  the  business  was  to  be  transacted.  On  entering 
the  Tavern,  they  were  conducted  to  a  room,  in  which  were  seated  a 
number  of  persons,  diligently  occupied  in  preparing  the  resolutions 
to  be  submitted  to  the  general  body.  The  author  had  scarcely 
taken  the  station  which  the  courtesy  of  tliis  Provisional  Committee 


CHAP.  1}  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


21 


had  assigned  him,  when  he  observed,  among  their  number,  three  in- 
dividuals of  i-espectable  appearance,  whom,  from  wearing  their  hats, 
and  from  the  pecuharity  of  their  garb,  he  perceived  to  be  Quakers.* 
It  had  long  been  an  opinion  current  in  the  world,  that  this  class  of 
Christians  entertained  only  a  quahfied  respect  for  the  letter  of  Scrip- 
ture ;  and  that,  consequently,  the  Bible  was  very  httle  read  and  re- 
commended among  them.     Participating  in   the   influence   of  this 
popular  prejudice,  the  author  could  not  contemplate  the  appearance 
of  Quakers  in  such  a  connexion,  without  feeling  a  sort  of  astonish- 
ment, of  which  his  subsequent  experience  of  their  conduct  in  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  has  repeatedly  made  him  ashamed. 
It  would  not  perhaps  be  difficult  to  account  for  the  origin  and  pre- 
valence of  a  misconception  so  injurious  to  the  character  of  the  indi- 
viduals  to   whom  it   applied.     It   was   generally   known   that  the 
Quakers  were  not  accustomed  to  use  the  Scriptures  in  their  assem- 
blies for  rehgious  worship.     Their  celebrated  apologist,   Barclay, 
had  spoken  of  the  Scriptures  in  terms  very  diflerent  from  those 
which  orthodox  Christians  have  been  accustomed  to  employ;   and 
many  of  their  writers  had  expressed  themselves  on  the  same  subject, 
after  his  example,   in  very  indistinct   and  unsatisfactory  language. 
When  to  these  considerations  is  added  the  almost  utter  ignorance 
tvliich  prevailed  concerning  the  private  habits  and  domestic  economy 
of  this  quiet  and  retiring  people,  it  will  not  be  matter  of  surprise, 
that  an  opinion  should  have  been  entertained  of  their  indifference  to 
the  Scriptures,   for  which  there  appears  in  reahty  to  have  been  so 
little  foundation.! 

*  The  author  trusts  he  shall  not  be  thought  to  treat  the  "  Society  of  Friends' 
with  direspect,  by  using  that  term,  when  speaking  of  them,  by  which  they  are 
generally  known  in  the  world,  rather  than  the  ambiguous  (though  certainly  more 
proper  one)  by  which  they  are  known  among  each  other. 

t  The  following  extract  from  tiieir  Yearly  Epistle  lor  1815,  will  be  read  with 
unqualified  pleasure. 

"  It  has  afforded  us  much  satisfaction  to  believe,  that  the  Christian  practice  of 
daily  reading  iu  families  a  portion  of  Holy  Scripture,  with  a  subsequent  pause  for 
retirement  and  reflection,  is  increasing  among  us.  We  conceive  that  it  is  both 
the  duty  and  the  interest  of  those  who  believe  iu  the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  and 
who  possess  the  invaluable  treasure  of  the  sacred  Records,  frequently  to  recur  to 
lliem  for  instruction  and  consolation.  We  are  desirous  that  this  wholesome  do- 
mestic regulation  may  be  adopted  everywhere.  Heads  of  families,  who  have 
themselves  experienced  the  benefit  of  religious  instruction,  will  do  well  to  con- 
sider whether,  in  this  respect,  they  have  not  a  duty  to  discharge  to  their  servants 
aii.1  others  of  their  household.  Parents,  looking  sincerely  for  help  to  Him  of 
whom  these  Scriptures  testify,  may  not  unfrequcntly,  on  such  occasions,  feel 
themselves  enabled  and  engaged  to  open  to  the  minds  of  their  intercstiug  charge, 
ii^e  great  truths  of  Christian  duty  and  Christian  redemption." 


22  HISTORY  OF  THE  BlUTISH  fPART  t. 

In  fact,  the  peculiarities  of  the  Quakers,  both  in  sentiment  and  dis- 
cipline, were  of  a  nature  to  keep  them  more  widely  separated  from 
the  mass  of  the  community  than  any  other  society  of  Christians  :  and 
hence  it  resulted  that  (witl)  the  exception  of  their  exemplary  morali- 
ty) their  real  character  was  for  a  considerable  period  so  defectiv^ely 
known.  The  abolition  of  the  slave-trade  was  the  tlrst  public  mea- 
sure which  brought  them  into  contact  with  the  rest  of  the  community, 
and  engaged  them  in  a  copartnership  of  practical  benevolence  with 
the  members  of  other  religious  denominations  :  but  it  was  reserved 
for  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  to  enlarge  the  boundaries 
of  this  philanfhroj>ic  intercourse  ;  and  to  incorporate  the  affections 
and  exertions  of  this  benevolent  people  with  those  of  their  Fellow- 
Christians  in  every  part  of  the  world. 

The  reader  will,  it  is  hoped,  excuse  a  digression,  which  had  for 
its  object  to  place  in  a  just  light  the  character  of  a  people  whose  ser- 
vices in  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  have  not  been  surpass- 
ed by  those  of  the  warmest  and  most  active  of  its  members.  It  will 
illustrate,  at  the  same  time,  the  tendency  of  this  Catholic  Institution 
to  correct  the  errors  into  which  Christians  of  every  denomination 
have  been  betrayed,  in  forming  their  judgment  of  each  other;  and  to 
inculcate  upon  them  all  the  necessary  obligations  of  justice,  candour, 
and  charity.     But  to  return  : 

Previously  to  the  termination  of  this  preparatory  meeting,  a 
paper  was  put  into  the  author's  hands,  containing  a  series  of  Resolu- 
tions, accompanied  with  a  request,  that  if  he  should  approve  them, 
he  would  move  their  adoption,  as  the  basis  of  the  proposed  Society. 
The  arrangements  being  completed,  the  parties  were  ushered  into 
the  great  room,  where  a  respectable  company  was  assembled,  amount- 
ing to  about  300  persons  of  difforent  rrhgious  denominations.  Mr. 
Granville  Sharp  was  unanimously  called  to  the  chair,  and  so  strongly 
was  he  impressed  with  the  importance  of  the  object,  that,  notwith- 
standing his  almost  unconquerable  aversion  to  occupy  a  place  which 
implied  siich  distinction,  (an  aversion  never  overcome  in  the  Com- 
mittee tor  the  Abolition  of  the  Slave-trade,  of  which  he  was  appoint- 
ed perpetual  Chairman,*)  he  obeyed  the  unanimous  call,  and  pre- 
sided accordingly. 

•  The  following  extract  from  IMr.  Clarkson's  History  of  the  Abolition  of  the 
Slave-lraile,  will  confirm  what  is  stated  al)ove. 

*'  At  one  of  those  nieetings,  (says  Mr.  Clarkson,  speaking  of  the  Conimittoe  for 
the  Abolition  of  the  Slave-trade,)  a  resolution  was  made,  that  Granville  Sharp, 
Jisq.  be  appointed  chairman.  This  appointment,  thongh  now  first  formally  made 
in  the  miDute  book,  waa  always  understood  to  have  taken  place ;  but  the  modesty 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


23 


The  business  of  the  day  was  opened  by  Robert  Cowic,  Esq. 
WilHam  Alers,  Esq.  followed ;  and  he  was  succeeded  by  Samuel  Mill-i, 
Esq.  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hughes.  These  gentlemen  explained  the  na- 
ture and  design  of  the  projected  Society  ;  demonstrated  its  necessity, 
from  the  great  want  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  the  insufficiency  of 
all  the  means  in  existence  to  supply  it;  and  in  a  strain  of  good  sense, 
temperate  zeal,  and  perspicuous  information,  urged  the  importance 
of  its  immediate  establishment.  After  these  speakers  had  sat  down, 
there  arose  another  advocate,  in  the  person  of  the  Rev.  Mr  Stein- 
kopff,  whose  address  corroborated  what  had  been  already  advanced, 
and  in  the  happiest  manner  completed  the  effect.  The  author  had 
yielded,  he  will  confess,  a  reluctant  assent  to  the  pleadings  of  those 
by  whom  Mr.  Steinkopff  was  preceded :  but  the  representation  which 
he  gave  of  that  scarcity  of  the  Scriptures  which  he  had  himself  ob- 
served in  foreign  parts  ;  the  unaffected  simplicity  with  which  he  de- 
scribed the  spiritual  wants  of  his  German  fellow-coufitiymen ;  and 
the  tender  pathos  with  which  he  appealed  on  their  behalf  to  the  com- 
passion and  munificence  of  British  Christians,  spoke  so  forcibly  both 
to  the  mind  and  the  heart,  as  to  subdue  all  the  author's  remaining 
powers  of  resistance^  and  decide  him  in  favour  of  the  Institution. 

After  Mr.  Steinkopff  had  resumed  his  seat,  the  author  rose,  by  an 
impulse  which  he  had  neither  the  inclination  nor  the  power  to  disobey, 
in  order  to  express  his  conviction,  that  such  an  Institution  as  that 
which  had  been  recommended,  was  manifestly  needed  ;  and  that 
therefore  the  establishment  of  it  ought  not  to  be  delayed.  His  emo- 
tions, on  rising,  were  such,  as  he  will  not  attempt  to  describe.  Sur- 
rounded by  a  multitude  of  Christians,  whose  doctrinal  and  ritual  dif- 
ferences had  for  ages  kept  them  asunder,  and  who  had  been  taught  to 
regard  each  other  with  a  sort  of  pious  estrangement,  or  I'ather  of 
consecrated  hostility  ;  and  reflecting  on  the  object  and  the  end  which 

of  Mr.  Sharp  was  such,  that,  though  repeatedly  pressed,  he  would  never  consent 
to  take  the  chair,  and  be  grenerally  refrained  from  coming  into  the  room  till  after 
he  knew  it  to  be  taken.  Nor  could  he  be  prevailed  upon,  even  after  this  resolu- 
tion, to  alter  his  conduct;  for  though  he  continued  to  sign  the  papers  which  were 
handed  to  him  by  virtue  of  holding  this  office,  he  never  ivas  once  seated  as  the 
chairman  during  the  ticcnty  years  in  which  he  attended  at  these  meetings.  I  thought 
it  not  improper  to  mention  tliis  trait  in  his  character-  Conscious  that  he  engaged 
in  the  cause  of  his  fellow-creatures  solely  upon  the  sense  of  his  duty  as  a  Chris- 
tian, he  seems  to  have  supposed  either  that  he  had  done  nothing  extraordinary  to 
merit  such  a  distinction,  or  to  have  been  fearful  lest  the  acceptance  of  it  should 
bring  a  stain  upon  the  motive  on  which  alone  he  undertook  it."— C/arAson'j  HiS' 
lory  of  the  Abolition  of  the  Slavc-trsdc^  vol.  i.  p.  449 


24  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  1. 

had  brought  them  so  harmoniously  together ;  he  felt  an  impression, 
which  the  lapse  of  more  than  ten  years  has  scarcely  diminished,  and 
which  no  length  of  time  will  entirely  remove.  The  scene  was  new  : 
nothing  analogous  to  it  had  perhaps  been  exhibited  before  the  public 
since  Christians  had  begun  to  organize  among  each  other  the  strife 
of  separation,  and  to  carry  into  their  own  camp  that  war  which  they 
ought  to  have  waged  in  concert  against  the  common  enemy.  To  the 
author  it  appeared  to  indicate  the  dawn  of  a  new  era  in  Christendom ; 
and  to  portend  something  like  the  return  of  those  auspicious  days, 
when  "  tlie  multitude  of  them  that  believed  were  of  one  heart  and  of 
one  soul;"  and  when,  as  a  consequence  of  that  union,  to  a  certain 
degree  at  least,  "  the  Word  of  God  mightily  grew  and  prevailed." 

After  giving  utterance  to  these  feelings,  in  the  best  way  he  could, 
the  author  moved,  as  requested,  the  following  Resolutions. 

1.  A  Society  shall  be  formed,  with  this  designation, 

THE  BRITISH  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY ; 

of  which  the  sole  object  shall  be  to  encourage  a  wider  disper- 
sion of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

2.  This  Society  shall  add  its  endeavours  to  those  employed  by  other 

Societies  for  circulating  the  Scriptures  through  the  British  domi- 
nions, and  shall  also,  according  to  its  ability,  extend  its  influence 
to  other  countries,  whether  Christian,  Mahometan,  or  Pagan. 

3.  Each  Subscriber  of  One  Guinea  annually  shall  he  a  Member. 

4.  Each  Subscriber  of  Twenty  Pounds  at  one  time,  shall  be  a  Mem- 

ber for  life  ;  a  Subscriber  of  Five  Guineas  per  annum,  shall  be 
a  Governor  ;  and  a  Subscriber  of  Fifty  Pounds,  or  upwards,  at 
one  time,  shall  be  a  Governor  for  life.  Governors  shall  be  en- 
titled to  attend  and  vote  at  all  the  Meetings  of  the  Committee. 

j5.  An  Executor,  paying  a  Bequest  of  Fifty  Pounds,  shall  be  a  Mem- 
ber for  life  ;  or  of  One  Hundred  Pounds,  or  more,  a  Governor 
for  life. 

6.  Each  Member  shall  be  entitled,  under  the  direction  of  the  Com- 
mittee, to  purchase  Bibles  and  Testaments,  for  the  purpose  of 


CHAP.  I.J  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  25 

gratuitous  distribution,  at  the  Society's  prices,  wliich  shall  be  as 
low  as  possible ;  but  no  English  Bibles  or  Testaments  shall  be 
given  away  in  Great  Britain  by  the  Society  itself. 

7.  The  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society  shall  be  held  in  the  month  of 

May,  when  the  Treasurer  and  Committee  shall  be  chosen,  the 
Accounts  audited,  and  the  Proceedings  of  the  foregoing  Year 
reported. 

8.  The  Committee  shall  consist  of  Thirty-six  Members,  who  shall 

conduct  the  business  of  the  Society,  and  have  power  to  call  an 
extraordinary  General  Meeting.  Twenty-four  of  the  Commit- 
tee, who  shall  have  most  frequently  attended,  shall  be  eligible 
to  re-election  the  ensuing  year. 

9.  The  Committee  shall  recommend,  at  the  General  Meetings,  such 

Noblemen  and  Gentlemen  as  shall  have  rendered  important  Ser- 
vices to  the  Society,  to  be  elected  Honorary  Members. 

These  Resolutions,  which  are  inserted  at  length,  that  the  reader 
may  observe  the  gradations  of  improvement  in  the  constitution  of  the 
Society,  were  adopted  with  unanimous  demonstrations  of  cordiality 
and  joy.  The  Institution  was  considered  as  established ;  and  more 
than  700/.  were  immediately  subscribed. 

Thus  terminated  the  proceedings  of  this  extraordinary  day,  a  day 
memorable  in  the  experience  of  all  who  participated  in  the  transac- 
tions by  which  it  was  signalized ;  a  day,  to  which  posterity  will  look 
back,  as  giving  to  the  world,  and  that  in  times  of  singular  perturba- 
tion and  distress,  an  Institution  for  diffusing,  on  the  grandest  scale,  the 
tidings  of  peace  and  salvation ;  a  day,  which  will  be  recorded  as  pe- 
cuharly  honourable  to  the  character  of  Great  Britain,  and  as  fixing 
an  important  epoch  in  the  rehgious  history  of  mankind. 

The  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  having  thus  been  established, 
the  author  felt  it  important  to  make  an  early  communication  of  the 
fact  to  the  Bishop  of  London.  On  his  return  therefore  to  Fulham, 
he  immediately  addressed  a  letter  to  the  Bishop,  at  that  time  in  resi- 
dence at  London-house,  St.  James's  Square  ;  and  as  his  Lordship  was 
pleased  to  honour  the  author  with  much  of  his  confidence,  gave  him 
a  full  and  circumstantial  account  of  the  entire  transaction. 

In  this  communication  the  author  stated  to  his  Lordship  what  he 
had  witnessed,  and  how  he  had  considered  it  his  duty  to  act.  He 
mentioned  the  evidence,  which  had  been  produced,  of  the  want  of 


2G  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

the  Scriptures,  both  in  Great  Britain  and  in  foreign  parts ;  described 
the  comprehensive  principle  on  which  the  Society  was  constituted, 
and  the  spirit  of  candour  and  liberality  in  which  it  had  been  formed ; 
submitted  to  his  Lordship,  that  the  challenge  so  liberally  given,  on 
the  part  of  our  Dissenting  Brethren,  ought,  on  our  part,  to  be  as  li- 
berally accepted  ;  and  expressed  his  conviction,  that  it  was  equally 
expedient  for  the  honour  of  the  church,  and  for  the  accomplishment 
of  the  Society's  object,  that  the  Ministers  and  Members  of  our  Ec- 
clesiastical Establishment  should  give  it  their  decided  countenance 
and  support. 

This  representation  was  not  lost  on  the  enlightened  mind  and  can- 
did temper  of  Bishop  Porteus.  Ever  aUve  to  the  concerns  of  reli- 
gion and  humanity,  and  extending  his  views  of  responsibility  and  use- 
fulness beyond  the  limits  of  a  peculiar  jurisdiction,  this  excellent 
Prelate  was  accustomed  to  enter  with  zeal  into  plans  of  general  be- 
nevolence ;  and  to  take  a  real  interest  in  whatever  regarded  the  dis- 
semination of  truth,  and  virtue,  and  happiness,  in  any  part  of  the 
world.  A  plan,  therefore,  contemplating,  as  its  object,  the  universal 
circulation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  could  scarcely  fail  to  meet  with  a 
favourable  reception  in  such  a  quarter.  After  a  reasonable  delay, 
the  Bishop  replied  to  this  communication,  in  very  satisfactory  and  en- 
couraging terms.  In  the  course  of  his  reply,  his  Lordship  distinctly 
stated,  that  "  he  very  much  approved  the  design  of  the  Bible  Socie- 
ty ;"  that  "  he  had  mentioned  it  to  several  of  his  friends,  who  also 
approved  of  it;"  but  that  he  wished,  for  their  satisfaction  and  his 
own,  to  have  further  information ;  and  added,  that  if  the  author 
transmitted  to  him  the  desired  intelligence  respecting  the  actual  Sub- 
scribers and  Members  of  the  Institution,  "  it  might  materially  promote 
the  success  of  the  plan."* 

*  The  Rev.  Ai-ch'lcacon  Hodgson  has  expressed  the  views  which  the  Bishop  had 
in  attaching  himself  to  the  Society,  in  terms,  which,  while  they  do  justice  tO  the 
enlarged  liberality  of  his  Lordship's  mind,  reflect  no  small  credit  on  the  discern- 
ment and  the  candour  of  his  Biographer.  The  following  are  the  Archdeacon's 
words : 

"The  plan  of  this  Society  embraced  a  most  extensive  range  of  action:  and  in 
order  to  raise  an  ade(iuate  fund,  it  was  thought  necessary,  not  to  confine  it  merely 
to  Members  of  the  Established  Church, but  to  take  in  without  exceptional!  deno- 
minations of  Christians.  But  then,  on  the  other  hand,  it  was  laid  down  as  a  pri- 
mary and  fundamental  rule,  from  whicii  tiiere  was  in  no  instance  to  be  the  slight- 
est deviation,  that  its  sole  and  exclusive  object  should  be  the  circnlatimi  of  the 
Scriptures,  nniUhe  Scriptures  only,  niihout  note  or  comment. 

"  A  limitation  thus  absolute  and  unequivocal,  remaved  from  the  Bishop's  mind 
all  doubt  and  hesitation.    He  sow  instantly  that  a  design  of  such  magnitude, which 


CHAP.  I.J  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  27 

While  this  negotiation  was  proceeding  with  the  Bishop  of  London, 
very  active  and  unremitted  exertions  were  made  to  complete  the  inter- 
nal organization  of  the  Society,  and  adapt  it  to  general  acceptance 
and  support.  Nothing  had  been  determined  on  the  7th  of  March, 
beyond  the  simple  act  of  establishing  a  Society  under  the  designation 
of  "  The  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,"  and  the  adoption  of 
certain  elementary  propositions,  as  the  outline  of  its  future  constitu- 
tion. A  Committee  had  indeed  been  nominated  ;  but  the  appoint- 
ment of  officers,  the  selection  of  patronage,  and  the  adjustment  of 
all  the  practical  machinery,  were  measures  which  remained  to  be 
executed  ;  and  the  execution  of  them  was  attended  with  difficulties, 
which,  had  the  object  of  the  Society  been  less  definite,  and  the  at- 
tachment to  it  less  sincere,  would,  in  all  human  probability,  have 
proved  insuperable. 

The  Committee  nominated  at  the  formation  of  the  Society,  and  on 
which  these  executive  measures  had  devolved,  consisted  of  individu- 
als, highly  respectable,  and  conscientiously  devoted  to  the  service  of 
the  Institution.  But  the  diversity  of  religious  sentiment,  connexion, 
and  denomination,  by  which  they  were  characterized,  may  naturally 
be  supposed  to  have  thrown  serious  obstacles  in  the  way  of  that  mu- 
tual understanding  which  is  the  only  sure  basis  of  a  sincere  and 
steady  co-operation.  Never,  perhaps,  before  were  thirty-six  per- 
sons brought  together  for  the  prosecution  and  attainment  of  a  com- 
mon purpose,  whose  views,  and  habits,  and  prejudices,  exhibited  a 
greater  and  more  unpromising  variety.  Strangers  in  many  instances 
to  each  other's  persons,  and  not  a  little  disaffijcted  to  each  other's  re- 
ligious systems,  they  had  to  struggle  against  feelings  to  which  time 
and  mutual  alienation  had  given  in  a  manner  the  authority  of  princi- 
ples ;  and  to  balance  the  value  of  the  object  itself  against  that  of  the 

aimed  at  nothing  less  than  the  dispersion  of  4he  Bible  over  every  accessible  part  of 
the  world,  could  be  accomplished  only  by  the  association  of  men  of  all  religions 
persuasions.  He  looked  forward  to  great  results  from  such  a  combination  of  effort. 
He  entertained  the  hope,  that  if  might  operate  as  a  bond  of  union  between  contend- 
ing parties;  and  that  by  bringing  them  together  in  one  point  of  vast  moment,  about 
which  there  could  hardly  be  a  diversity  of  opinion,  it  might  gradually  allay  that 
bitterness  of  dispute,  and  put  an  end  to  those  unhappy  divisions,  which  had  so  long- 
tarnished  the  credit  of  the  Christian  world.  Whilst  therefore  he  remained  firmly 
attached  to  the  original  Society,  whose  exertions,  as  far  as  its  limited  sphere  allow- 
ed, noone  ever  held  in  higher  estimation,  he  gave  at  the  same  time  the  sanction  of 
his  name  without  scruple  to  the  new  one;  and  the  more  he  considered  its  object, 
and  the  longer  experience  he  had  of  the  spirit  and  principles  on  which  it  was  con- 
ducted, the  more  deeply  he  was  conviuced,  that  it  merited  all  the  support  which  the 
Church  of  England  could  give  it." 


28  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  1. 

minor  considerations  which  must  be  sacrificed  in  order  to  attain  it.  It 
is  not  therefore  to  be  wondered  at,  that,  in  the  outset  of  their  pro- 
ceedings, a  Committee  thus  composed  should  experience  no  ordinary 
embarrassment.  A  sense  of  propriety  dictated,  that  parties  so 
strangely  diversified  should  mutually  advance  towards  each  other 
with  wariness  and  reserve  :  and  it  is  natural  to  conclude,  that  in  the 
exercise  of  this  caution,  they  would  occasionally  betray  those  emo- 
tions of  jealousy,  which  served  to  demonstrate,  how  much  they 
were  indebted  to  the  influence  of  the  Bible  for  effecting  their  approx- 
imation to  a  common  standard. 

These  observations  must  be  considered  as  chiefly  applying  to  the 
state  of  the  Committee,  antecedently  to  that  improvement  which  it  af- 
tenvards  received  ;  and  they  are  made  in  this  place,  in  order  that  the 
reader  may  be  the  better  qualified  to  estimate  the  difhculties  attend- 
ing the  accomplishment  of  those  measures  which  we  are  now  to  re- 
late ;  and  which,  while  they  completed  the  draught  of  the  Society's 
constitution,  laid  the  foundation  of  that  mutual  confidence,  cordiality, 
and  co-operation,  by  which  its  Committee  have  been,  and  continue  to 
be,  so  honourably  distinguished.* 

The  first  of  the  measures  referred  to  was  the  appointment  of  a 
Secretary.  On  the  12th  of  March,  only  five  days  subsequently 
to  that  on  which  the  Society  was  formed,  the  subject  was  started  in 
a  full  meeting  of  the  Committee ;  and  a  respectable  member,  after 
passing  a  deserved  encomium  on  the  talents,  the  character,  and  the 
services  of  that  individual  to  whom  the  Society  was  so  eminently  in- 
debted for  its  origin  and  formation,  concluded  by  moving,  that  the 
Rev.  Joseph  Hughes  be  appointed  Seci-etary  to  the  Institution.  Un- 
der a  sense  of  duty,  the  author  took  upon  himself  the  painful,  and 
apparently  invidious  task  of  objecting  to  such  an  appointment. 
Without  questioning  the  purity  of  those  motives  by  which  the  propo- 
ser was  actuated,  or  the  justice  of  that  commendation  which  he  had 
bestowed  on  the  individual  proposed,  the  author  ventured  to  repre- 
sent, in  strong  terms,  both  the  impropriety  and  the  impolicy  of  con- 

*  In  proof  of  what  is  stated  above,  may  be  adduced  the  following  testimony  de- 
Uvcied  by  the  Right  Hon.  the  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  at  the  Eighth  Anni- 
versary of  tiic  Institution. 

*'  I  have  entered  very  considerably  into  the  details  of  business  in  the  Commit- 
tee; 1  iiavc  attended  many  of  its  meetings;  and  I  wish  to  bear  this  public  tesfi- 
luony  to  the  harmony,  candour,  and  impartiality,  with  which  the  concerns  of  the 
Society  are  conducted  :  tliat  from  (he  part  taken,  and  the  sentiments  uttered,  by 
the  persons  who  take  the  lead  in  the  conduct  of  the  Society's  affairs,  f  should  not 
be  able  to  ascertain  who  are  Churchmen  and  who  are  Dissenters  " 


CHAP.  I.]  A^-D  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY'.  29 

3tituting  a  Dissenting  Minister,  however  highly  respectable  and  meri- 
torious, the  Secretary  of  an  Institution  which  was  designed  to  unite 
the  whole  body  oi  Christians,  and  for  which  its  Directors  had  evinced 
so  laudable  an  anxiety  to  obtain  the  patronage  and  co-operation  of 
the  Established  Church. 

Into  this  view  of  the  subject,  both  the  mover  of  the  question,  tind 
the  Committee  at  large,  most  readily  entered  ;  and  it  was  immediately 
perceived  that  the  objection  might  be  removed,  by  associating  in  the 
appointment,  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hughes,  a  Clergyman  of  the  Esta- 
blished Church.  An  amendment  to  this  effect  was  proposed,  and 
unanimously  adopted  ;  and  the  author  was  invited  to  accept  the  situa- 
tion. Highly  as  he  estimated  the  honour  which  such  an  invitation 
imphed,  he  respectfully,  but  peremptorily,  declined  it.  In  so  doing, 
he  assigned,  as  the  ground  of  his  refusal,  his  domestic,  parochial, 
and  other  employments  ;  and  directed  the  attention  of  the  Committee 
to  the  Rev.  Josiah  Pratt,  B.  D.  Secretary  to  the  Church  Missionary 
Society,  at  that  time  present,  as  a  person  who  united  the  talents  and 
experience  which  such  an  office  might  be  supposed  to  require.  To 
this  recommendation  the  Committee  acceded ;  and  the  Rev.  Josiah 
Pratt  and  the  Rev.  Joseph  Hughes  were  appointed  Secretaries 
accordingly. 

The  Committee  now  appeared  to  think  that  they  had  paid  due  re- 
gard to  every  consideration  which  claimed  their  attention,  and  had 
rendered  their  Secretariat  department  complete ;  when  an  indi- 
vidual* arose,  and  observed,  that  the  work  was  imperfect,  and  that  a 
serious  deficiency  still  remained  to  be  supphed.  Provision  had,  he 
said,  been  made  for  the  Establishment  and  the  Dissenters,  but 
none  for  the  Foreign  Churches.  He  therefore  recommended,  that 
another  office  should  be  created,  that  of  Foreign  Secretary ;  and 
that  it  should  be  conferred  on  a  Gentleman,  who  had  already  mani- 
fested his  disposition  and  his  ability  to  serve  the  Society — the  Rev. 
Mr.  Steinkopff.  On  the  proposal,  as  it  respected  both  the  office  and 
the  individual,  there  was  but  one  opinion  ;  and  the  result  was,  that 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Steinkopff  was  unanimously  added  to  the  number  of  the 
Secretaries. 

Thus  suddenly,  and  as  it  were  by  casualty,  was  the  plan  which  re- 
gulates the  Secretariship  of  the  Society  concerted  and  matured. 
The  progress  of  an  hour  carried  the  Committee  on,    from  the  hasty 

*  This  individual  was  William  Alers,  Esq.  a  Gentleman  of  known  philanthropy, 
and  who  took  a  prominent  and  useful  part  in  the  Meeting'  at  which  the  Society  was 
formed.    See  p.  23. 

6 


30  IllSTORy  OK  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

suggestion  of  a  fehort-sighted  attachment  to  the  wise  determination  of 
a  Hberal  policy  ;  and  the  Meeting,  which  commenced  with  a  proposi- 
tion calculated  to  gratify  one  section  only  of  the  Christian  commu- 
nity, terminated  in  a  conclusion,  which,  from  its  comprehensive  pro- 
visions, was  adapted  to  satisfy,  to  conciliate,  and  to  unite  all  classes 
of  Christians,  both  at  home  and  abroad. 

The  principal  offices  in  the  Secretariship  having  been  thus  satis- 
factorily filled  up,  the  attention  of  the  Committee  was,  at  their  next 
Meeting,  directed  to  the  appointment  of  an  Assistant  Secretary  and 
Collector.  It  was  their  intention  to  unite  the  two  occupations  in  one 
and  the  same  officer.  Two  individuals,  Mr.  Joseph  Tarn,  and  Mr. 
Thomas  Smith,  were  nominated  as  candidates  for  this  office,  with  re- 
commendations so  strong,  so  highly  approved,  and  so  equally  balanced, 
as  to  make  it  difficult  for  the  Committee  to  determine,  which  of  the 
two  it  would  be  their  duty  to  prefer,  or  how  they  could  in  fact  accept 
either,  without  the  risk  of  wounding  some  feeling,  and  sacrificing 
some  advantage,  by  rejecting  the  other.  With  that  spirit  of  wisdom 
and  accommodation  which  has  characterized  their  earliest  and  their 
latest  proceedings,  they  decided  to  avail  themselves  of  the  services  of 
both.  The  respective  departments  df  these  two  officers  were  assign- 
ed with  admirable  precision  by  a  very  intelligent  Sub-Committee  : 
and  both  the  choice  of  the  individuals,  and  the  distribution  of  their 
employments,  were  afterwards  justified  by  an  ample  and  beneficial 
experience. 

The  next  steps  which  were  taken  respected  a  plan  for  new  mo- 
delling the  Conunittee, — a  revision  of  the  Laws, — and  certain  other 
steps  of  inferior  moment,  which  had  for  their  object  to  regulate  the 
internal  machinei-y  of  the  Institution. 

The  first  of  these,  the  plan  for  new  modelling  the  Committee,  was 
a  measure,  which  for  the  felicity  of  thought  with  which  it  was  con- 
ceived, the  good  temper  on  all  sides  with  which  it  was  executed,  and 
the  practical  advantages  with  which  it  has  been  followed,  deserves  to 
be  particularly  related  and  explained. 

By  the  eighth  resolution,  as  settled  at  the  formation  of  the  Society 
on  the  7th  of  March,  it  was  enacted,  tliat  the  Committee  for  conduct- 
ing its  business  "should  consist  of  thirty-six  Members."  Nothing 
was,  however,  stated  or  defined  in  that  resolution,  as  to  the  descrip- 
tion which  these  Members  should  answer,  or  the  religious  communion 
to  which  they  should  respectively  belong.  They  were  chosen, 
therefore,  indiscriminately,  from  the  Episcopal  Clergy,  Dissenting 
Ministers,  and  the  Laity  at  large  ;   with  little  reference  to  any  other 


CHAP.  I]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  31 

qualification,  than  that  of  known  or  reputed  attachment  to  rehgion, 
and  either  ascertained  or  probable  regard  for  the  object  and  success 
of  the  Institution. 

It  appeared,  upon  reflection,  that  a  list,  which  should  exhibit 
such  a  combination  as  would  naturally  arise  from  so  desultory 
a  choice,  might  excite  a  prejudice  against  the  designs  of  the  Society, 
and  give  it  that  aspect  in  the  eyes  of  the  public,  which  would  pre- 
clude it  from  general  support.  It  was  further  considered,  that  it 
would  be  highly  inexpedient  to  let  the  composition  of  a  body,  en- 
trusted with  the  direction  of  the  Society's  affairs,  remain  wholly  un- 
defined ;  and  to  leave  the  annual  election  of  its  Members  to  the  un- 
certain operation  of  casual  and  unregulated  feeling.  A  plan  was 
therefore  concerted  for  modelling  the  Committee  on  a  principle 
which  should  define  the  respective  proportions  of  Churchmen,  Dis- 
senters, and  Foreigners ;  and  prescribe  such  other  regulations  as 
might  obviate  prejudice,  prevent  invidious  competition,  and  maintain 
inviolate  the  exercise  of  those  rights  both  of  conscience  and  judgment, 
which  no  constituent  part  of  the  Committee  were  either  expected  or 
disposed  to  surrender. 

According  to  this  plan,  it  was  determined,  that  the  Committee 
should  consist  exclusively  of  Laymen  ;  that  of  the  thirty-six  Mem- 
bers, to  which  number  it  was  limited,  six  should  be  Foreigners,  re- 
sident in,  or  near  the  Metropolis  ;  and  of  the  remaining  thirty,  one 
half  should  be  Members  of  the  Established  Church,  and  the  other 
half  Members  of  other  Christian  denominations.  In  order,  however, 
to  secure  the  services  of  the  Clergy  and  of  Ministers  generally,  pro- 
vision was  made  for  their  admission  to  a  seat  and  a  vote  in  the  Com- 
mittee, on  the  terms  which  made  them  Members  of  the  Society ; 
a  provision,  which,  while  it  concealed  their  names,  recognized  their 
privileges,  and  retained  their  co-operation.  The  merit  of  this  plan 
belongs  wholly  to  the  Rev.  Josiah  Pratt :  and  when  it  is  considered 
with  whom  the  Society  originated,  and  under  what  sort  of  influence 
its  first  Committee  had  been  formed,  it  will  appear,  that  it  must  have 
required  much  energy  on  the  one  part,  and  no  less  moderation  on  the 
other,  to  accomplish  a  measure  which  involved  so  many  and  such 
material  changes.  The  subject  was  indeed  very  freely  discussed  ;  and 
objections  were  urged  against  parcelling  out  the  Committee  by  lines  of 
religious  distinction :  but  the  discussion  was  conducted  throughout  in 
a  Christian  spirit ;  and  ended  in  a  unanimous  determination,  to  adopt 
the  proposed  improvements  in  all  their  extent. 

So  considerable  an  alteration,  or  rather  enlargement,  of  the  law 
which  directed  the  appointment  of  the  Committee,  demanded,  to  ren 


32  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

der  it  valid  and  give  it  operation,  the  sanction  of  a  General  Meeting; 
and  it  appearing  desirable  to  take  advantage  of  such  an  occasion  to 
consolidate  the  establishment  and  extend  the  reputation  of  the  Socie- 
ty, a  resolution  was  formed,  that  the  whole  of  its  regulations  should  be 
carefully  revised,  and  a  finished  draught  of  the  constitution  be  pre- 
pared for  the  approbation  of  the  general  body. 

While  the  business  created  by  this  resolution  was  proceeding,  a 
change  was  projected  and  accomplished  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary 
for  the  Established  Church.  The  proposition  which  led  to  it  origina- 
ted with  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pratt,  who  made  such  a  representation  to  the 
Committee,  as  disposed  them  to  concur  with  him  in  believing,  that  it 
.  would  be  for  the  advantage  of  the  Institution,  if  the  author  could  be 
induced  to  occupy  the  station  which  had  been  so  ably  and  beneficial- 
ly filled  by  himself.  The  grounds  upon  which  the  author's  consent 
was  solicited,  were  such  as  seemed  scarcely  to  leave  him  an  option. 
He  therefore  acquiesced  in  the  proposed  arrangement,  and  the  change 
took  place  accordingly.  Mr.  Pratt  had  been  appointed  Secretary  on 
the  12th  of  March;  on  the  'i3d  of  April  his  voluntary  resignation  was 
accepted,  and  the  author  was  appointed  to  succeed  him.  The  con- 
duct of  Mr.  Pratt  in  this  transaction  was  too  creditable  to  the  integri- 
ty of  his  mind,  and  his  superiority  to  the  desire  of  personal  distinc- 
tion, not  to  attract  the  notice  and  excite  the  gratitude  of  the  Commit- 
tee. They  marked  their  sense  of  his  generosity  by  a  testimony  of 
their  warmest  approbation  ;  and  voted  him  their  unanimous  thanks 
"  for  his  very  disinterested  attention  to  the  welfare  of  the  Institu- 
tion." 

In  the  same  interval  too,  within  which  the  circumstance  just  menr 
tioned  occurred,  and  while  the  business  of  internal  organization  was 
in  progress,  attention  was  directed  to  such  measures  of  external  ar- 
rangement as  might  hereafter  conduce  to  the  Society's  domestic  and 
foreign  operations.  A  train  was  laid  for  ascertaining,  as  widely  as 
possible,  the  want  of  the  Scriptures  ;  and  every  thing  was  done,  wliich 
zeal  could  prompt,  and  an  Institution  but  partially  formed  could  be 
expected  to  achieve,  in  order  to  promote  inquiry,  and  to  engage  a 
friendly  and  active  co-operation  both  at  home  and  abroad. 

The  revised  plan  of  the  Society  being  now  prepared,  and  having 
received  the  approbation  of  the  Committee,  a  General  Meeting  of 
the  subscribers  and  friends  of  the  Institution  was  publicly  advertised 
for  Wednesday  the  2d  of  May ;  and  the  Uight  Hon.  Lord  Teign- 
mouth,  whose  name  had  appeared  among  the  earliest  in  the  list  of 
contributors,  was  respectfully  solicited,  through  his  personal  friend 
Z'aehary  Macaiilay.  Esq.  an  active,  judicious,  and  most  useful  Mem- 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  33 

ber  of  the  Committee,  to  take  the  chair  on  that  occasion.  To  this 
apphcation  his  Lordship  very  promptly  acceded :  but  ill  health  com- 
pelling him  to  retract  his  engagement,  Granville  Sharp,  Esq.  the  for- 
mer chairman,  was  requested  to  repeat  his  services,  in  the  same  ca- 
pacity ;  and  with  this  request,  however  little  congenial  with  his  per- 
sonal feelings,  he  kindly  complied. 

On  the  day  appointed,  the  meeting  was  held,  in  the  same  room  at 
the  London  Tavern  in  which  the  Society  had  been  formed.  Gran- 
ville Sharp,  Esq.  presided,  with  his  characteristic  urbanity  and  atten- 
tion. A  Report  was  read,  purporting  that  the  Committee  had  been 
occupied  in  opening  communications  with  various  persons  of  influence 
in  different  parts  of  the  United  Kingdom,  and  of  the  Continent,  for  the 
purpose  of  obtaining  intelligence,  augmenting  the  funds  of  the  Society, 
and  otherwise  promoting  its  interest.  The  amended  plan  of  the  So- 
ciety's regulations  was  then  presented,  and  unanimously  approved  and 
adopted.  The  attendance  and  exertions  of  William  Wilberforce, 
Esq.  added  much  to  the  interest  of  the  day.  He  addressed  the  meet- 
ing in  a  speech  of  equal  animation  and  judgment.  While  he  encou- 
raged the  Members  of  the  Society  to  proceed  in  their  undertaking  with 
an  ardour  becoming  the  object  and  the  end,  he  cautioned  them  against 
precipitating  their  measures,  and  urged  upon  them  the  extreme  im- 
portance of  guarding  against  premature  and  ostentatious  publicity. 
The  observations  of  Mr.  Wilberforce  produced,  as  they  are  accustom- 
ed to  do,  a  very  sensible  effect ;  and  the  meeting  separated,  with  an 
increased  conviction  of  the  excellence  of  their  cause,  and  a  confirm- 
ed resolution  to  unite  with  their  zeal  in  the  prosecution  of  its  interests 
that  discretion  which  had  been  so  opportunely  and  impressively  re- 
commended. 

The  constitution  of  the  Society,  as  revised  and  amended,  having 
thus  received  the  sanction  of  the  general  body,  preparation  was  now 
made  for  setting  its  powers  in  motion,  and  directing  the  machinery  of 
which  it  consisted,  to  the  objects  upon  which  it  was  hereafter  to  be 
so  actively  employed.  With  this  view,  an  early  day  was  fixed  upon 
for  the  first  meeting  of  the  Lay  Committee,  in  order  that  it  might  be 
ascertained,  with  the  least  possible  loss  of  time,  on  whom  the  So- 
ciety might  depend  for  engaging  to  conduct  the  practical  business 
of  the  Institution.  The  result  of  this  meeting  was  the  definitive 
appointment  of  that  Committee,  from  the  individuals  who  had  sig- 
nified their  acceptance  of  the  nomination,  and  from  such  others  as 
were  proposed  and  approved,  in  the  place  of  those  who  had  dechued. 
The  following  list  will  show  who  the  parties  were  to  whom  the  ho- 


34 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH 


[PART  I. 


nour  belon^^s  of  having  served  in  the  first  Committee  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  after  it  had  acquired  a  regular  and  permanent 
constitution. 


William  Alers,  Esq. 
T.  Babington,  Esq. 
Thomas  Bernard,  Esq. 
Joseph  Benw^ell,  Esq. 
Wilson  Birkbeck,  Esq. 
Henry  Boase,  Esq. 
.Joseph  Bunnell,  Esq. 
J.  Butterworth,   Esq. 
Robert  Covv'ie,  Esq. 
Charles  Crawford,  Esq. 
John  Fenn,  Esq. 
Sebastian  Fridag,  Esq. 
Charles  Grant,  Esq. 
Claes  Grill,  Esq. 
Joseph  Hardcastle,  Esq. 
W.  Henry  Hoare,  Esq. 
Thomas  Hodson,  Esq. 
John  Daniel  Hose,  Esq. 


Robert  Howard,  Esq. 
R.  Lea,  Esq.  Alderman. 
Zachary  Macaulay,  Esq. 
A.  Maitland,  Esq. 
Ambrose  Martin,  Esq. 
Samuel  Mills,  Esq. 
Joseph  Reyner,  Esq. 
H.  Schroeder,  Esq. 
Granville  Sharp,  Esq. 
R.  Stainforth,  Esq. 
Joseph  Smith,  Esq. 
James  Stephen,  Esq. 
Robert  Steven,  Esq. 
C.  Sundius,  Esq. 
Anthony  Wagner,  Esq. 

W.    WiLBERFORCE,    Esq. 

Joseph  Wilson,  Esq. 
George  Wolff,  Esq. 


The  practical  machinery  of  the  Society  having  been  so  far  adjust- 
ed, its  principles  defined,  its  officers  appointed,  and  its  Committee 
determined,  it  now  became  necessary  to  devise  means  for  rendering 
the  Institution  properly  known  ;  and  by  a  fair  exposition  of  its  nature, 
its  views,  and  its  actual  qualifications,  to  make  way  for  its  obtaining 
respectable  patronage  and  competent  support.  With  this  view,  a 
Prospectus  was  prepared  ;  and  directions  were  given,  that  it  should 
be  printed,  and  widely  distributed.     The  Prospectus  was  as  follows  : 

"  BRITISH  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 

"  A  Society  having  been  formed  with  the  above  designation,  it  has 
been  judged  expedient  to  submit  to  the  public  a  brief  statement  o(  the 
reasons  which  exist  for  such  a  Society,  of  the  specific  object  which  it  em- 
braces, and  of  the  principles  by  which  its  operations  will  be  directed. 

"  The  reasons  which  call  for  such  an  Institution,  chiefly  refer  to 
the  prevalence  of  ignorance,  superstition,  and  idolatry,  over  so  large 
a  portion  of  the  world  ;  the  hmited  nature  of  the  respectable  Societies 


CHAP.  I]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  35 

now  in  existence,  and  their  acknowledged  insufficiency  to  supply  the 
demand  for  Bibles  in  the  United  Kingdom  and  Foreign  Countries  ; 
and  the  recent  attempts  which  have  been  made  on  the  part  of  infideli- 
ty to  discredit  the  evidence,  vilify  the  character,  and  destroy  the  in- 
fluence of  Christianity. 

"  The  exclusive  object  of  this  Society  is,  to  diffuse  the  knowledge 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  by  circulating  them  in  the  different  languages 
spoken  throughout  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  ;  and  also,  according  to 
the  extent  of  its  funds,  by  promoting  the  printing  of  them  in  foreign 
languages,  and  the  distribution  of  them  in  foreign  countries. 

"  The  principles  upon  which  this  undertaking  will  be  conducted,  are 
as  comprehensive  as  the  nature  of  the  object  suggests  that  they 
should  be.  In  the  execution  of  the  plan,  it  is  proposed  to  embrace 
the  common  support  of  Christians  at  large  ;  and  to  invite  the  concur- 
rence of  persons  of  every  description,  who  profess  to  regard  the 
Scriptures  as  the  proper  Standard  of  Faith. 

"  It  may  be  necessary  to  add,  in  soliciting  the  countenance  of  the 
public,  that,  in  consequence  of  the  enlarged  means  of  instruction 
which  the  lower  classes  of  this  country  have  enjoyed  of  late  years,  a 
desire  of  perusing  the  Scriptures  has  considerably  increased  among 
them :  and  also  that  in  Wales,  Ireland,  Switzerland,  Germany,  Den- 
mark, and  other  parts  of  the  world,  Bibles  are  greatly  wanted,  and  in 
some  are  sought  with  an  eagerness,  which,  but  for  authentic  assurances 
to  that  effect,  would  scarcely  be  credited." 

Before,  however,  this  Prospectus  had  been  carried  through  the 
press,  an  event  occurred,  which,  by  giving  to  the  Society  a  President, 
in  the  person  of  Lord  Teignmouth,  with  whose  name  the  reader  is 
already  acquainted,  fitted  it  for  appearing  before  the  public  with  more 
propriety  of  character,  and  with  a  surer  prospect  of  acceptance  and 
effect. 

An  event  of  so  great  importance  to  the  future  interests  of  the 
Society  requires  to  be  distinctly  accounted  for  and  unfolded.  The 
train  of  circumstances  shall  therefore  be  described,  which  led  to  the 
happy  determination,  by  which  the  affairs  of  the  Institution  were  pla- 
ced under  the  supreme  direction  of  a  nobleman  so  pecuharly  quali- 
fied in  all  respects  to  preside  in  its  councils,  guide  its  operations,  and 
promote  its  success. 

From  the  time  when  it  was  resolved  to  model  the  Society  on  a  prin- 
ciple which  might  recommend  it  to  general  approbation,  it  became  an 
object  of  serious  attention  with  the  Committee,  to  look  out  for  such 
patronage  as  might  shield  their  undertaking  from  the  charge  of  in- 
significance, and  stamp  it  with  the  recommendatory  sanction  of  some 


30  HISTORY  OP  THE  BRITISH  [PART  1. 

high  and  honourable  name.  Various  meetings  were  held  in  refer- 
ence to  this  object,  antecedently  to  the  beginning  of  May  ;  but  from 
the  unfinished  state  of  the  Society's  plan,  and  the  urgency  of  those 
measures  which  related  to  its  completion,  nothing  decisive  on  the 
subject  of  patronage  was,  or  indeed  could  be,  concluded.  When, 
however,  by  the  determination  of  the  2d  of  May,  those  difficul- 
ties were  removed,  and  the  Institution  was  considered  as  definitively 
constituted  and  accepted,  a  patron  was  felt  to  be  the  next  desideratum 
in  the  order  of  its  attainments  ;  and  that  desideratum  was,  as  we  shali 
presently  see,  most  seasonably  and  providentially  supplied. 

The  Bishop  of  London  having,  agreeably  to  his  custom,  resumed 
about  this  time  his  residence  at  Fulham,  the  author  had  more  fre- 
quent and  easy  opportunities  of  communicating  with  his  Lordship  on 
the  Society's  affairs,  with  the  progress  of  which  he  had  taken  care  to 
make  his  Lordship  regularly  acquainted,  and  in  which  the  Bishop 
took  a  lively  and  increasing  interest.  On  the  morning  of  May  the 
1 4th,  the  author  had  an  interview  with  his  Lordship  at  the  palace, 
previously  to  setting  out  in  order  to  attend  a  meeting  of  the  Commit- 
tee, which  had  been  summoned  for  that  day.  In  the  course  of  a  long 
conversation  relative  to  the  state  and  the  prospects  of  the  Society,  the 
author  took  occasion  to  express  to  his  Lordship  the  anxiety  which  the 
Committee  now  felt  to  procure  for  the  Institution  a  suitable  patron. 
"  Lord  Teignmouth"  (said  the  Bishop,  with  his  characteristic  quick- 
ness of  manner)  "  is  one  of  your  Subscribers,  and  he  would  make  you 
an  excellent  President."  Avaihng  himself  of  this  happy  suggestion 
from  such  a  quarter,  the  author  proceeded  to  the  Committee,  which 
he  found  very  numerously  attended  ;  and  seized  the  earliest  oppor- 
tunity to  propose,*  that  the  Right  Hon.  Lord  Teignmouth  should  be 
respectfully  solicited  to  become  the  President  of  the  Society.  The 
individual  on  whom,  by  a  happy  contingency,  the  honour  of  making 
this  proposition  had  devolved,  possessed  no  other  knowledge  of  this 
illustrious  nobleman,  than  what  he  had  derived  from  his  Lordship's 
literary  performance,  as  the  Biographer  of  Sir  William  Jones,  and 
his  reputation  as  the  patron  of  religion  and  an  example  of  its  intluencc 
while  discharging  the  functions  of  Governor-General  ol  Bengal.  To 
few  of  the  parties  who  composed  that  assembly,  was  his  Lordship's 

*  The  proposition  was  seconded  by  the  Rev.  Rowland  Hill,  A.  M.  who,  alter 
observing-,  that,  in  his  opinion,  Ix>rd  Teisninouth  was  in  all  respects  a  fit  person  to 
become  the  President  of  the  Society,  added,  that  as  it  was  understood  that  the  ap- 
pointment was  recommended  by  their  excellent  Diocesan,  the  Committee,  he  was 
sure,  would  a^ree  with  hira,  that  it  would  be  their  duty  lo  comply  with  bis  Lord- 
ship's recoiumendatiou. 


CHAP.  1.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY, 


87 


character  altogether  unknown,  and  to  some  it  was  known  in  a  degree 
which  enabled  them  to  bear  testimony  to  its  excellence,  from  intima- 
cy and  personal  observation.  Thus  quahfied  in  himself,  and  recom- 
mended by  a  Prelate  whom  good  men  of  every  persuasion  agreed  to 
love  and  revere.  Lord  Teignmouth  was  pronounced,  by  the  unani- 
mous judgment  of  the  fullest  Committee  which  had  yet  met  together, 
worthy  to  preside  over  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society ;  and 
the  author  was  instructed  officially  to  request,  in  the  name  of  the 
Committee,  that  his  Lordship  would  be  pleased  to  accept  of  the  sta- 
tion.  With  this  request  his  Lordship  signified  his  ready  compliance  ; 
and  as  his  conduct  in  the  Society  has  so  fully  redeemed  the  pledge 
which  he  gave,  when  he  accepted  the  office  assigned  him,  it 
may  gratify  the  reader  to  see  in  what  terms  that  acceptance  was 
expressed. 

"Sir,  Clapham,  May  16,  1804. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of 
yesterday,  informing  me  that  the  ConMnittee  of  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society  had  done  me  the  honour  to  nominate  me  the  Presi- 
dent of  their  Society. 

"  Concurring  as  I  do  most  heartily  in  the  views  of  the  Society,  I  can- 
not hesitate  a  moment  to  accept  the  honour  which  the  Committee  have 
thought  proper  to  confer  upon  me  ;  in  the  determination  to  afford  all  the 
assistance  in  my  power  in  promoting  the  important  object  of  the  Asso- 
ciation. 

"  I  beg  leave  to  add  my  regret  at  being  prevented  by  ill  health 
from  attending  the  meetings  of  the  Committee. 

"  T  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir, 
Your  most  Obedient, 
ne  Rev.  J.  Ou:en,  Humble  Servant, 

S^retary,  Src.  TEIGNMOUTH." 

On  the  nth  of  June,  Lord  Teignmouth  made  his  appearance  in 
the  Committee,  and  took  his  place  for  the  first  time  in  that  chair 
which  he  regularly  afterwards  occupied,  whenever  indisposition  or 
other  unavoidable  avocations  did  not  prevent  him,  with  equal  advan- 
tage to  the  business  of  the  Society,  and  satisfaction  to  all  its  con- 
<luctors. 

The  crisis  at  which  this  appointment  took  place,  rendered  it  par- 
ncularly  favourable  to  the  interests  of  the  infant  Institution.  As  the 
Prospectus  had  not  yet  passed  through  the  press,  an  opportunity  was 
Uioreby  afforded  of  ^ending  it  forth  into  the  world  under  the  au=- 


38  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  F 

pices  of  a  name  which  could  not  fail  at  once  to  accredit  and  to  re- 
commend it. 

The  organization  of  the  Society  was  now  advanced  to  a  state  of 
proficiency,  which  placed  it  within  one  degree  only  of  systematic 
perfection.  Nothing  was  wanted  to  meet  the  views  and  satisfy  the 
wishes  of  its  liberal  conductors,  hut  a  decided  recognition  of  it  on  the 
part  of  the  Established  Church,  through  the  patronage  of  some  of  its 
Prelates.  Nor  was  a  consummation,  so  greatly  desired  by  all  parties 
in  the  Committee,  much  longer  delayed.  On  the  15th  of  May,  the 
day  after  Lord  Teignmouth's  nomination  to  the  Presidency,  the  Bi- 
shops of  London  and  Durham  sent  in  their  names  as  Subscribers  of  five 
guineas  annually  to  the  funds  of  the  Society  ;  and  before  the  close  of 
the  ensuing  June,  both  these  Prelates,  together  with  the  Bishops  of 
Exeter  (now  Salisbury)  and  St.  David's,  accepted  respectively  the 
office  of  Vice-President.  By  the  27th  of  July  this  list  was  augmented 
with  the  names  of  Sir  William  Pepperell,  Bart.  Vice-Admiral  (now 
Lord)  Gambier,  Charles  Grant,  Esq.  and  William  Wilberforce,  Esq. 
and  these,  together  with  the  late  Henry  Thornton,  Esq.  who  had 
allowed  his  name  to  stand  as  Treasurer  from  the  commencement  of 
the  Society,  filled  up  those  stations,  which,  next  to  that  of  the  Presi- 
dent, determined  the  character  and  fixed  the  respectability  of  the  In- 
stitution. 

It  only  remains  to  add  a  brief  statement  of  what  was  done,  in  order 
to  bring  the  laws  and  regulations  to  that  form  which  they  ultimately 
assumed,  and  in  which  they  may  be  considered  as  exhibiting  the  per- 
fection of  the  system.*  It  appears  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Society, 
that  on  the  1 1th  of  June  a  letter  was  read  from  the  author  of  this  his- 
tory, prevented  by  indisposition  from  attendance,  recommending  a 
further  revision  of  the  laws.  The  matter  being  referred  to  a  Sub- 
Committee,  various  alterations,  retrenchments,  and  additions,  were 
suggested,  which,  after  suitable  discussion  and  amendment,  were 
adopted.  A  little  before  the  first  Anniversary,  an  addition  of  the  fol- 
lowing clause,  viz.  "  The  only  copies  in  the  language  of  the  United 
Kingdom  to  be  circulated  by  the  Society  shall  be  the  authorized  ver- 
sion, without  note  or  comment;"  was  made  to  the  first  regulation. 
This  article,  which  only  expressed  what  the  framers  of  the  Society 
had  always  intended,  was  adopted  on  the  recommendation  of  the  au- 
thor, in  consequence  of  a  seasonable  and  judicious  suggestion  from  the 

*  This  is  to  be  understood  as  applyiiiij  to  the  Parent  lustitution  only,  Auxiliary 
Societies,  &c.  not  being  a  part  of  the  original  system,  but  having  growu  accideutal- 
Ty  out  of  its  operation. 


GHAP.  l.J  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  gij 

Bishop  of  London  ;*  and  it  was  rendered  still  more  perspicuous  and 
definite  in  1811,1  by  an  alteration  in  the  arrangement  of  the  words. 
An  article  was  added  in  1807,  authorizing  the  Committee  to  nominate 
such  persons  as  had  rendered  essential  services  to  the  Society  "  Ho- 
norary Life  Members  ;"  and  this  power  was,  in  1808,  enlarged  to  the 
nomination  of  "  Honorary  Life  Governors."  These  changes,  and 
the  periods  at  which  they  were  respectively  made,  are  thus  minutely 
recorded,  in  order  that  the  reader  may  see  the  improvements  progress- 

•  In  the  Minutes  of  a  Meeting  held  by  the  framers  of  the  Society  on  the  8th  of 
February,  1803,  the  following  metuoraiuJum  appears : 

"  That  the  translatiou  of  the  Scriptures  established  by  public  authority  be  the 
only  one  in  the  English  language  to  be  adopted  by  the  Society." 

The  omission  of  this  article  in  the  draught  of  the  Society's  rules  must  have  been 
altogether  an  oversight ;  and  the  manner  in  which  it  was  supplied,  shows  the  ad- 
vantage of  that  superintendence  which  the  rulers  of  the  Established  Church  have 
it  in  their  power  to  exercise  as  patrons  of  the  Institution. 

t  The  amended  rules  are  thus  introduced  in  the  R?ports  as  respectively  speci- 
fied: 

Extract  from  the  First  Report,  (1805.) 

"  Your  Committee,  before  they  conclude  their  Report,  recommend  to  the  So- 
ciety the  revision'of  its  regulations;  suggesting  some  proposed  additions  and  alter- 
ations, which  appeared  to  them  necessary.  These  will  be  duly  noticed,  when  the 
regulations,  in  the  form  proposed,  are  submitted  to  the  consideration  of  the  Society. 
And  your  Committee  will  only  now  point  out  an  addition  to  the  first  article,  in  per- 
fect conformity  to  the  principle  of  the  Society,  and  merely  explanatory  of  its  object. 
With  the  proposed  addition,  and  a  slight  verbal  alteration,  the  article  stands  thus : 

'The designation  of  this  Society  shall  be,  "The  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety ;"  the  sole  object  of  which  shall  be,  to  encourage  a  wider  circulation  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures:  the  only  copies  in  the  languages  of  the  United  Kingdom  to  be  cir- 
culated by  the  Society,  shall  be  the  authorized  version,  without  note  or  comment.'" 

Extract  from  the  Seventh  Report,  (1811.) 
"  On  a  general  view  of  the  Society's  transactions  during  the  last  year,  j'our 
Committee  are  fully  authorized  to  congratulate  its  Members  on  the  increase  of  its 
iufluence  and  efficiency.  The  prosperity  is,  under  God,  to  be  attributed  to  the 
simplicity  of  its  object,  and  the  fidelity  with  which  that  object  has  been  pursued 
both  at  home  and  abroad.  Anxious  to  secure  the  continuance  of  this  conduct  by 
every  possible  precaution,  your  Committee  suggest  the  expediency  of  altering  the 
arrangement  of  the  words,  '  without  note  or  comment,'  in  the  first  article  of  the 
constitution,  with  a  view  to  render  it  more  perspicuous  and  explicit.  The  rule 
will  then  stand  as  follows : 

'  The  designation  of  this  Society  to  be,  "  The  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society," 
of  which  the  sole  object  shall  be,  to  encourage  a  wider  circulation  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  without  note  or  comment :  the  only  copies  in  the  languages  of  the 
United  Kingdom  to  be  circulated  by  the  Society,  shall  be  the  authorized  version.'  " 


40 


HISTORV  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  1. 


ively  introduced  by  experience  and  observation  :  and  the  subject  shall 
be  closed  by  a  view  of  the  laws  and  regulations  as  finally  determined 
in  1811  ;  that  being  the  state  in  vi^hich  they  may  be  considered  (in 
the  language  before  employed)  as  exhibiting  the  perfection  of  the 
system, 

LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS 


BRITISH  AJS^D  FOREIGJS^  BIBLE  SOCIEIT. 

1.  The  Designation  of  this  Society  shall  be,  The  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  of  which  the  sole  object  shall  be,  to  encourage 
a  wider  circulation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  without  note  or  com- 
ment. The  only  Copies  in  the  Languages  of  the  United  King- 
dom to  be  circulated  by  the  Society,  shall  be  the  authorized  ver- 


2.  This  Society  shall  add  its  endeavours  to  those  employed  by  other 

Societies,  for  circulating  the  Scriptures  through  the  British  Do- 
minions ;  and  shall  also,  according  to  its  ability,  extend  its  influ- 
ence to  other  countries,  whether  Christian,  Mahometan,  or  Pa- 
gan. 

3.  Each  Subscriber  of  One  Guinea  annually,  shall  be  a  Member. 

4.  Each  Subscriber  of  Ten  Guineas  at  one  time,  shall  be  a  Member 

for  Life. 

.5.  Each  Subscriber  of  Five  Guineas  annually,  shall  be  a  Governor. 

6.  Each  Subscriber  of  Fifty  Pounds  at  one  time,  or  who  shall,  by  one 

additional  payment,  increase  his  original  Subscription  to  Fifty 
Pounds,  shall  be  a  Governor  for  Life. 

7.  Governors  shall  be  entitled  to  attend  and  vote  at  all  Meetings  of 

the  Committee. 

8.  An  Executor,  paying  a  bequest  of  Fifty  Pounds,  shall  be  a  Mem- 

ber for  Life  ;  or  of  One  Hundred  Pounds,  a  Governor  for  Life. 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  4j 

9.  A  Committee  shall  be  appointed  to  conduct  the  business  of  the 

Society,  consisting  of  Thirty-six  Laymen,  Six  of  whom  shall  be 
Foreigners,  resident  in  London  or  its  vicinity,  half  the  remain- 
der shall  be  Members  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  the  other 
half  Members  of  other  denominations  of  Christians.  Twenty- 
seven  of  the  above  number,  who  shall  have  most  frequently  at- 
tended, shall  be  eligible  for  re-election  for  the  ensuing  year. 

The  Committee  shall  appoint  all  Officers,  except  the  Treasurer, 
and  call  special  General  Meetings,  and  shall  be  charged  with 
procuring  for  the  Society  suitable  patronage,  both  British  and 
Foreign. 

10.  Each  Member  of  the  Society  shall  be  entitled,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  Committee,  to  purchase  Bibles  and  Testaments  at  the 
Society's  prices,  which  shall  be  as  low  as  possible. 

11.  The  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society  shall  be  held  on  the  First 
Wednesday  in  May,  when  the  Treasurer  and  Committee  shall  be 
chosen,  the  Accounts  presented,  and  the  Proceedings  of  the 
foregoing  year  reported. 

12.  The  President,  Vice-Presidents,  and  Treasurer,  shall  be  consi- 
dered, ex  officio.  Members  of  the  Committee. 

13.  Every  Clergyman  or  Dissenting  Minister  who  is  a  Member  of  the 

Society,  shall  be  entitled  to  attend  and  vote  at  all  Meetings  of 
the  Committee. 

14.  The  Secretaries,  for  the  time  heing,  shall  be  considered  as  Mem- 
bers of  the  Committee  ;  but  no  person  deriving  any  emolument 
from  the  Society  shall  have  that  privilege. 

15.  At  the  General  Meetings,  and  Meetings  of  the  Committee,  the 

President,  or  in  his  absence  the  Vice-President  first  upon  the 
list,  then  present ;  and  in  the  absence  of  all  the  Vice-Presidents 
the  Treasurer,  and  in  his  absence,  such  Member  as  shall  be  vo- 
ted for  that  purpose,' shall  preside  at  the  Meeting. 

16.  The  Committee  shall  meet  on  the  First  Monday  in  every  Month, 
or  oftener  if  necessary. 


42  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  1. 

17.  The  Committee  shall  have  the  power  of  nominating  such  persons 
as  have  rendered  essential  services  to  this  Institution,  either 
Members  for  Life,  or  Governors  for  Life. 

18.  The  Committee  shall  also  have  the  power  of  nominating  Hono- 
rary Members  from  among  Foreigners  who  have  promoted  the 
objects  of  this  Society. 

19.  The  whole  of  the  Minutes  of  every  General  Meeting  shall  be 
signed  by  the  Chairman. 

t 

Such  was  the  origin  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  ;  and 
such  were  the  principal  steps  by  which  it  was  ti-ained,  from  its  ele- 
mentary existence  in  a  crude  suggestion  and  in  unpromising  obscuri- 
ty, to  the  ripeness  of  its  plan  in  a  well-digested  system,  an  organized 
establishment,  and  a  regular  and  dignified  palronage. 

In  carrying  the  mind  back  through  the  several  transactions  and  oc- 
currences which  have  been  described,  and  surveying  them  attentive- 
ly, both  in  their  details  and  their  combination,  we  cannot  overlook 
the  extraordinary,  and,  (may  we  not  add  ?)  providential  train  of  cir- 
cumstances, which  gave  birth  to  the  original  design  of  the  Institu- 
tion ; — nurtured  it  in  secret,  till  it  was  ripe  for  publicity  ; — and  finally 
brought  together,  by  seeming  casualty,  and  against  many  improbabili- 
ties, those  whose  joint  agency  was  required  to  adjust  the  balance  of 
its  constitution,  and  to  connect  it  with  such  personages  of  distinction, 
both  Lay  and  Ecclesiastical,  as  were  competent  to  give  it  character 
and  consequence  in  the  world. 

But  while  we  refer,  as  becomes  us,  the  tirst  tribute  of  our  praise 
to  Him,  "  from  whom  all  holy  desires,  all  good  counsels,  and  all  just 
works  do  proceed,"  we  cannot  overlook  what  is  due  to  the  excellent 
and  truly-disinterested  individuals  with  whom  the  Society  originated, 
and  to  whose  fostering  care  and  catholic  spirit  it  owes  so  great  obliga- 
tions. 

It  will  scarcely  have  escaped  the  observation  of  the  reader,  how 
studiously  the  modest  author  of  the  first  suggestion,  and  those  who 
shared  with  him  in  preparing  the  original  draught  of  the  Institution, 
avoided  every  thing  which  could  be  construed  into  an  exhibition  of 
themselves,  and  an  assertion  of  that  influence  to  which  they  might 
have  advanced  unquestionable  pretensions.  Resigning  the  fore- 
ground of  the  Society  to  those,  whom  they  thought  most  likely  to  ad- 
vance its  general  interests,  they  contentedly  occupied  less  conspicu- 


GHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


43 


ous  stations  ;  and  seemed  to  think  themselves  sufficiently  honoured  by 
the  privilege  of  labouring  in  its  service,  and  recompensed  by  the  sa- 
tisfaction of  witnessing  its  success. 

That  the  conduct  of  those  in  whose  hands  the  Society  was  origin- 
ally found,  deserved  this  commendation,  must  have  appeared  in  a 
great  measure  from  the  facts  recorded  in  the  preceding  narrative. 
To  their  generous  forbearance  and  liberal  policy  it  is  to  be  ascribed, 
that  the  Institution  put  on,  from  its  earliest  appearance  before  the 
public,  an  aspect  which  favoured  the  pre-eminence  of  the  Establish- 
ed Church  :  and  they  who  think  to  discredit  the  Institution  by  charg- 
ing it  with  a  Dissenting  origin,  may  be  reminded,  that,  whatever  may 
have  been  the  case  with  respect  to  its  rudiments,  a  Member  of  the 
Established  Church  presided  at  the  formation  of  the  Society,  and  a  Mi- 
nister of  that  Church  moved  the  Resolutions  by  which  it  was  formed. 
Seven-tivelfths  of  the  Committee  were  soon  after  assigned  to  the 
Church  of  England  and  Foreign  Churches ;  five  only  being  left  for 
the  Members  of  the  Church  of  Scotland,  and  the  numerous  classes  of 
Dissenters,  Methodists,  &c.  which  exist  throughout  the  United  King- 
dom. When  to  this  is  added  the  appointment  of  a  President,  Vice- 
Presidents,  and  Treasurer,  from  the  Established  Church  exclusively, 
it  seems  scarcely  necessary  to  say  any  thing  further,  in  order  to  vin- 
dicate the  character  of  the  Institution,  or  to  evince  the  candour  of 
those  from  whom  it  proceeded.  But  as  it  is  the  first  duty  of  an  His- 
torian to  be  just ;  and  as  it  is  due  to  the  imlividuals  to  whom  the  au- 
thor has  referred  as  the  framers  of  the  Society,  that  nothing  should 
be  concealed  which  can  place  their  conduct  in  a  proper  light,  a  cir- 
cumstance shall  be  stated  which  will,  he  thinks,  be  considered  not  a 
little  to  strengthen  the  foregoing  representation. 

Shortly  after  the  appointment  of  the  Vice-Presidents  on  the  27th 
of  July,  it  occurred  to  the  hberal  mind  of  Lord  Teignmouth,  that  it 
would  be  but  equitable,  to  propose  to  those  Members  of  the  Com- 
mittee who  were  not  of  the  communion  of  the  Established  Church, 
to  add  to  the  list  two  names  from  among  their  own  religious  con- 
nexions. "  There  is"  (said  his  Lordship,  in  his  letter  to  the  author 
on  that  occasion)  "  in  my  idea  so  much  propriety  in  this,  that  I  recom- 
mend it  to  your  consideration."  Entirely  concurring  with  the  viewn 
of  the  President,  the  author  carried  his  Lordship's  proposal  to  those 
gentlemen  who  were  supposed  to  possess  the  sentiments  of  the  re- 
spective denominations  of  which  that  division  of  the  Committee  was 
composed ;  and  they  severally  dechned  availing  themselves  of  it. 
The  Wesleyan  Methodists  assigned  as  their  ground  of  refusal,  that 
they  considered  themselves  represented  by  the  Bishops  :  the  Quakers 


44  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I 

pleaded  their  averseness  to  distinction  ;  and  the  other  classes  of  Dis- 
senters expressed  their  unwillingness  to  interfere,  in  a  manner  equal- 
ly creditable  to  their  humility  and  their  candour.  The  determina- 
tion of  these  last  was  conveyed  through  Joseph  Reyner,  Esq.  and 
there  is,  in  the  conclusion  of  the  letter  which  contained  it,  such  a 
spirit  of  Christian  simplicity,  as  to  give  it  a  claim  to  insertion. 

"  I  therefore  recommend  that  this  choice  should  remain  with  whom 
it  was  left ;  and  shall  (as  I  am  sure,  our  other  friends  will)  cheer- 
fully concur  in  this.  If  I  fear  at  all  for  this  invaluable  object,  it  is 
lest  we  should  be  looking  more  to  man  than  to  Him  whose  cause, 
whose  word  it  is — who  alone  can  open  the  hearts  of  men,  to  give  of 
that  which  He  has  given  them." 

Having  introduced  the  name  of  Mr.  Reyner,  the  author  cannot 
dismiss  it  without  expressing,  how  greatly  the  formation  of  the  Socie- 
ty was  promoted  by  his  warm  and  generous  encouragement.  Anima- 
ted at  all  times  by  a  zeal  for  religion  which  elevates  him  above  th^- 
consideration  of  ordinary  obstacles,  he  cheered  the  thought  of  a  Bi- 
ble Society,  from  the  moment  when  it  was  first  suggested.  He  ex- 
horted his  coadjutors  to  advance,  when  nothing  but  difficulties  ap- 
peared in  the  way ;  and  inspired  into  their  minds,  as  often  as  the} 
seemed  inclined  to  despond  or  to  languish,  a  portion  of  that  living 
energy  which  so  remarkably  characterizes  his  own.  From  the  zeal 
and  perseverance  of  Mr.  Reyner  the  Society  has  derived  much  of 
that  vigour  which  has  carried  it  forward  in  pursuit  of  its  object ;  and 
enabled  it  to  reahze,  in  so  great  a  measure,  the  wishes  of  a  heart 
which  desires  the  welfare  of  all  mankind. 

Among  the  instrumental  causes  by  which  the  Institution  was  plan- 
ned, and  brought  to  maturity,  the  character  of  the  principal  agents 
themselves,  and  their  different  circumstances  and  connexions,  are  de- 
serving of  particular  attention. 

In  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hughes,  the  individual  by  whom  the  design  was 
suggested,  and  who  may  therefore  be  regarded  as  the  primary  agent, 
we  recognize,  not  a  furious  zealot,  or  an  aspiring  sectary  ;  but  a  man 
of  sedate  piety,  and  conscientious  moderation  :  with  sufficient  warmth 
to  pursue  his  object,  and  with  temper  to  qualify  the  eagerness  of 
pursuit  by  the  necessary  restraints  of  judgment  and  discretion. 

In  Granville  Sharp,  Esq.  who  presided  at  the  Society's  formation, 
the  cause  obtained  a  temporary  patron,  in  whom  the  members  of  the 
Establishment  acknowledged  a  true  churchman,  and  real  Christians 
of  every  denomination,  a  friend  and  a  brother.  Perhaps  it  would 
not  have  been  possible  to  find  throughout  the  British  dominions  a  man 
in  whom  the  qualities  requisite  for  the  first  Chairman  of  the  British. 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  45 

and  Foreign  Bible  Society  were  so  completely  united  as  they  were  in 
this  venerable  philanthropist.  A  churchman  in  faith,  in  charity  a 
universalist,  he  stamped  upon  the  Institution,  while  it  was  yet  tender, 
those  characters  which  suited  its  constitution  and  its  end ;  and  while 
he  made  it  respected  by  the  sanction  of  his  name,  he  improved  it  by 
the  inliuence  of  his  example. 

In  the  Rev.  Mr.  Steinkopff  the  Institution  acquired  a  medium  of 
easy,  reputable,  and  efficient  communication  with  Christians  of 
almost  every  description  on  the  Continent  of  Europe.  Simple,  mo*- 
dest,  and  laborious  ;  combining  extraordinary  judgment  with  the  most 
exalted  piety,  and  trained  for  service  by  an  experience  of  several 
years  as  Secretary  to  a  Religious  Society  at  Basle,  Mr.  Steinkopff 
possessed  those  various  qualifications  for  correspondence,  for  trans- 
lation, and  for  general  duties,  which  rendered  his  appointment  to  the 
Foreign  Secretariship,  however  accidental  and  unpremeditated,  a 
measure  of  the  soundest  wisdom,  and  of  the  greatest  advantage  to  the 
interests  of  the  Institution. 

In  another  material  agent,  the  Rev.  Josiah  Pratt,  may  be  seen  a 
continuation  of  what  has  been  observed  in  that  superintending  wis- 
dom which  brought  together  those  who  were  qualified  for  the  re- 
spective parts  they  were  severally  intended  to  perform.  The  saga- 
city of  Mr.  Pr-att  enabled  him  to  devise,  and  his  perseverance  to 
execute,  a  measure  which  prepared  the  way  for  the  last  agent  in  the 
confederation,  the  writer  of  this  History,  to  introduce  the  Society 
with  acceptance  to  Bishop  Porteus,  and  thereby  to  accomplish  the 
grand  object  of  its  projectors  and  managers — its  decided  connexion 
with  the  Established  Church. 

On  the  whole,  when  we  reflect  upon  the  humble  original  from 
which  this  vast  fabric  arose  ;  when  we  advert  to  the  comparative 
insignificance  of  the  individuals  on  whom  it  devolved  to  lay  its  foun- 
dation, and  to  carry  up  its  superstructure,  till  it  attained  the  strength, 
capaciousness,  and  symmetry,  which  adapted  it  to  the  uses  for  which 
it  was  designed,  we  seem  to  discern  that  visible  disproportion  between 
the  means  and  the  end,  which  characterizes  all  the  great  dispensa- 
tions of  the  Almighty,  and  discriminates  them  from  the  ordinary 
operations  of  His  Providence,  and  still  more  from  the  achievements 
of  human  counsel  and  might.  In  this  view  of  the  subject,  the  lan- 
guage of  the  Apostle  on  a  higher,  but  not  dissimilar  occasion,  may 
furnish  us  with  a  proper  conclusion. 

"God  hath  chosen  the  foolish  things  of  the  world  to  confound  the 
wise  ;  and  God  hath  chosen  the  weak  things  of  the  world  to  confound 
the  things  which  are  mighty  ;  and  base  things  of  the  world  and  things 


46 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 


which  are  despised  hath  God  chosen,  yea,  and  things  which  are  not, 
to  bring  to  nought  things  that  are :  that  no  flesh  should  glory  in  his 
presence  :"  but,  "  that,  according  as  it  is  written,  he  that  glorieth, 
let  him  glory  in  the  Lord."* 


CHAPTEK  II. 

1804—5. 

Having  explained  the  origin  of  the  Society,  and  described  the 
steps  by  which  it  acquired  a  definitive  constitution,  and  a  recognition 
of  its  merits  from  persons  of  distinction  both  Lay  and  Ecclesiastical, 
the  author  will  now  enter  upon  the  recital  of  those  proceedings,  both 
domestic  and  foreign,  which  compose  the  proper  materials  of  its 
history. 

The  Society  having  been  nominally  formed  on  the  7th  of  March, 
1804,  the  first  Committee,  as  miscellaneously  chosen,  assembled  on 
the  ensuing  12th,  at  the  London  Tavern,  to  the  number  of  twenty- 
four.  With  a  general  resolution  to  hold  periodical  meetings,  at  least 
on  the  first  Monday  in  the  month,  they  determined,  for  the  present, 
to  repeat  them  weekl}' ;  a  practice  to  which  they  continued  to  adhere 
without  variation,  till  the  Society  was  completely  organized,  and  its 
business  brought  into  a  regular  train.  Subsequently  however  to  that 
period,  and  even  down  to  the  present  time,  the  meetings,  under  a 
stated  appointment  for  the  first  Monday  in  the  month,  have  been 
multiplied  by  frequent  and  necessary  adjournments  :  and  perhaps 
there  never  was  an  Institution  which  has  exacted  from  its  Committees 
a  larger  tribute  of  time  and  attention  and  personal  labour,  or  in 
which  the  exacted  tribute  has  been  more  cheerfully  and  even  zeal- 
ously paid. 

The  first  proceeding  resorted  to,  with  a  view  to  the  execution  oi 
the  Society's  design,  was,  the  appointment  of  different  Sub-Commit- 
tees, for  the  several  departments  of  its  practical  business.  These 
subordinate  Committees  began  their  operations  with  great  spirit  in 
the  month  of  March  ;  and  although  their  composition  underwent 
certain  changes,  after  the  new  organization  of  the  General  Commit- 

•  1  Cor.  i.  27,  28. 


CHAP.  H-l  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  47 

tee  on  the  2d  of  May,  yet,  as  their  designation  remained  the  same, 
it  will  be  expedient  to  treat  them  as  identical  throughout,  in  order 
that  the  course  of  their  measures  may  not  be  interrupted  by  the 
relation  of  minor  and  unimportant  occurrences. 

Three  considerations  appear,  in  this  early  stage  of  their  existence, 
to  have  occupied  the  principal  solicitude  and  attention  of  the  Com- 
mittee ;  the  care  of  the  Society's  funds,  the  improvement  of  its  general 
interests,  and  the  prosecution  of  inquiries  directed  to  the  accomplish- 
ment of  its  object — the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures. 

The  first  of  these  duties,  the  care  of  the  funds,  was  consigned  to 
the  administration  of  Samuel  Mills,  Robert  Howard,  and  Joseph 
Reyner,  Esqrs.  in  the  capacity  of  a  Sub-Committee  of  Finance ; 
and  so  entirely  has  the  confidence  reposed  in  these  disinterested 
Stewards  been  justified  by  the  experience  of  their  prudence  and  fide- 
lity, that  (with  the  exception  of  the  second,  removed  by  death  in 
1812,  and  succeeded  by  a  son,  the  inheritor  of  his  virtues)  they  have 
continued  invariably,  by  annual  re-election,  to  manage  that  impor- 
tant trust,  to  the  great  security  and  advantage  of  the  Institution. 

The  improvement  of  the  Society's  general  interests  was  confided 
to  a  Sub-Committee,  consisting  of  individuals,  as  well  Members  of 
the  Committee  by  privilege  as  by  election,  who,  from  their  station, 
or  their  connexion,  were  best  qualified  to  promote  the  extension  of 
its  influence,  and  the  eventual  increase  of  its  patronage  and  support. 

The  prosecution  of  inquiries  with  reference  to  the  circulation  of 
the  Scriptures,  devolved  upon  a  few ;  and  it  was  in  this  department 
chiefly  that  the  services  of  the  Secretaries  were  called  into  exercise 
during  the  earlier  stages  of  their  connexion  with  the  Institution. 
The  particular  occurrences  within  this  department  will  require  to  be 
specifically  related. 

The  first  subject  to  which  it  was  judged  proper  to  direct  the  inqui- 
ries of  this  Sub-Committee,  was,  the  most  ready  and  eflectual  means 
of  obtaining  a  regular  and  competent  supply  of  the  Holy  Scriptures 
in  the  EngHsh,  Welsh,  and  Irish  languages.  A  resolution  to  this 
purport  was  adopted  on  the  9th  of  April,  1804  ;  and  it  was  on  the 
same  occasion  determined,  that  a  foreign  correspondence  should  be 
immediately  commenced,  in  order  to  the  promotion  of  the  Society's 
object  abroad.  By  virtue  of  this  latter  determination,  the  execution 
of  which  was  committed  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Steinkopft'  and  the  author, 
assisted  by  a  Swedish  merchant  of  good  connexions  and  warm  attach- 
ment to  the  Institution,  Christopher  Sundius,  Esq.  steps  were  taken, 
without  delay,  for  concerting  a  plan  of  amicable  and  effective  com- 
munication with  foreign  countries.     While  thus  occupied,  an  incident 


43  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

occurred  which  drew  the  attention  of  the  Committee  to  the  consider- 
ation of  China ;  and  as  the  measures  which  it  suggested,  though 
productive  of  no  immediate  good  effects,  form  the  earUest  link  in 
that  chain  of  operations  which  has  since  been  extended  through  so 
many  regions  of  the  East,  a  brief  account  of  the  circumstance  itself, 
and  of  the  proceedings  adopted  in  consequence  of  it,  may  not  be 
unacceptable  to  the  reader. 

On  the  5th  of  April,  Dr.  Antonio  Montucci,  who,  in  the  Gentle- 
man's Magazine  for  October  and  November  1801,  had  published  an 
account  of  the  Chinese  manuscript*  of  the  New  Testament  in  the 
British  Museum,  addressed  a  letter  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hughes,  offering 
his  service  to  the  newly-formed  Society,  as  editor,  should  it  be 
thought  expedient  to  print  the  MS,  and  earnestly  recommending  the 
publication  of  it,  "  for  the  benefit  of  300  millions  of  people."  A 
short  time  previously,  the  Rev.  W.  Mosely  had  circulated  a  Memoir 
on  the  state  of  Religion  in  China,  and  urged  the  importance  and  prac- 
ticability of  a  serious  attempt  to  propagate  Christianity  through  that 
vast,  but  neglected  empire.  With  this  Memoir  most  of  those  who 
constituted  the  active  Members  of  the  Concunittee  were  sufficiently 
acquainted ;  and  their  minds  were  therefore  to  a  certain  degree  pre- 
pared for  such  a  proposition  as  that  which  Dr.  Montucci  had  made. 
It  was  also  ascertained,  that  Sir  George  Staunton,  whose  knowledge 
of  the  Chinese  language  had  gained  him  so  high  reputation,  was  at 
that  time  in  London,  and  on  the  point  of  embarkation  for  China. 
Much,  it  was  thought,  might  be  derived  from  his  present  advice,  and 
still  more  from  his  future  inquiries,  to  guide  the  Committee  through 
the  labyrinth  of  a  question  not  less  intricate  than  important.  The 
concurrence  of  these  and  other  favourable  circumstances  determined 
the  Committee  to  open  a  correspondence  with  Dr.  Montucci,  the  Rev. 

*  The  MS.  above  referred  to  is  No.  3,599  of  the  Sloanian  Collection  in  the  Bri- 
tish Museum.  The  MS.  contains,  a  Harmony  of  the  Four  Gospels,  the  Acts  of 
the  Apostles,  and  all  St.  Paul's  Epistles,  excepting:  that  to  the  Hebrews,  the  first 
chapter  of  which  only  is  included.  It  is  written  partly  on  European,  and  partly  on 
Chinese  paper,  and  has  the  defective  title  of  "  Evangelia  Quatuor  Sinice,"  the 
Four  Gospels  in  Chinese. 

The  Directors  of  the  Missionary  Society,  speaking  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Morrison, 
the  Chinese  Translator  at  Canton,  (in  their  Report  for  1810,)  give  the  following- 
testimony  to  the  value  of  the  MS.  in  question. 

"  It  has  proved  of  great  advantage  to  him,  that  he  copied  and  carried  out  with 
ijim  the  Chinese  translation  of  the  Gospels  preserved  in  the  British  Museum, 
whiclihe  now  finds,  from  his  own  increasing  acquaintance  with  the  language,  and 
the  opinion  of  the  Chinese  assistants,  to  be  exceedingly  valuable  ;  and  which 
must,  from  the  excellency  of  the  style,  have  been  produced  by  Chinese  natives." 


CHAP.  II.)  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  49 

Mr.  Mosely,  and  Sir  George  Staunton ;  together  with  Dr.  Hagar,  at 
that  time  in  Paris,  and  S.  Holhngsworth,  Esq.  the  former  of  whom 
was  well  known  to  the  pubUc  in  connexion  with  no  light  pretensions 
to  Chinese  Literature  ;  and  the  latter  to  certain  Members  of  the 
Committee,  as  a  gentleman,  who,  in  consequence  of  having  visited 
China  four  several  times,  was  deemed  very  conversant  with  the 
state  of  that  country. 

Much  information  was  elicited  through  this  correspondence,  not 
only  on  the  nature  and  qualities  of  the  MS.  but  also  on  the  religious 
condition  of  China,  and  the  practicability  of  introducing  Christianity 
into  it,  by  translating  and  printing  the  Scriptures  for  the  use  of  the 
natives. 

The  reply  of  Sir  George  Staunton  placed4he  subject  under  investi- 
gation in  so  clear  a  light,  and  evinced  on  his  part  so  much  industry, 
candour,  and  readiness  to  promote  the  design  of  the  Society,  that  no 
apology  will  be  required  for  its  insertion. 

From  Sir  George  Thomas  Staunton,  Bart,  to  the  Rev.  John  Owoi. 

"  Sir,  ^pril  25,  1804. 

*'  I  was  favoured  with  your  letter  a  few  days  ago,  and  although 
I  had  formerly  seen  the  manuscript  in  question,  I  took  the  first  op- 
portunity of  going  again  to  the  British  Museum,  in  order  to  give  the 
most  satisfactory  answer  in  my  power  to  your  inquiries. 

"  It  appeared  to  me,  as  far  as  I  could  judge  without  very  minute 
examination,  to  be  a  pure  translation,  unmixed  with  extraneous  mat- 
ter, of  the  cliief  part  of  the  New  Testament :  and  I  have  no  hesita- 
tion in  saying,  that  I  feel  disposed  to  regard  it  as  one  of  the  most  ac- 
curate and  elegant  translations  I  ever  met  with  from  any  European 
language  into  the  Chinese  character  ;  and  being  probably  unique  in 
this  country,  its  value  is  proportionably  enhanced  by  that  circum- 
stance. From  the  style  and  wording  of  the  manuscript,  I  should  in- 
fer that  it  is  a  translation  from  the  Vulgate,  made  under  the  direction 
of  the  Jesuits. 

"  With  regard  to  the  extent  to  which  Dr.  Montucci  may  have 
made  himself  acquainted  with  the  Chinese  language,  I  certainly  can- 
not pretend  to  decide  ;  but  I  am  persuaded  that  the  general  know- 
ledge he  possesses  of  the  theory  of  the  language,  together  with  the 
neatness  and  accuracy  with  which  he  is  accustomed  to  execute 
the  Chinese  characters,  fully  qualifies  him  for  the  task  of  publishing 
the  manuscript  in  a  very  correct  and  satisfactory  manner. 


50  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PA.RT  L 

"  I  have  thus  unreservedly  communicated  to  you  my  opinion 
on  this  subject,  according  to  the  best  of  my  judgment,  and  shall  be 
very  glad  if  it  should  tend  at  all  to  promote  the  laudable  object 
of  your  researches." 

(Signed)  G.  T.  STAUNTON. 

The  sentiments  expressed  by  Mr.  Hollingsworth  on  the  expediency 
of  the  proposed  attempt,  are  also  not  undeserving  of  notice.  They 
appear  in  the  following  passages,  with  which  Mr.  Hollingsworth  con- 
cluded a  very  intelligent  and  interesting  communication. 

"  The  introduction  of  the  Sacred  Sci'iptures,  clothed  in  the  lan- 
guage of  China,  appeara»to  be  by  far  the  most  rational  plan  that  has 
been,  or  can  be,  attempted,  to  scatter  the  good  seed,  and  prepare  the 
inquiring  mind  for  the  reception  of  the  blessed  G  ,.^el  throughout 
this  great  empire.  One  of  the  favourite  maxims  of  Confucius  is. 
The  perfection  of  wisdom  is  to  explore  all  things. 

"  This  maxim  is  opposed  by  the  government  in  all  matters,  nearly, 
which  foreigners  are  supposed  capable  or  desirous  of  introducing. 
And  how  far  its  opposition  might  or  might  not  extend  to  the  introduc- 
tion of  the  New  Testament,  is  an  object  of  serious  consideration. 
Perhaps  the  Committee  Avill  see  the  propriety  of  having  something 
printed  with  the  intended  work,  as  an  explanatory  preface  of  the 
doctrines  it  contains,  the  morality  it  enjoins,  and  the  peaceable  fruits 
of  righteousness  it  is  so  well  calculated  to  produce  ;  if  such  an  intro- 
duction can  be  obtained  from  persons  in  London  sufficiently  ac- 
quainted with  the  Chinese  language.  It  appears  to  me  highly  neces- 
sary, under  the  present  proscribed  situation  of  the  Christian  name  in 
China,  that  something  of  this  kind  should,  if  possible,  be  attempted. 
And  I  think  there  can  be  no  doubt,  that  if  the  religion  of  our  blessed 
Redeemer,  as  taught  by  the  New  Testament,  was  generally  under- 
stood in  that  great  empire,  it  would  not  only  produce  the  greatest 
effects,  but  experience  much  less  opposition  than  in  any  other  shape  ; 
and  particularly  than  when  coming  in  so  questionable  a  one  as  it  has 
done  through  the  mouths  of  the  Jesuits.  Were  the  Emperor,  his 
Ministers,  and  the  other  great  Mandarines,  fully  convinced,  that 
Christianity,  properly  so  called,  has  no  connexion  with  politics ; 
that  Christ's  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world ;  and  that  the  faith  and 
morals  of  the  Gospel  make  men  wiser,  happier,  and  better,  than 
either  human  laws  or  systems  of  philosophy  can  ever  do  ;  it  can 
hardly  be  questioned,  but  that  they  would  allow  it  to  spread  uncon- 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  5I 

trolled,  and  take  deep  root  in  the  empire,  instead  of  confounding 
it  with  Popery,  to  which  they  have  conceived  so  excusable  an  aver- 
sion." 

The  train  of  inquiry  thus  auspiciously  opened,  was  studiously  fol- 
lowed up  by  the  Committee,  under  the  influence  of  that  encourage- 
ment which,  though  partial,  was  yet  sufficient  to  keep  expectation 
alive,  and  to  make  it  appear  their  duty  to  proceed. 

At  length  the  testimony  of  Mr.  Chaumont,  (an  accomplished  Chi- 
nese scholar,)  to  the  character  of  the  manuscript  having  been  col- 
lated with  that  of  Sir  George  Staunton,  and  Dr.  Montucci,*  and 
every  thing  having  been  done  which  prudence  could  suggest,  and  re- 
search contribute,  to  ascertain  its  intrinsical  value  ;  an  estimate  was 
obtained  of  the  probable  expense  of  printing  1000  copies  :  and  it  was 
computed,  that  each  copy  bound  would  cost  the  Society  about  two 
guineas.  On  this  calculation,  therefore,  united  with  an  apprehension 
of  the  uncertain  issue  of  the  experiment,  it  was  deemed  expedient 
to  decline,  under  present  circumstances,  any  further  prosecution 
of  the  matter.  This  final  derision  took  place  on  the  23d  of  July, 
after  an  investigation  conscientiously  and  indefatigably  pursued  for 
more  than  three  months.  The  wisdom  of  the  decision,  which  sus- 
pended, rather  than  dismissed,  the  consideration  of  the  subject,  Avill 
best  appear  from  the  terms  in  which  the  Minute  recording  it  is  ex- 
pressed. 

"  Considering  the  expense  of  the  undertaking,  and  the  desirable- 
ness of  obtaining  still  further  evidence  relative  to  the  contents  of  the 
manuscript,  and  of  committing  the  circulation  to  the  care  of  persons 
acquainted  with  the  Chinese  language,  and  of  undoubted  religious 
character,  the  Committee  recommend  that  the  Society  do  not  at 
present  proceed  to  the  editing  or  the  transcribing  of  the  manuscript ; 
but  that  they  carefully  preserve  the  information  already  obtained,  and 
encourage  their  friends  to  communicate  from  time  to  time  such  par- 
ticulars as  may  come  before  them  relative  to  the  object." 

Thus  ended  this  attempt  to  provide,  in  the  metropolis  of  the 
British  dominions,  an  edition  of  some  portion  of  the  Christian  Scrip- 
tures in  their  vernacular  tongue,  for  the  inhabitants  of  the  populous 

*  It  is  due  to  the  Rev.  Archdeacon  Nares,  (at  that  time  oue  of  the  Librarians 
of  the  British  Museum,)  to  relate,  that,  upon  being  addressed  by  the  author,  at 
the  instance  of  the  Committee,  he  replied,  with  the  greatest  promptitude  and  kind- 
ness, that  "  leave  would  very  readily  be  given  by  the  Trustees  of  the  British  Mu- 
seum to  take  a  copy  of  the  Chinese  MS.  of  the  New  Testament ;  and  that  he 
would  be  happy  to  aid  the  application.'" 


52  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

and  benighted  empire  of,  China.  The  parties  with  whom  it  origin- 
ated, were  not  hastily  diverted  from  their  purpose.  When  com- 
pelled to  renounce  it,  they  did  not  yield  to  the  necessity  without 
much  reluctance ;  nor,  as  it  has  appeared,  without  a  recorded  deter- 
mination to  keep  it  in  mind,  under  the  hope  of  being  able,  at  some 
future  period,  to  resume  it  with  a  better  prospect  of  success.  That 
period,  in  due  time,  arrived  ;  and  it  seems  to  have  been  wisely  per- 
mitted, that  the  undertaking  should  fail  in  London,  in  order  that 
it  might  be  accomplished,  by  aid  derived  from  the  same  source, 
in  the  more  advantageous  situations  of  Serampore  and  Canton. 

When  the  subject  of  the  Chinese  MS.  had  begun  to  excite  serious 
attention,  it  was  felt  to  be  desirable,  that  a  Sub-Committee  should  be 
expressly  appointed,  to  whom  a  business  of  such  magnitude  and  im- 
portance might  be  formally  confided.  In  this  determination  origina- 
ted that  Sub-Committee,  which,  at  first  denominated  the  China,  and 
afterwards  more  generally  the  Oriental  Sub-Committee,  has  continued 
ever  since  to  exist,  by  annual  reappointment ;  and  has  greatly  con- 
tributed to  the  order  and  efficiency  of  the  Society's  labours  in  the 
various  ramifications  of  its  Eastern  department. 

The  primary,  and,  it  may  be  added,  the  favourite  object  of  this 
Sub-Committee  having,  for  the  reasons  assigned,  been  deliberately 
abandoned,  the  purposes  of  its  formation  seemed  to  its  Members  to 
require,  that  their  attention  should  be  turned  to  some  other  portion 
of  the  oriental  field,  more  easily  accessible,  and  affording  greater 
present  encouragement,  than  that  which  they  had  been  induced  to 
renounce.  British  India  appeared,  on  every  account,  to  be  the  most 
proper  quarter,  to  which  efforts,  such  as  those  which  it  was  the  duty 
of  the  Society  to  make,  could  be  directed  ;  and  the  known  disposition 
of  some  of  the  East  India  Company's  servants  at  Calcutta,  and  of  the 
Baptist  Missionaries  at  Serampore,  afforded,  in  their  estimation,  suf- 
ficient encouragement  to  warrant  the  attempt. 

No  sooner  then  had  the  affair  of  the  Chinese  manuscript  been  final- 
ly disposed  of,  than  it  was  resolved  to  "  open  a  correspondence  with 
gentlemen  in  India,  informing  them  of  the  establishment  of  the  Bri- 
tish and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  requesting  their  communications 
respecting  the  best  means  of  promoting  the  objects  of  the  Institution 
with  regard  to  the  Eastern  languages."  In  selecting  the  individuals 
who  should  be  invited  to  become  correspondents,  the  Committee  had 
respect  to  the  principle  embodied  in  their  Society,  that  of  uniting  the 
different  denominations  of  Christians  in  the  prosecution  of  the  same 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  53 

common  design.  The  Baptist  Missionaries*  at  Serampore  had  made 
a  hopeful  beginning  in  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures  into  the  na- 
tive languages  of  the  East :  it  was  considered  as  likely  to  conduce 
both  to  the  progress  and  the  improvement  of  the  work  of  transla- 
tion, if  the  vernacular  knowledge  and  zealous  assiduity  of  these  hum- 
ble, and  at  that  time,  unaccredited  labourers,  could  be  associated  with 
the  sound  erudition  and  the  personal  influence  of  certain  Members  of 
the  Established  Church,  on  whose  piety  and  zeal  for  the  promotion 
of  Christianity  dependence  might  confidently  be  placed.  With  these 
views  it  was  determined,  "  That  the  following  gentlemen  be  request- 
ed to  form  themselves  into  a  Committee  of  Correspondence  with  this 
Society,  viz.  George  Udney,  Esq.  Member  of  Council ;  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Brown,  Buchanan,  Carey,  Ward,  and  Marshman  ;  and  that 
they  be  desired  to  associate  with  themselves  such  other  gentlemen  in 
any  part  of  India  as  they  may  think  proper."  This  resolution  the 
author  transmitted  officially  to  Calcutta,  by  the  earliest  conveyance. 
It  was  passed  on  the  2.3d  of  July,  1804  ;  and  though  its  operation  in 
India  was  slow,  and  interrupted  by  many  vicissitudes  of  discourage- 
ment and  delay,  it  proved  the  germ  of  those  Institutions  at  Calcutta, 
Bombay,  Colombo,  Batavia,  &c.  which  are  now  engaged,  with  so  much 
energy  and  concord,  in  promoting  the  dispersion  of  the  Scriptures  in 
their  respective  dialects  among  both  the  Christian  and  the  Heathen 
population  of  the  East. 

W^ith  these  active  researches  into  matters  which  related  to  the  lan- 
guages and  the  inhabitants  of  China  and  of  India,  was  combined 
another  class  of  similar  exertions,  having  for  its  object  the  arrange- 
ment of  a  plan  for  introducing  the  operations  of  the  Society  with  re- 
gularity and  effect  on  the  continent  of  Europe. 

As  early  as  the  16th  of  April,  a  report  appears  upon  the  Society's 
records,  to  which  the  name  of  the  author  is  subscribed  as  chairman,! 
recommending  "  that  measures  be  immediately  taken  for  procuring 
more  precise  information,  (than  had  yet  been  obtained,)  on  the  ex- 
tent to  which  Bibles  are  wanted  and  sought  for,  in  Switzerland,  Ger- 
many,  and  Denmark,  as  well  as  in  other  parts  of  the  continent." 

*The  Baptist  Missionaries  entered  India  in  1793;  and,  not  being  permitted  to 
reside  in  the  Company's  territories,  fixed  themselves  in  the  Danish  settlement  at 
Serampore,  Calcutta. 

"  To  this  Mission"  (says  Dr.  Buchanan)  "  chiefly  belongs  the  honour  of  reviving 
the  spirit  for  promoting  Christian  Knowledge  by  translations  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures."    See  Buchanan's  Researches,  p.  85. 

t  The  author  had  not  at  that  time  accepted  the  office  of  Secretary. 
9 


54  HISTORY  OF  THE  BIUTISH  [PART  Ir 

The  report  goe«  on  to  specify  certain  persons  of  influence,  to  whom 
it  is  considered  desirable  that  appUcation  should  be  made,  with  a  view 
to  obtain  the  desired  intelhgence.  The  individuals  enumerated  were, 
Mr.  Tobias  Kiesling,  a  merchant  of  known  piety  and  philanthropy 
in  Nurenberg ;  the  Rev.  Dr.  Knapp,  Director  of  the  Orphan  House 
and  Canstein  Bible  Institution  at  Halle  in  Saxony ;  Professor  Druck, 
Librarian  to  the  Elector  (now  King)  of  Wurtemberg ;  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Hertzog,  first  Professor  of  Divinity  and  Librarian  at  Basle  in  Switzer- 
land ;  and  the  Right  Rev.  Bishop  Ball,  at  Copenhagen.  To  these 
were  added,  in  a  sequel  to  this  report,  presented  at  a  subsequent 
meeting,  the  following  individuals  and  societies,  viz.  Professor  Young, 
of  Heidelberg;  the  Rev.  J.  J.  Hesse,  the  Antistes  (or  Superior)  of 
the  Zurich  Clergy;  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Wyttenbach,  Falkheisen,  and 
Hiiber,  Clergymen  of  distinguished  character  in  some  of  the  princi- 
pal towns  of  Switzerland  ;  the  Basle  Religious  Society,  (of  which  Mr. 
Steinkopff  had  formerly  been  Secretary ;)  and  the  Fiihnen  Society, 
in  Denmark,  having  for  its  professed  object  "  to  extend  the  influence 
of  pure  and  vital  Christianity  by  the  dispersion  of  Religious  Tracts 
in  Denmark  and  Norway."  Such  were  the  parties  selected,  in  the 
very  dawn  of  the  Institution,  as  channels  of  communication  with  the 
European  continent ;  and  it  has  been  presumed,  that  the  reader 
would  be  gratified  by  seeing  them  distinctly  enumerated,  as  he  will 
hereafter  find  them  connected,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  with  the 
most  active  and  successful  of  the  Society's  proceedings  in  that  divi- 
sion of  the  world. 

Jt  was  also  at  this  early  period  (April  16th)  that  the  design  was 
conceived  of  holding  out  encouragement  to  the  formation  of  Bible 
Societies,  in  preference  to  granting  immediate  relief  by  limited  and 
merely  temporary  supplies.  This  rule  of  procedure,  so  wise  in  its 
principle,  and  in  practice  at  once  so  successful  and  productive,  arose, 
as  almost  every  thing  that  is  wise  and  efficient  in  the  practical  depart- 
ments of  the  Institution  has  done,  out  of  accidental  and  extempora- 
neous discussion.  In  the  report,  of  which  an  account  has  already 
been  given,  a  recommendation  was  inserted,  that,  in  consideration  of 
the  want  of  Bibles,  represented  by  Mr.  Kiesling,*  as  existing  in  Aus- 
tria, the  sum  of  100/.  should  be  transmitted  to  that  correspondent,  as 
well  to  furnish  him  with  the  means  of  relieving  the  present  wants 
of  the  Austrians,  as  to  give  him  a  pledge  of  the  Society's  zeal  and 
sincerity  in  the  cause  lor  which  his  good  offices  were  solicited.     The 


*  Mr.  Kiesling  had  addressed  various  letters  previously  to  the  date  of  the  report 
referred  to. 


CIIAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  5^ 

recommendation  was  discussed  with  the  seriousness  due  to  the  impor- 
tance of  a  proposition  which  involved  the  first  pecuniary  grant ;  and 
the  result  of  the  discussion  was  an  unanimous  determination  to  ac- 
quaint Mr.  Kieshng,  that,  should  he  procure  the  formation  of  a  socie- 
ty in  Germany  to  promote  a  continued  circulation  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  would  present  the  sum 
of  100/.  in  aid  of  such  an  Institution.  This  conditional  encourage- 
ment was  accordingly  transmitted  to  Nurenberg,  and,  as  we  shall  soon 
have  occasion  to  see,  produced  the  desired  effect. 

Nor  did  these  proceedings,  in  reference  to  the  circulation  of  the 
Scriptures  in  foreign  parts,  interfere  with,  or  obstruct,  those  which 
had  relation  to  the  primary  object  of  the  Institution — the  supply 
of  our  domestic  population.  The  latter,  in  fact,  commenced  at  the 
same  period  with  the  former  ;  and  both,  as  equally  parts  of  the  gene- 
ral design,  were  simultaneously  prosecuted,  with  equal  zeal,  assi- 
duity, and  perseverance. 

In  coincidence  with  those  inquiries  which  regarded  the  best  means 
of  obtaining  a  supply  of  the  Scriptures  in  the  English,  Welsh,  and 
Irish  languages,  a  circumstance  occurred,  which,  both  from  its  sea- 
sonableness  and  utility,  deserves  to  be  distinctly  and  gratefully  com- 
memorated. 

Early  in  this  year,  Mr.  Andrew  Wilson  commenced  a  negotiation 
with  the  University  of  rambridge,  for  the  introdnction  of  his  im- 
proved mode  of  printing  Bibles  and  Testaments  by  the  employment 
of  stereotype  plates.  This  art,  though  partially  known  many  years 
before,  had  been  advanced  considerably  towards  perfection  by  the 
united  ingenuity  and  perseverance  of  Earl  Stanhope  and  Mr.  Wilson  ; 
and  to  the  latter  belongs  the  praise  of  having  brought  it  into  general 
notice,  and  qualified  it  for  being  advantageously  employed  in  printing 
the  Holy  Scriptures.  Mr.  Wilson's  negotiation  with  the  University 
of  Cambridge  was  brought  to  a  favourable  issue  ;  and  the  Syndics  of 
the  Press  had  concluded  to  adopt  his  process  for  printing  Bibles  and 
Testaments,  at  the  very  period  in  which  inquiries  were  making  into 
the  best  mode  of  obtaining  supplies  of  both  in  the  languages  of  the 
United  Kingdom.  To  the  Committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  the  plan  of  printing  the  Scriptures  by  stereotype 
appeared  to  offer  so  many  and  important  advantages,  by  furnishing 
the  means  of  a  regular  and  permanent  supply  of  copies ;  by  per- 
petuating a  correct  and  standard  Text,  and  favouring  its  general  pro- 
pagation through  the  country ;  and,  finally,  as  the  plates  were  cast 
from  new  types,  and  an  expectation  was  excited  of  a  material  reduc- 
tion in  the  price,  it  was  judged  expedient  to  give  it  the  decided  coun- 


56  HISTORY  OP  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

tenance  of  the  Institution,  and  to  stipulate  for  engagements  to  such  an 
amount  as  might  encourage  the  prompt  and  complete  adoption  of  the 
system.  Under  this  conviction,  after  the  result  of  very  extended  in- 
quiries had  been  maturely  considered,  a  resolution  was  passed,  that 
a  number  of  Bibles  and  Testaments  in  stereotype,  should  be  immedi- 
ately ordered,  and  among  that  number,  20,000  Welsh  Bibles  in  12mo. 
and  5,000  additional  Testaments  in  a  larger  type.  This  measure 
was  determined  upon  at  a  meeting  on  the  3d  of  September,  1804,  and 
the  determination  was  notified  to  the  University  of  Cambridge  with- 
out delay.  The  reader  will  have  pleasure  in  observing,  with  how 
great  alacrity,  and  in  how  early  a  stage  of  its  transactions,  the 
Society  proceeded  to  the  execution  of  that  purpose  in  which  its  esta- 
blishment had  originated — the  printing  of  the  Welsh  Scriptures  :  nor 
will  he  observe  with  less  satisfaction  the  advantageous  manner  in 
which  this  object  was  promoted,  by  the  contemporaneous  introduc- 
tion of  that  mode  of  printing  which  has  been  found  so  powerful 
an  auxiliary  in  the  accomplishment  of  the  Society's  general  designs. 

While  these  inquiries  were  thus  systematically  pursuing,  with 
a  view  to  the  commencement  of  practical  operations  both  at  home 
and  abroad,  exertions  were  made,  with  no  less  method  and  industry, 
to  extend  the  foundation  of  the  Institution,  and  to  associate  with 
it  whatever  could  be  likely  to  consolidate  its  strength,  facilitate  its 
proceedings,  and  aiigmpnt  it«i  rpspectability  and  influence  in  the  world. 

Notice  has  been  taken  of  the  measures  which  were  pursued 
10  make  known  the  existence  and  the  object  of  the  Society,  down  to 
that  period,  when,  by  the  accession  of  the  Prelates  and  distinguished 
Commoners  as  Vice-Presidents,  its  constitution  was  regarded  as  hav- 
ing attained  its  completion.  To  these  were  now  added  certain  mea- 
sures, concerted  on  a  higher  scale,  and  comporting  better  with  the 
state  of  vigorous  growth,  and  increased  consideration,  at  which,  by 
^lis  time,  the  Institution  had  arrived. 

The  first  of  these,  was  a  determination,  formed  on  the  23d  of  July^ 
when  the  list  of  Vice-Presidents  already  referred  to  had  been  an- 
nounced, to  address  the  two  great  Religious  Societies  in  London  and 
DubUn,  denominated  respectively  "  the  Society  for  Promoting  Chris- 
tian Knowledge,"  and  "  the  Association  for  Discountenancing  Vice, 
and  Promoting  the  Knowledge  and  Practice  of  the  Christian  Reli- 
gion." This  communication,  which  had  for  its  object  to  acquaint 
those  respectable  bodies  with  the  establislinient  and  the  views  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  was  proposed  in  the  spirit  of  that 
clause  in  the  second  law  of  its  constitution,  which  states,  that  "  th^ 
Society  shall  add  its  endeavours  to  those  employed  by  other  Societies, 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  57 

for  circulating  the  Scriptures  through  the  British  dominions  ;"  and  the 
terms  in  which  the  communication  was  made,  will  show,  that  the 
Conductors  of  the  Society  acted  strictly  under  the  influence  of  those 
regulations  by  which  they  professed  to  be  governed. 

The  letters,  addressed  and  subscribed  by  the  President,  who  filled 
the  chair  when  the  resolution  was  passed,  were  severally  as  follows. 

To  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gaskin,   Secretary  to    '■'■The  Society  for  Promoting 
Christian  Knowledge." 

"  Sir,  Clapham,  August  24,  1804. 

"  By  desire  of  the  Committee  of  '  The  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,'  I  have  the  honour  to  transmit  to  you  a  plan  of  this  Institu- 
tion, for  the  information  of  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Know- 
ledge. I  have  further  the  pleasure  to  add,  that  the  communication  is 
dictated  by  that  respect  and  esteem  which  the  Committee  cannot  but 
feel  for  a  Society  which  has  so  long  and  successfully  exerted  itself  in 
disseminating  the  knowledge  of  divine  truth. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir, 
Your  most  Obedient, 

Humble  Servant, 

TEIGNMOUTH, 

Chairman." 

To  the  Rev.  Dr.  Guinness,  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin;  Secretary  to 
"  The  Association  for  Discountenancing  Vice,  and  Promoting  the 
Knowledge  and  Practice  of  the  Christian  Religion.''^ 

"  Sir,  London,  August  24,  1804. 

"  By  desire  of  the  Committee  of  '  The  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,'  I  have  the  honour  to  transmit  to  you  a  plan  of  this  Institu- 
tion, for  the  information  of  the  Association  for  Discountenancing  Vice, 
and  Promoting  the  Knowledge  and  Practice  of  the  Christian  Religion. 
I  have  further  the  pleasure  to  add,  that  this  address  is  dictated  by  es- 
teem for  a  Society  founded  on  the  same  principles  with  that  of  which 
I  have  the  honour  to  be  President,  and  to  express  a  hope  that  it  may 
eventually  prove  introductory  to  communications  by  which  the  mu- 
tual object  of  both  Societies  may  be  promoted. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be,  Sir, 
Your  most  obedient  Servant, 
TEIGNMOUTH, 

Chairman." 


58  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  IPART  f. 

From  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  no  reply 
was  received.  From  the  Dublin  Association,  a  respectful  and  friend- 
ly acknowledgment  was  transmitted  in  return,  hy  order  of  the  Board. 
In  this  letter  of  acknowledgment,  the  Board  describes  the  Address  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  to  be  an  "  acceptable  commu 
nication,"  cheerfully  embraces  the  assistance  which  it  proffers,  and 
expresses  the  demand  for  the  Scriptures  among  the  Irish,  as  great, 
daily  increasing,  and  exceeding  the  means  of  the  Association  to  sup- 
ply it.  The  words  of  the  Board,  in  stating  this  fact,  are  strong  and 
exphcit :  "  The  Bibles  are  bought  up  with  great  avidity  in  this  coun- 
try, at  the  reduced  rate  of  4s.  Qd.  at  which  the  Association  affords 
them  to  the  public  :  and  the  demand  for  them  daily  increases  so  much, 
that  the  Funds  of  the  Association  are  unable  to  supply  it.^' 

Another  measure  directed  to  the  enlargement  of  the  Society's  con- 
nexions, audits  more  complete  introduction  to  notoriety  and  usefulness, 
was  that  of  addressing  the  Parochial  Clergy,  Dissenting  Ministers,  and 
other  respectable  persons  individually,  as  far  as  might  be  practica- 
ble, throughout  the  United  Kingdom.  For  this  purpose,  a  circular, 
containing  a  plan  of  the  Institution,  Extracts  of  Correspondence,  and 
a  List  of  Subscribers,  was  prepared,  and  very  extensively  distributed, 
free  of  expense  to  the  receiver,  through  the  medium  of  the  post.  An 
Address  was  prefixed  to  it,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy. 

"  The  Society,  which  now  takes  the  liberty  to  address  you,  founds 
its  claims  to  your  notice,  upon  the  nature  of  its  object, — to  promote 
the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  at  home  and  abroad  ;  an  object,  in 
which  every  one,  who  professes  the  religion  of  Christ,  must  feel  a 
deep  interest. 

"  The  liberal  basis  of  its  establishment,  also,  which  unites,  to  a  degree 
perhaps  hitherto  unexampled,  the  zeal  and  exertions  of  Christians,  of 
the  several  denominations,  to  which  the  constitution  of  this  happy 
country  affords  equal  protection,  will  doubtless  give  additional  force  to 
the  claims  arising  from  the  simplicity,  purity,  and  impoi-tance  of  its 
design. 

"  It  cannot  be  doubted,  that  in  every  part  of  the  United  Kingdom, 
there  are  many  who  are  actuated  with  the  true  spirit  of  Christian  be- 
nevolence, and  who  only  want  proper  opportunities  of  manifesting  it. 
The  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  now  presents  such  an  oppor- 
tunity to  them,  and  solicits  your  assistance  in  making  it  known,  as 
well  as  your  influence  and  co-operation  in  promoting  the  object  of  its 
association. 


CHAP.  II.]  AJVD  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


5d 


"  The  Society  is  fully  sensible  of  the  happy  results  to  be  expected 
from  the'Combined  exertions  of  the  Christian  community,  and  is  re- 
quired by  a  sense  of  duty  to  call  them  forth  in  the  advancement  of  a 
work  which  it  can  with  confidence  recommend  to  the  blessing  of  God, 
and  the  support  of  every  good  man. 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  be, 
Your  most  obedient,  humble  Servant, 
TEIGNMOUTH, 

President." 

The  measures,  emanating  from  the  directing  body  in  their  collec- 
tive capacity,  were  greatly  assisted  by  the  zeal  and  activity  of  its  in- 
dividual Members  ;  and  the  united  operation  of  both  contributed  ma- 
terially to  increase  the  funds  of  the  Society,  and  to  multiply  the  num- 
ber of  those  who  took  an  interest  in  its  advancement  and  success. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  correspondence  which  had  been  opened  with 
different  parts  of  the  European  continent  began  to  elicit  information 
upon  the  subject  to  which  it  was  directed,  and  in  some  cases  to  im- 
port the  most  gratifying  assurances  of  approbation,  and  of  a  cordial  dis- 
position to  co-operate  in  promoting  the  design  of  the  Institution,  as  it 
regarded  foreign  countries. 

The  communication  which  had  taken  place  with  certain  individuals 
of  piety  and  influence  in  the  Imperial  city  of  Nurenberg,  led  (as  has 
been  stated)  to  the  proposition  of  granting  a  donation  of  100/.  from 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  in  the  event  of  a  similar  Insti- 
tution being  founded  in  that  place.  The  result  of  this  proposition  was, 
the  establishment  of  the  first  Foreign  Bible  Society.  The  foundation 
of  it  was  laid  on  the  10th  of  May,  1804  ;  and  the  pious  simphcity  of 
the  correspondent  on  whom  it  devolved  to  take  the  lead  in  the  trans- 
action, gives  a  pleasing  interest  to  the  following  statement  of  the  man- 
ner in  which  it  was  effected:  "  We  cannot  but  return  you  our  most 
humble  thanks,  for  having  encouraged  us  in  the  most  liberal  manner 
to  co-operate  with  you  in  this  excellent  work  of  love.  While  reading 
your  kind  invitation  and  offer,  I  was  deeply  impressed  with  that  Scrip- 
ture :  '  They  beckoned  to  their  partners  which  were  in  the  other 
ship,  that  they  should  come  and  help  them ;  and  they  came  and  fdled 
both  ships,  so  that  they  began  to  sink.'  Your  letter  afforded  me  so 
much  joy,  that  I  could  not  contain  myself,  but  immediately  went  to  the 
Rev.  John  Godfried  Schoener,  one  of  the  most  respectable  Ministers 
of  our  city,  in  order  to  communicate  to  him  the  joyful  news  from  a 
far  country.  He  was  no  less  affected  than  myself;  and  we  agreed  to 
appoint  a  meeting  of  Christian  friends  on  Ascension  Day.  at  which  >re 


60  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I 

unanimously  resolved  to  unite  for  the  formation  of  a  Bible  Society, 
and  by  a  printed  letter  to  invite  our  Christian  friends  throughout  Ger- 
many and  Switzerland,  to  assist  us  in  so  noble  an  undertaking."  This 
Address  was  soon  after  issued  ;  and  while  the  generosity  of  England 
was  warmly  commended,  and  held  up  as  an  example,  an  animated  ap- 
peal was  made  to  the  reverers  of  the  Bible,  "  which  yet  remains  the 
Bible  of  all  religious  parties,"  to  lend  their  aid  in  promoting  its  dis- 
tribution. "  The  inherent  value  of  the  book,  the  religious  wants  of 
the  people,  the  critical  circumstances  of  the  times,  the  present  tran- 
quillity of  the  states,"  together  with  other  cogent  reasons,  were  seri- 
ously urged,  as  "  loudly  calling  for  attention  to  this  important  under- 
taking." 

From  Stuttgart,  Professor  Druck,  Librarian  to  the  Elector  (now 
King)  of  Wiirtemberg,  in  reply  to  the  letter  in  which  he  had  been 
addressed,  transmitted  important  intelligence,  relative  to  the  versions 
of  the  Scriptures  in  the  Wiirtemberg  librarj^  amounting  in  all  to 
''  more  than  4,000  different  editions  of  the  whole  Bible,  or  of  distinct 
.parts  of  the  same  ;"  and  accompanied  his  account  with  expressions 
of  the  highest  gratification  and  surprise  at  the  motive  and  object  of 
those  inquiries  to  which  his  answer  was  requested.  "  When  I  read 
vour  letter,"  (says  the  Professor,)  "  I  could  not  help  thinking  the  Eng- 
lish are  the  most  distinguished  people  in  the  world.  Had  we  possess- 
ed in  Germany  the  utmost  tranquillity  and  prosperity,  yet  such  a  noble 
design  of  diffusing  the  Bible  would  scarcely  have  entered  our  minds, 
or,  in  case  it  had,  would  not  have  met  with  such  generous  encourage- 
ment and  STipport.  One  cannot  but  highly  esteem  such  a  nation,  and 
the  more  so,  on  account  of  its  regard  for  the  best  of  books,  which, 
though  now  shamefully  neglected,  has  ever  proved,  and  will  continue 
to  be,  the  great  means  of  meliorating  the  condition  of  mankind.'' 
These  sentiments,  now  become  familiar  by  the  frequency  with  which 
they  have  been  reiterated  from  so  many  quarters,  reflect  great  ho- 
nour on  the  candid  spirit  of  their  author  ;  and  evince  at  the  same  time 
the  seasonableness  and  the  beneficial  tendency  of  the  Institution  to 
which  they  are  applied. 

From  Sweden,  through  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Brunnmark,  Chaplain  to 
the  Swedish  Embassy  in  London,  of  whose  active  and  useful  services 
there  will  be  occasion  hereafter  to  speak,  information  was  received, 
which  appeared  to  supersede  the  necessity  of  any  exertions  in  that 
portion  of  the  continent.  The  infonnants  were,  the  Society  ^^  pro 
Fide  et  Christianismo'^'  at  Stockholm,  and  the  purport  of  their  mforma- 
tion  was,  "  that,  owing  to  the  gracious  and  paternal  care  of  the  go- 
rernment  of  their  country,  as  well  as  from  the  gospel-light  and  zeal 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  61 

which  had  generally  spread  among  individuals,  no  want  existed  of 
that  holy  book  which  contains  in  it  the  fountain  of  all  knowledge, 
bringing  salvation  and  producing  good-will  among  men  ;  and  moreover, 
that  Bibles  in  the  Finland  and  Lapland  languages  were  currently  print- 
ed at  Stockholm,  and  distributed  either  gratis  or  at  very  reduced 
prices,  by  Societies  formed  for  that  benevolent  purpose."  How  lit- 
tle accuracy  there  was  in  this  representation,  which  was  believed  by 
the  reporters  to  be  conscientiously  exact,  and  which,  out  of  respect 
to  the  venerable  source  from  which  it  originated,  and  the  channel 
through  which  it  was  transmitted,  had  the  effect  of  staying  for  a  con- 
siderable period  the  Society's  operations  in  Sweden,  will  be  seen  as 
this  History  proceeds.  Suffice  it  for  the  present  to  say,  that  the 
account  was  derived  from  the  best  means  of  information  which 
existed,  previously  to  that  developement  of  the  popular  wants,  which 
the  persevering  inquiries  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society 
produced  ;  and  that  from  the  time  when  its  incorrectness  was  dis- 
covered, both  Dr.  Brunnmark  and  his  countrymen  displayed  a  zeal 
and  activity,  increasing  progressively  from  year  to  year,  in  dissemi- 
nating through  Sweden  and  Lapland  those  sacred  treasures  of  which 
they  had  been  erroneously  supposed  to  be  so  completely  possessed. 

This  incident  may  serve  to  account  for  the  existence  of  a  similar 
persuasion  in  the  minds  of  many  respectable  individuals,  with  regard 
to  the  condition  of  our  own  population  as  to  their  possession  of  the 
Scriptures  ;  and  to  apologize  for  the  zeal  with  which  they  have  im- 
pugned the  domestic  exertions  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety as  altogether  uncalled-for  and  superfluous.  The  course  of 
investigation  has  brought  to  light  a  state  of  scarcity  in  our  own  countrj-, 
of  which  the  objectors  could  not  have  been  aware ;  and  it  is  not  re- 
quiring too  much  to  expect  that  their  disposition  to  co-operate  in 
remedying  the  wants  of  the  country,  now  that  they  are  unequivocally 
ascertained,  will  be  in  proportion  to  the  confidence  with  which  they 
disputed  the  existence  of  those  wants,  and  decried  the  Institution 
which  proffered  its  assistance  to  supply  them. 

From  Holland,  the  queries  proposed  respecting  the  state  of  the 
Scriptures,  extracted  a  reply  of  a  similar  tendency  to  that  which  had 
been  transmitted  from  Sweden.  The  Dutch,  through  a  respectable 
minister  at  Rotterdam,  expressed  their  joy  at  the  establishment  of 
this  laudable  Institution  for  rendering  the  word  of  God  accessible  to 
the  indigent,  and  prayed  for  a  blessing  on  its  benevolent  endeavours. 
"  But"  (adds  this  minister)  "  with  us  there  is,  thank  God,  no 
scarcity  of  Bibles."  On  this  statement  (which,  however,  it  is  to  be 
observed,  is  but  the  statement  of  an  individual)  the  late  formation  of 
10 


62  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

the  United  Netherlands'  Bihie  Society,  and  the  discoveries  made  in 
the  course  of  its  operations,  will  be  found  to  supply  a  comment 
which  will  lend  confirmation  to  the  remarks  just  made  on  a  similar 
misapprehension,  so  long  entertained  by  many  enlightened  and  be- 
nevolent persons  as  to  the  state  of  the  Scriptures,  both  in  Sweden 
and  Great  Britain. 

While,  however,  this  account  from  Holland  discouraged  any  pre- 
sent exertions  for  the  furtherance  of  the  Society's  object  in  that 
country,  it  contained  sentiments  expressive  of  a  religious  sympathy 
which,  considering  the  state  of  mutual  exasperation  occasioned  by  the 
war,  were  deservedly  regarded  as  very  consolatory  and  important. 

"  You  feelingly  express  your  regret,"  (writes  this  pious  and 
amiable  correspondent,)  "  that  the  union  between  the  two  nations  in 
which  we  respectively  live,  has  been  unhappily  dissolved  by  the  war. 
Oh,  my  dear  Sir!  could  y6u  be  among  us,  you  would  soon  be  con- 
vinced that  three-fourths  of  our  nation  lament  the  unhappy  quarrel 
which,  for  some  years  past,  has  divided  two  nations,  which  yet  have 
one  common  interest  in  the  service  of  the  Gospel.  But  we  are  a 
defenceless  people,  who  daily  pray  to  God  to  have  mercy  upon  us  ; 
and  so  far  from  being  inimical  to  the  English  nation,  we  rather  rejoice 
that  not  morft  than  two  Dutchmen  were  to  be  found,  who  would  so 
far  degrade  themselves  as  to  advise  a  plan  for  the  invasion  of  a 
country,  for  the  ])rcservation  of  which  we  are  as  anxiously  solicitous 
as  for  that  of  our  own." 

The  intelligence  derived  from  Berlin  purported,  that  the  want  of 
the  Scriptures  in  the  Bohemian  language  was  very  great ;  and  that 
persons  of  consideration  had  actually  offered  annual  contributions  to- 
wards printing  an  edition  of  the  Bohemian  Bible  :  but  that  the  means 
arising  from  them  were  insuthcient  for  the  puq)ose.  Upon  this  in- 
formation, which  was  furnished  l^y  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jasnicke,  Minister 
of  the  Protestant  Bohemian  congregation,  a  similar  step  was  taken 
to  that  which  had  been  adopted  with  so  much  success  in  the  case  of 
Nurenberg;  and  the  sum  of  100/.  was  tendered,  should  a  Bible  So- 
ciety be  formed  at  Berlin  to  promote  a  continual  circulation  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures. 

But  of  all  the  communications  elicited  by  the  inquiries  propagated 
through  different  parts  of  the  continent  of  Europe,  that  which  ex- 
cited the  greatest  surprise,  and  administered  the  highest  gratification, 
was,  an  address  from  a  Roman  Catholic  Clergyman  in  Swabia.  This 
extraordinary  address,  dictated  by  spontaneous  feeling,  was  written 
in  a  tone  of  sentiment  and  affection,  so  abhorrent  from  the  spirit 
which  had  generally  characterized  the  proceedings  of  the  Roman 


CHAP.  11. >  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  gg 

Catholic  Church  towards  Members  of  other  reUgious  communions, 
that  it  was  read  with  astonishment,  and  greeted  as  the  indication  of 
an  improved  temper  in  the  members  of  that  church,  and  the  harbin- 
ger of  a  better  understanding  than  had  hitherto  subsisted  between 
them  and  their  brethren  of  every  other  denomination  throughout 
Christendom. 

As  this  was  the  first  document  which  evinced,  on  the  part  of  the 
Cathohcs,  a  desire  to  co-operate  in  the  distribution  of  the  Scriptures, 
and  as  it  opened  a  way  for  that  connexion  with  them  which  has  since 
been  cultivated  with  so  much  harmony  and  effect,  it  will  be  proper 
to  extract  such  passages  from  the  letter  as  may  do  justice  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  this  enlightened  Priest,  and  those  of  his  Brethren  who  par- 
ticipated with  him  in  sentiments  at  once  so  just  and  so  happily  ex- 
pressed. 

"  You  will  not,  I  trust,  be  displeased,  if  an  entire  stranger  to  you 
presumes  to  address  you  in  a  letter.     I  had  the  pleasure  to  learn, 

from  a  copy  of  your  letter,  addressed  to  Mr. ,  of  Nurenberg, 

the  great  number  of  zealous  friends  of  the  Bible  in  London,  who  are 
filled  with  a  noble  desire  to  send  out  the  pure  word  of  God,  as  the 
best  preacher,  into  the  world.  This  account  excited  in  my  breast 
the  most  heartfelt  joy  and  gratitude  towards  that  God  who  is  the  only 
Giver  of  '  every  good  and  perfect  gift ;'  but  I  felt  also  lively  emotions 
of  unfeigned  love  and  affection  for  you,  and  for  all  the  Members  of 
the  venerable  Bible  Society,  for  whom  I  wish  a  thousand  blessings. 
May  the  Lord  Jesus,  through  whom  all  blessings  are  communicated 
to  us,  be  the  beginning  and  end  of  their  praiseworthy  undertaking ! 
And  may  his  name  be  glorified  for  it  to  all  eternity. 

"  What  particularly  induced  me  to  write,  was,  your  question, 
•  Whether  the  Bible  was  still  prohibited  to  the  Catholics  ?'  Being 
convinced  thereby,  that  you  were  mindful  even  of  the  poor  Catho- 
lics, I  was  particularly  moved  and  edified :  for,  indeed,  nothing  is 
more  affecting  than  that  love  which  embraces  all,  without  the  least 
distinction  ;  '  for  God  is  love  ;  and  he  that  dwelleth  in  love,  dwelleth 
in  God,  and  God  in  him.'  I  felt  myself,  therefore,  constrained  to 
thank  you,  in  the  name  of  all  hone.st  and  well-disposed  Catholics,  for 
these  your  fraternal  sentiments. 

"  In  answer  to  your  question,  I  observe,  properly  speaking,  the 
Bible  has  never  been  prohibited  to  the  Cathohcs.*     The  Council  of 

•  The  Roman  Catholic  Archbishop  of  Cranganore  differed  from  this  enlightened 
Priest  in  his  construction  of  the  Decree  of  the  Council  of  Trent ;  as  appears  from 
his  reply  to  the  Vicar  of  Cranganore,  who  asked  this  his  Spiritual  Superior,  « if 


64 


niSrORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  li'ART  I 


Trent  only  states, — Indiscriminata  lectio  Sacrm  ScripiuriK  interdicts 
est.  Well-informed  Catholics  took  this  always  in  that  sense  only — 
that  not  all  Books  of  the  Bible,  promiscnoudy,  should  be  put  into  the 
hands  of  the  common  people  ;  referring  chiefly  to  some  books  of  the 
Old  Testament.  Besides,  this  prohibition  of  the  Council  of  Trent 
has  never  been  admitted  as  binding  by  the  whole  body  of  the  Roman 
Catholic  clergy  in  Germany:  but  so  much  is  true,  that  all  bhnd 
bigots  of  our  church  have  always  spread  the  opinion,  that  it  was  en- 
tirely forbidden  for  all  laymen  to  read  the  Bible  ;  and  this  prejudice 
is,  alas  !  still  deeply  prevalent  among  the  greater  part  of  the  people. 
There  are,  however,  at  present,  many  of  our  clergymen,  Jboth  in 
Swabia  and  Bavaria,  who  strongly  recommend  the  reading  of  the 
Bible,  chiefly  of  the  New  Testament,  and  do  every  thing  in  their 
power  to  promote  it.  I  have,  for  my  own  part,  distributed  many 
New  Testaments,  and  some  Bibles,  among  more  enlightened  Catho- 
lics ;  and  several  of  my  dear  brethren  in  Christ  do  the  same. 

"  Should  an  Institution  be  established  among  us,  upon  your  plan,  1 
am  sure  we  could  dispose  of  a  good  number  of  Bibles  and  New  Tes- 
taments. The  people  seem  to  get  more  and  more  desirous  of  the 
Bible  ;  and  the  number  of  clergymen  is  increasing,  who  not  only 
would  tolerate,  but  commend  the  reading  of  it. 

"  I  feel  a  very  great  desire  to  witness  the  formation  of  a  similar 
Bible  Society  among  the  Roman  Catholics  :  and,  indeed,  I  will  make 
Eome  attempts  ;  though  I  foresee  many  difficulties,  and  can  hardly 
suppose  that  so  many  active  and  benevolent  friends  of  the  Bible  are 
to  be  found  among  the  Roman  Catholics  as  would  be  requisite  for 
such  an  undertaking.  Your  question,  however,  respecting  the 
Catholics,  inspires  me  with  the  hope  that  your  Society  is  desirous  to 

he  could,  in  safe  conscience,  accept  Ihe  ofTer  of  the  Bible,  printed  in  Malabar, 
without  notes,  to  be  circulated  amon^  the  Malabar  Christians." 

"  I  say"  (was  the  language  of  the  Archbishop)  "that  yon  cannot  receive  such 
books  as  are  offered  you;  as  the  reading  of  the  Bible,  without  notes,  approved  by 
the  church,  is  expressly  prohibited,  even  to  those  who  have  liberty  to  read  prohi- 
bited books.  The  declaration' of  the  venerable  German  I'riest,  tcho  ,vn?/«  that  there 
is  no  prohibition  according  to  the  Council  of  Trent,  must  be  understood  in  another 
manner,''  And  in  a  subseipicnt  letter  on  the  same  business,  to  Lieut.  Col.  l)e 
■Morgan,  the  Archbishop  expresses  very  decidedly  what  he  means  by  that  other 
nuinner. 

"  1  was  astonished,"  (writes  the  Archbishop)  "  when  he  (the  Vicar)  said,  that  be 
would  take  charge  of  a  thing  that  is  inijjossible  for  him  :  because  tlic  Holy  Bible 
is  prohibited  to  be  read  by  the  lioman  Cutliolicx,  Kith  the  ejception  of  some  parts 
vhich  are  called  consiliocvidentiore." — Appendix  to  Fourth  Keport  of  the  Calcutta 
Auxiliary  Bible  Society. 


CHAP.  11]  AWU  FOREIGN  BIBLK  SOCIETV.  gg 

extend  its  beneficial  influence  likewise  to  the  Catholics  ;  wishing  only 
to  know,  whether  a  dispersion  of  Bibles  among  them  would  be  prac- 
ticable ;  and,  indeed,  it  would  not  only  be  practicable,  but  desirable 
in  the  highest  degree. 

*'  Now,  I  beg  you,  my  dear  brother  in  Christ,  to  receive  these  few 
lines  in  love.  I  wrote  this,  trusting  it  might  be  acceptable  to  your 
venerable  Society.  I  cannot  express,  in  terms  sufficiently  strong, 
the  fervency  of  my  joy,  and  of  my  love  towards  all  who,  throughout 
England,  heartily  believe  in  Jesus  Christ  as  their  only  Saviour,  and 
zealously  endeavour  to  extend  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  I  embrace 
them  all  as  the  beloved  and  elect  of  God,  as  friends  and  brethren  in 
Christ,  let  them  be  of  whatever  name,  or  belong  to  whatever  church 
or  denomination.  The  more  distant  the  countries,  and  the  more  dif- 
ferent the  outward  forms  and  establishments  are,  the  more  I  rejoice, 
if  I  am  privileged  to  hear  that  our  ever-faithful  Lord  and  Saviour  is 
gathering  from  among  them  a  flock  of  believing  people.  Truly,  God 
has  a  numerous  Army  of  Reserve  in  England,  who  do  not  bow  before 
the  Baal  of  the  age,  nor  sacrifice  to  the  god  of  the  times.  Let 
all  who  know  his  name,  glorify  him  for  this  mercy  !  May  the  peace 
of  God,  and  the  all-sufficient  grace  of  our  Lord  .Tesus  Christ,  be  with 
you  all !" 

Among  the  many  distinguished  friends  of  the  Society  by  whom  this 
communication  from  so  unexpected  a  quarter  was  received  with  emo- 
tions of  real  gratification,  no  one  manifested  those  feelings  more 
strongly  than  the  venerable  Bishop  Porteus.  That  Prelate  may  bo 
truly  said  to  have  rejoiced  in  the  contents  of  this  extraordinary  docu- 
ment "  with  exceeding  great  joy."  By  the  Bishop's  desire,  the  au- 
thor read  it  publicly  at  his  Lordship's  table  :  the  overflowings  of  his 
liberal  heart  were  poured  forth  on  the  occasion  in  the  warmest  ex- 
pressions of  surprise  and  delight.  The  scene  was  novel  and  affect- 
ing :  the  Cathohc  Priest  and  the  Protestant  Bishop  appeared  to  re- 
cognize each  other  as  members  and  functionaries  of  the  same  undi- 
vided church :  while  "  The  Lord  be  with  you"  was  uttered  by  the 
one,  the  other  seemed  to  return  the  corresponding  salutation — "  And 
with  thy  spirit." 

The  production  of  this  letter  excited,  as  may  be  supposed,  in  the 
breasts  of  the  Committee,  a  desire  to  improve,  what  to  their  minds 
appeared  a  most  favourable  occurrence.  Regarding  it  as  an  invita- 
tion to  occupy  a  field  from  which  they  had  considered  themselves  a^ 
altogether  excluded,  they  accepted  the  challenge  with  thankfulness, 
and  determined  to  meet  it  with  a  suitable  demonstration  of  cordiality 
and  friendship.     In  this  sentiment,   they  resolved   to   place    1000 


66  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

copies  of  the  Protestant  New  Testament,  then  printing  in  Nurenberg, 
at  the  disposal  of  this  zealous  correspondent,  for  distribution,  by  sale 
or  gift,  among  the  Roman  Catholics  in  Swabia  and  Bavaria  ;  and  di- 
rected him  to  be  assured  of  their  sincere  disposition  to  afford  the 
members  of  his  communion  every  degree  of  aid  consistent  with  the 
principles  and  means  of  the  Institution. 

These  transactions  comprehend  every  thing  which  it  is  material 
to  record  in  the  history  of  the  Society's  attempt  to  estabhsh  a  system 
of  foreign  relations,  from  its  commencement  to  the  month  of  Decem- 
ber 1804.  The  ground  was  by  these  means  broken  up,  and,  to  a 
certain  degree,  brought  into  cultivation.  The  German  Society 
planted  at  Nurenberg  had  taken  root,  and  was  already  beginning  to 
show  signs  of  fruitfulness  by  a  determination  to  print  5000  copies  of 
a  Protestant  New  Testament ;  and  a  train  was  laid  for  producing  simi- 
lar Establishments,  or  exertions  of  a  kindred  description,  in  other 
parts  of  the  continent. 

Nor  were  the  efforts  employed  with  a  view  to  the  enlargement  of 
the  Society's  domestic  connexions  attended  with  less  prosperit}'.  The 
Circular  Address,  subscribed  by  the  President,  and  despatched,  un- 
der his  Lordship's  sanction,  to  a  considerable  number  of  the  Clergy, 
Dissenting  Ministers,  and  persons  of  influence,  brought  back,  in  re- 
turn, from  various  parts  of  the  country,  warm  congratulations  on  the 
establishment  of  the  Society,  and  the  most  friendly  assurances  of 
a  liberal  and  active  co-operation. 

In  the  meantime,  the  measures  adopted  for  supplying  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  United  Kingdom  with  the  Scriptures  in  the  English  and 
Welsh  languages,  continued  to  be  prosecuted  with  unabated  vigour ; 
and  advanced  as  rapidly  as,  from  the  more  tardy  process  of  casting 
the  stereotype  plates,  and  other  impediments  inseparable  from  the 
execution  of  great  and  important  concerns,  could  be  reasonably  ex- 
pected. 

Things  had  attained  this  state,  when  an  incident  occurred,  which 
afforded  the  Society  an  opportunity  of  making  the  first  application  of 
its  funds  to  the  printing  of  a  portion  of  the  Scriptures  in  a  foreign  lan- 
guage, under  its  own  immediate  direction. 

Captain  John  Norton,*  a  Chief  of  the  Six-Nation  Indians  in  Upper 
Canada,  having  been  induced  to  visit  England,  partly  with  the  design 
of  serving  in  the  British  army,  but  principally  with  that  of  obtaining 
a  confirmation  of  the  Grant  under  which  his  Indian  bretliren  occu- 

*  Captain  Norton  was  adopted  by  the  Conft-deracy  in  1791,  and  in  1800,  ap- 
pointed a  Chief,  under  the  title  of  Teyoninholtarawcn.  His  father  was  a  Chero- 
kee, and  served  in  the  British  army. 


CHAP.  11]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  67 

pied  the  Grand  River  settlement,  fell  into  a  connexion  which  gave 
his  mind,  originally  intent  on  the  general  welfare  of  his  Tribes, 
a  more  decided  direction  towards  their  moral  and  religious  improve- 
ment. Under  this  impression,  he  was  advised  to  employ  his  intervals 
of  leisure,  in  translating  the  Gospel  of  St.  John  into  the  Mohawk  dia- 
lect, the  current  language  of  these  confederated  nations.  The  rea- 
son for  making  choice  of  this  Gospel  was,  that  the  Mohawks  were 
already  in  possession  of  the  Liturgy  of  the  Church  of  England,  select 
portions  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  and  the  entire  Gospel 
of  St.  Mark,*  translated  by  Captain  Brant :  it  appeared  therefore  de- 
sirable to  furnish  them  with  the  means  of  adding  to  their  stock  of  re- 
ligious knowledge  an  acquaintance  with  the  sublime  doctrine  con- 
tained in  the  Gospel  of  St.  John. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  to  say  something  of  the  people  for  whose  use 
this  translation  was  intended. 

The  Mohawks,  and  the  Six  Nations  in  general,  were  the  old  and 
steady  allies  of  Great  Britain.  The  incorporated  Society  for  Propa- 
gating the  Gospel,  sent  a  mission  among  them  in  1702,  the  first  year 
after  its  incorporation  ;  and  had,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  the  satisfac- 
tion of  bringing  over  many  to  the  faith  and  practice  of  Christianity. 

These  confederated  Indians  entered  into  an  alliance  with  the 
English,  immediately  after  the  latter  became  possessed  of  the  pro- 
vince of  New-York,  in  the  seventeenth  century.  Their  decided  ad- 
herence to  the  British  interest  during  the  American  war,  made  it  ex- 
pedient for  them  to  abandon  their  ancient  settlements,  and  remove  to 
Upper  Canada,  when  the  independence  of  the  British  Colonies  was 
acknowledged  by  this  country.  "  Such  was  their  attachment  to  our 
common  Sovereign,  whom  they  consider  as  their  Father,  and  such 
their  predilection  in  favour  of  our  nation,  that  they  cheerfully  sub- 
mitted to  this  inconvenience  rather  than  remain  in  their  native  coun- 
try, when  under  a  foreign  jurisdiction."!  At  the  time  when  this 
translation  of  St.  John's  Gospel  was  suggested  for  their  benefit,  the 


*  A  translatioQ  was  also  made  of  the  Gospel  of  St.  Matthew,  together  with 
many  chaptei-s  both  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament,  about  the  begiuning  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  by  the  Rev-  Mr.  Freeman.  Some  portions  of  the  latter  were 
printed  at  New- York;  and  reprinted  in  London  with  "the  Book  of  Common 
Prayer,  &c."  in  1787,  for  the  use  of  the  Mohawks,  at  the  expense  of  Government. 
The  Gospel  of  St.  Matthew  is  supposed  to  remain  in  MS.  See  "  Humphrey's 
Account  of  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts ;"  also  Pre- 
face to  the  "  Book  of  Common  Prayer,  &c."  as  above-mentioned. 

t  Preface  to  "  Book  of  Common  Prayor.  Sec."  before  cited. 


68  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

number  settled  on  the  Grand  River,  though  much  reduced  by  various 
causes,  some  of  which  it  was  the  object  of  Captain  Norton's  negotia- 
tion to  remove,  amounted  to  at  least  2000  souls.  The  total  of  the 
Confederacy,  (including  the  Caghiiawagues,  Hurons,  or  Wyandots, 
who  professed  the  Roman  Cathohc  religion,)  was  computed  to  exceed 
8000,*  Add  to  this,  that  the  dialect  of  the  Mohawk  was  intelligible 
to  certain  other  of  the  Aboriginal  Tribes  ;  and  that  a  very  encoura- 
ging disposition  had  been  shown  to  receive  religious  instruction. 

Captain  Norton  appeared  to  be,  in  every  respect,  qualified  to  exe- 
cute the  projected  translation.  He  was  a  man  of  great  natural  acute- 
ness  and  much  reflection  ;  and  united  with  a  strong  sense  of  religion 
an  ardent  devotion  to  the  interest  of  his  Tribes.  His  knowledge  ot 
the  English  language,  which  was  familiar  to  him  from  his  childhood, 
had  been  improved  by  two  years  of  education  in  Scotland  ;  and  that 
of  the  Mohawk,  in  which  dialect  he  had  served  as  Interpreter  to  the 
British  army,  had  been  matured  and  perfected  by  long  residence  in 
the  Grand  River  settlement.  To  these  general  qualitications  were 
added  an  extensive  acquaintance  with  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  an 
increased  conviction  of  their  importance,  derived  in  great  measure 
from  that  intercourse  which  he  had  been  led  to  cultivate  with  men  of 
distinguished  piety,  and  of  religious  as  well  as  general  information. 

As  it  was  the  desire  of  the  Committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society  to  ascertain,  with  as  much  accuracy  as  possible,  the 
correctness  and  fidelity  of  the  translation,  and  as  it  was  not  probable 
ihat  another  person  could  be  found  in  Great  Britain  who  understood 
the  language  into  which  it  was  made,  recourse  was  had  to  the  follow- 
ing expedient. 

On  an  occasion  which  gave  the  author  an  opportunity  of  introdu- 
cing the  Translator  to  a  respectable  company,  he  took  advantage  of 
the  presence  of  some  gentlemen,  whose  testimony  he  considered  of 
eminent  value,  to  bring  the  subject  of  the  Mohawk  translation,  then 
nearly  completed,  into  discussion.  A  proposal  was  made,  and  univer- 
sally acceded  to,  that,  as  the*  only  test  by  which  the  accuracy  of  his 
version  could  be  tried.  Captain  Norton  should  be  requested  to  re- 

*  The  Six  Nations  are  the  Ondowaqhas,  or  Setiecas,  the  Cayeugas,  the  OnoniUi' 
giu,  tlie  Oneidus,  the  Mohawks,  and  the  Tuscaroras.  To  these,  which  are  Protes- 
tants, and  settled  in  Upper  Canada,  may  he  added  the  ('aiihvarcnpues,  themselves 
Mohawks,  who  were  converted  to  the  Roman  Catholic  religion,  and  led  to  Lower 
Canada,  by  the  French  Missionaries;  and  the  Ituronn,  or  M'l/awrfo/*,  a  people 
speaking  a  language  nearly  similar  to  that  of  the  above-named  Confederates. 
These  latter  are  also  Roman  Catholics;  they  inhabit  near  Detroit^  and  have,  be- 
sides, one  village  near  Quebec. 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  gg 

translate  a  portion  of  his  MS.  into  literal  English.  With  this  request 
Captain  Norton  complied,  and  immediately  read,  in  the  manner  pro- 
posed, the  17th  chapter  of  St.  John.  The  suffrages  of  the  company 
were  then  collected  ;  and  they  were  found  to  be  unanimous  in  pro- 
nouncing, as  far  as  the  evidence  appeared,  that  the  translation  was 
made  with  equal  fidelity  and  judgment.  Among  those  who  sat  in  this 
court  of  criticism,  and  concurred  most  warmly  in  the  decision  as  re- 
ported, the  author  trusts  he  shall  be  excused  for  mentioning  the  Rev. 
Professor  Bridge,  of  the  East  India  College  ;  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hamilton, 
Rector  of  St.  Olave's,  Jewry;  and  the  Rev.  R.  Ormerod,  A.  M.  Vicar 
of  Kensington. 

The  translation  having  been  thus  accredited,  the  Committee  felt  no 
hesitation  in  adapting  it :  an  impression,  consisting  of  2000  copies  in 
Mohawk  and  English,  was  accordingly  printed.  A  proportion  of  the 
edition  was  consigned  to  the  care  of  Captain  Norton  ;  and,  under  hisi 
direction,  copies  were  furnished  to  different  stations  in  Upper  Canada, 
and  in  the  Ohio  and  Oneida  country.  The  favourable  Opinion  enter- 
tained of  the  translation  was  shortly  after  confirmed  by  the  judgnlent 
of  the  Interpreters  in  the  Indian  villages,  who  pronounced  it  to  be 
"very  correct:"  and  the  fact  of  its  circulation  has  been  proved  by 
the  following  statement,  which  appeared  in  the  Address  of  the  Salem 
Bible  Society  at  the  close  of  1810.  Speaking  of  the  exertions  made 
by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  the  Address  thus  proceeds  : 
"  They  have  penetrated  into  the  wilds  of  the  American  continent, 
and  published  the  Gospel  in  Indian  and  English  ;"  and  it  adds,  by  way 
of  confirmation,  "  as  an  interesting  fact,  that  one  of  the  Oneida  In- 
dians, who  visited  Salem  the  preceding  summer,  carried  in  his  bosom 
a  copy  of  St.  John's  Gospel  in  the  Mohawk  and  English  language." 

A  circumstance  arose  in  the  course  of  this  transaction,  which  af- 
forded the  conductors  of  the  Society  an  opportunity  of  bringing  their 
principles  to  the  trial.  The  Translator,  desirous  to  conciliate  the  at- 
tention of  the  Mohawks,  and  prepare  their  minds  for  appreciating  the 
treasure  with  which  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  had  sup- 
plied them,  drew  up  a  short  introductory  address  in  Mohawk  and  Eng- 
lish, and,  witljout  consultation,  prefixed  it  to  the  work.  In  this  state 
six  copies  were  bound,  and  presented  as  specimens  of  binding,  to  a 
Sub-Committee,  whose  office  it  was  to  superintend  this  department  of 
the  Society's  service.  Immediately  upon  the  discovery,  a  resolution 
was  passed,  that  the  portion  which  contained  the  introductory  address 
should  be  removed  from  the  copies  already  bound  ;  and  that  it  should 
in  no  case  be  united  with  the  text  in  such  copies  as  should  hereafter 
be  issued  imder  the  sanction  and  responsibility  of  the  Society.  As 
11 


>^Q  IJISTORV  OF  THE  BRITISH  [I'xVRT  I. 

the  record  of  this  determination  evinced  the  promptitude  and  firm- 
ness with  which  the  first  approach  to  deviation  from  the  fundamental 
laws  of  the  Society  was  resisted,  it  may  be  satisfactory  to  the  reader 
to  see  the  terms  in  which  it  was  expressed. 

"  An  Address  to  the  Six  Nations  having  been  written  by  the  Trans- 
lator, and  printed  uniformly  with  the  Gospel,  your  Sub-Committee 
have  ordered  the  same  to  be  wholly  separated  from  the  Translation 
of  the  Gospel,  and  not  in  any  instance  to  be  bound  up  with  it ;  it  be- 
ing incompatible  with  a  fundamental  principle  of  this  Institution  to 
attach  to  the  Scriptures  any  additional  matter  whatever." 

In  justice  to  the  Translator  it  should  be  stated,  that  the  Address 
contained  no  other  sentiments  than  those  which  every  Christian 
might  be  expected  to  approve  ;  and  as  there  was,  throughout  it,  an 
interesting  simplicity,  characteristic  of  the  kindest  disposition  and  the 
purest  principles,  a  brief  extract  from  the  closing  part  of  it  may  not 
be  unacceptable  to  the  reader. 

"  As  Jehovah  our  Lord  loveth  mankind,  and  is  ever  mercifully 
aiding  those  who  stand  in  need,  so  are  also  his  people,  that  is,  the 
truly  pious  ;  considering  all  men  as  brethren,  in  whatever  quarter  may 
be  their  place  of  habitation  ;  and  wherever  they  ntay  see  them  labour- 
ing under  difficulties,  they  feel  for  them,  and  hasten  to  their  assist- 
ance. Thus  are  the  true  worshippers  of  God,  to  the  extent  of  their 
ability,  communicating  kindness  to  their  brethren. 

"  Much  have  I  seen  of  this  influence  since  I  left  you  ;  for  truly  I 
have  been,  as  it  were,  led  by  the  hand  to  the  abode  of  those  who 
love  and  revere  the  system  and  precepts  he  has  ordained  for  us,  and 
daily  study  by  what  means  they  may  fulfil  his  will ;  I  have  been  much 
rejoiced  by  the  additional  strength  and  aid  1  have  thereby  received 
in  religion. 

"  Far  distant  from  them  is  the  situation  of  our  brethren  and  mutual 
children,  where  our  habitations  occupy  along  the  banks  of  our  river 
Oghswego,  or  the  opposite  shores  of  Lake  Erie,  where  tlie  smoke 
arises  from  the  fires  of  the  Ondowaga,  on  whom  is  hinged  the  door  of 
the  confederacy  :  yet,  notwithstanding,  when  they  became  acquainted 
with  the  condition  of  our  country,  they  considered,  by  \yhat  means  the 
gospel  of  Jesus  might  more  fully  be  declared  in  those  parts  where 
our  brethren  were  scattered  ;  that  they  might  lead  them  into  the  path 
which  endeth  in  heaven.  As  soon  therefore  as  1  had  translated  this, 
they  caused  it  to  be  printed,  to  the  amount  of  2,000  copies,  consider- 
ing that  number  as  fully  adequate,  for  all  those  who  speak  our  lan- 
guage. 


CHAP.  IL]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  7£ 

"  I  have  received  great  pleasure  from  this  kind  communication  of 
the  Gospel.  I  rejoice,  and  salute  in  thankfulness  Him  who  resides  in 
the  heavens,  for  having  thus  influenced  their  minds  to  aid  us.  Exert 
yourselves,  friends  ;  let  us  strictly  adhere  to  what  our  Lord  has  trans- 
mitted to  us  in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  that  thereby  the  unbelievers,  in 
viewing  us,  may  become  enamoured  of  the  Gospel,  and  may  know  that 
we  are  ti'uly  pious  by  the  love  we  bear  the  commandments  of  God, 
and  that  we  have  there  placed  our  minds  without  guile  ;  and  may  also 
see  that  we  are  of  the  company  of  Christ,  not  only  in  name  and  profes- 
eion,  as  too  many  are,  but  also  in  our  pious  demeanour  and  virtuous 
lives.  Let  us  also  follow  the  example  of  those  who  have  favoured  us 
with  this  book  ;  by  our  spreading  the  holy  religion  to  the  utmost  of 
our  ability,  that  all  our  brethren,  wherever  they  may  dwell,  may  be 
made  acquainted  with  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  may  know  the 
dispensation  ordained  for  us  by  God. 

"  Four  of  the  disciples  of  our  blessed  Lord,  Matthew,  Mark,  Luke, 
and  John,  wrote  the  history  of  his  hfe,  doctrines,  and  miracles :  of 
these,  the  latter  was  the  peculiarly  beloved,  and  is  the  most  circum- 
stantial in  the  essential  points  of  doctrine  ;  and  you  will  see  throughout 
how  strongly  is  inculcated  reverence  to  God,  and  love  to  man  :  which 
let  us  earnestly  pray  God  ever  to  preserve  us  in,  by  the  influencev,of 
His  Holy  Spirit,  and  through  the  merits  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

"  (Signed)     TEYONINHOKARAWEN."* 

Londoiiy  January  23,  1805. 

About  the  period  when  the  business  of  the  Mohawk  Gospel  was  en- 
tered upon,  the  foundation  was  laid  for  that  Biblical  Library  which, 
by  gradual  accumulation,  is  now  become  so  considerable  and  import- 
ant. It  had  appeared  for  some  time  to  many  friends  of  the  Institu- 
tion in  a  high  degree  desirable  and  expedient,  that  copies  should  he 
procured  (as  far  as  practicable)  of  all  the  existing  versions  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures  ;  in  order  that  the  Society  might  not  be  at  a  loss  for  a  stand- 
ard edition,  and  the  means  of  collation,  whenever  an  occasion  might 

*  It  will  afford  pleasure  to  the  reader  to  observe,  by  the  Gazettes,  and  other  pub- 
lic documents,  that  upon  the  commencement  of  hostilities  between  Great  Britain 
and  America,  this  Chief  approved  his  loyalty  to  his  Great  Father  by  joining  the 
British  standard ;  and  that  his  conduct,  at  the  head  of  his  Indian  warriors,  was 
signalized  throughout  the  war  by  such  a  display  of  courage,  judgment,  and  per- 
severance, as  to  gain  him  repeatedly  the  thanks  of  the  military  commanders  in 
Canada,  and  a  special  mark  of  respect  and  acknowledgment  from  His  Royal  High- 
ness the  Prince  Regent.  * 


72  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [JPART  I 

arise  for  printing  an  impression  on  its  own  account.  The  first  step 
which  was  taken  in  pursuit  of  this  end  is  to  be  traced  in  a  resolution 
passed  on  the  3d  of  December,  1804,  by  which  it  was  determined, 
that  of  every  edition  or  translation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  or  of  parts 
thereof,  printed  under  the  auspices  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  six  or  more  copies  should  be  transmitted,  to  be  lodged  in  its 
Depository.  But  as  it  was  foreseen  that  the  operation  of  this  mea- 
sure would  be  unavoidably  slow,  limited,  and  remote,  it  was  further 
determined,  on  the  ensuing  17th,  that  an  appeal  should  be  made  to  the 
community  at  large,  through  the  medium  of  certain  daily  newspapers, 
and  periodical  pubhcations  of  character,  sohciting  donations  of  Bibles, 
Testaments,  or  portions  of  the  Scriptures,  in  the  ancient  or  modern 
languages.  The  first  fruits  of  this  determination  were  a  munificent 
present  from  Granville  Sharp,  Esq.  of  thirty-nine  copies  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  or  certain  portions  of  them,  in  various  languages,  together 
with  the  Irish  and  Italian  versions  of  the  English  liturgy.  Thus  the 
first  chairman  of  the  Society  became  also  the  first  contributor  to  its 
library.  A  benefaction  so  liberal,  and  in  every  respect  so  seasonable 
and  advantageous,  demanded  some  special  acknowledgment.  The 
office  of  conveying  the  Society's  gratitude  was  cheerfully  undertaken 
by  the  President,  and  the  following  letter  will  show  with  what  appro- 
priate feeling  his  Lordship  discharged  this  agreeable  duty. 

To  Granville  Sharp,  Esq. 
"  Sir, 
"  It  is  with  the  sincerest  satisfaction  that  I  execute  the  instructions 
of  the  Committee  of  the  Bible  Society,  in  returning  their  most  cordial 
thanks  to  you,  for  the  very  valuable  collection  of  Bibles,  Testaments, 
and  Psalters,  in  different  languages,  which  you  have  presented  to  them. 
"  I  cannot  indeed  but  feel  a  peculiar  satisfaction  in  the  opportuni- 
ty thus  afforded  me,  of  expressing  the  sense  entertained  by  the  Com- 
mittee, of  the  great  value  of  the  donation  itself,  as  well  as  of  the  high 
estimation  in  which  they  hold  the  donor. 

"  That  Providence  may  long  continue  to  you,  with  every  blessing, 
the  enjoyment  of  a  Yiia  which  you  have  adorned  no  less  by  your  ta- 
lents than  by  your  virtues,  is  the  unanimous  wish  of  all,  and  of  none 
more  sincerely  than  of  him  who  has  the  honour  to  subscribe  himself, 
with  the  greatest  regard  and  esteem, 

"  Sir, 
Your  most  obedient  humble  Servant, 

TEIGNMOUTH, 
Jav.  7,  1803.  •  President." 


CHAP.  II.J  AJVD  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  73 

The  commencement  of  the  year  1805  was  rendered  memorable  in 
the  annals  of  the  Society,  by  a  serious  and  protracted  discussion 
relative  to  the  text  at  that  time  preparing  for  the  proposed  edition  of 
the  Welsh  Bible.  As  this  transaction  has  been  frequently  cited  with 
a  view  to  disparage  the  character  of  the  Institution,  the  author  will 
lay  before  the  reader  a  brief  recital  of  it,  referring  him,  if  desirous  of 
more  detailed  information,  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dealtry's  Vindication  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  a  letter  fi'om  the  Rev.  J. 
Roberts  to  that  gentleman,  pubhshed  in  1811,  under  the  title  of 
"  Welsh  Bibles." 

It  having  been  resolved,  on  the  3d  of  September,  1804,*  that  an 
edition  of  Welsh  Bibles  and  Testaments  should  be  printed  with  all  con- 
venient despatch  ;  and  the  Rev.  Thomas  Charles  of  Bala,  (whose  in- 
quiry for  copies  of  the  Welsh  Scriptures  led  to  the  formation  of  the 
So  iety,)  having  been  pointed  out  as  fully  competent,  from  his  know- 
ledge of  the  language,  to  prepare  a  copy  for  the  press,  a  correspond- 
ence took  place  on  the  subject,  and  the  result  was  a  determination  to 
accept  Mr.  Charles's  proffered  services ;  and  an  engagement  to  that 
effect  was  mutually  concluded.  As  the  work  was  to  be  executed  at 
Cambridge,  under  the  immediate  sanction  of  the  Syndics  of  the  Uni- 
versity Press,  whose  credit,  no  less  than  that  of  the  Society,  was  con- 
cerned, that  it  should  be  as  complete  and  unexceptionable  as  possible, 
application  was  directed  to  be  made  to  that  learned  body,  requesting 
to  know,  whether  it  would  be  agreeable  to  the  University  to  print 
from  the  Oxford  copy  of  1799,  revised  by  Mr.  Charles,  and  to  allow 
the  Committee  of  the  Society  to  nominate  a  corrector  of  the  press. 
The  proposition  was  very  readily  assented  to,  and  Mr.  Charles  pro- 
ceeded accordingly  in  his  task  of  preparing  the  Welsh  text  with  all 
convenient  expedition. 

In  this  stage  of  the  business,  his  Lordship,  the  President,  received 
a  communication  from  the  Bishop  of  London,  enclosing  a  letter  ad- 
dressed to  the  Bishop,  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gaskin,  Secretary  to  the 
Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  together  with  an  extract 
of  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  John  Roberts,  complaining  of  the  Society's 
conduct  in  preparing  the  Welsh  Bible,  a  copy  of  which  extract,  as 
the  Secretary  stated,  was  forwarded  "  by  direction  of  the  Board, '^ 
to  all  the  Bishops  whose  names  appeared  as  Vice-Presidents  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  In  the  letter  of  Dr.  Gaskin,  Mr. 
Roberts,  the  complainant,  was  described  as    "  a  very  respectable 

•  See  page  10. 


74  mSTORV  OF  THE  BRITISH  iPART  I. 

Clergyman  and  eminent  Welsh  Scholar,  who  had  been  employed  by 
the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  in  correcting  the 
press  of  the  last  Oxford  edition  of  the  Welsh  Bible  ;"  and  the  com- 
plaint, as  conveyed  through  the  extract  from  Mr.  Roberts's  letter, 
was,  that,  in  the  edition  preparing  for  the  press  by  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  improper  alterations  had  been  made  in  "  the 
present  orthography  of  the  Welsh  version  of  the  Bible  ;"  which 
"  has"  (adds  Mr.  Roberts)  "  been  thought  for  centuries  not  only 
unexceptionable,  but  a  model  of  purity  and  correctness,  and  consi- 
dered as  the  standard  of  criticism  and  pure  language." 

The  Committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  were 
informed  of  these  circumstances  by  a  letter  from  their  President  on 
the  21st  of  January,  1805;  and,  from  deference  to  the  opinion  of  Mr. 
Roberts,  under  the  sanction  which  it  had  received  from  the  Society 
for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  ;  from  respect  to  their  Right 
Rev.  Vice-Presidents  ;  and  above  all,  from  an  anxious  desire  tliat 
their  proposed  edition  of  the  Welsh  Bible  should  be  liable  to  no  just 
exception,  they  immediately  appointed  a  Sub-Committee  to  inquire 
into  the  grounds  of  Mr.  Roberts's  objection. 

The  Sub-Committee  so  appointed,  at  the  head  of  which  was  the 
President  himself,  held  repeated  meetings,  and  adopted  the  most 
prompt  and  judicious  steps  for  ascertaining  the  real  merits  of  the 
controversy.  They  lost  no  time  in  requesting  of  Mr.  Charles  to  ex- 
plain the  nature  and  extent  of  the  corrections  which  he  had  made  in 
the  text  of  1799.  This  explanation  Mr.  Charles  very  readily  fur- 
nished, in  a  lucid  and  satisfactory  statement ;  and  the  Sub-Committee, 
after  a  patient  and  elaborate  investigation,  delivered  in  their  definitive 
report.  Without  taking  upon  themselves  to  pronounce  any  judgment 
on  the  alterations  in  orthography,  or  on  the  general  corrections,  they 
vindicated  the  conduct  of  Mr.  Charles  from  the  suspicion  of  attempt- 
ing or  intending  any  change  in  the  translation,  and  expressed  their 
real  satisfaction  in  having  been  able  to  show  that  the  contidence  re- 
posed in  him  had  been  amply  justified.  Copies  of  this  report,  to- 
gether with  Mr.  Charles's  statement,  were  ordered  to  be  communi- 
cated to  each  of  the  Vice-Presidents,  and  to  the  Syndics  of  the 
Cambridge  University  Press.  On  the  reserved  question  relative  to 
the  changes  in  orthography,  it  was  considered  expedient  to  obtain 
the  judgment  of  another  tribunal.  An  arl)itrator  was  proposed  and 
accepted  in  the  person  of  the  Rev.  Walter  Davies,  of  Mytbd,  a 
Welsh  scholar  of  acknowledged  reputation  ;  and  to  his  decision  the 
question  was  finally  refVrred. 


CHAP.  II.]  a:vd  foreign  bible  society.  75 

Things  had  been  placed  in  this  train,  when  intelligence  was  re- 
ceived, that  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  had 
passed  a  Resolution  on  the  12th  of  March,  1805,  to  print  20,000 
Welsh  Bibles  from  the  edition  of  1746,  which  they  subsequently 
altered  to  the  edition  of  1752.*  The  Committee  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  desirous  of  preserving  uniformity  in  the  text, 
determined  to  adopt  the  same  standard ;  and  thereby  superseded  the 
necessity  of  further  investigation. 

Having  given  a  simple  and  authentic  narrative  of  this  transaction, 
which  has  been  so  imperfectly  understood  by  the  friends,  and  so 
grossly  misrepresented  by  the  enemies  of  the  Institution,  the  author's 
only  remaining  anxiety  is,  that  the  parties  more  particularly  impli- 
cated in  it  may  be  seen  in  their  proper  light. 

Of  the  promptitude,  the  diligence,  and  the  impartiality  of  Lord 
Teignmouth,  something  has  been  already  intimated ;  and  too  much 
cannot  be  said.  His  Lordship  seized  the  earliest  opportunity,  after 
receiving  the  conununication  from  the  Bishop  of  London,  to  promote 
inquiry  into  the  matter  of  complaint ;  manifested  a  sober  and  undis- 
turbed equanimity  throughout  the  whole  course  of  the  investigation  ; 
and  continued,  with  unwearied  perseverance,  to  direct  those  councils 
in  which  it  was  carried  on,  till  he  saw  it  brought  to  a  complete  and 
satisfactory  conclusion.  In  confirmation  of  this  account,  an  appeal 
may  be  made  to  the  Official  Correspondence  as  detailed  by  Mr. 
Dealtry,  in  the  Appendix  to  his  "  Vindication  of  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society."  The  whole  of  that  Correspondence  will  be 
found  to  reflect  the  greatest  honour  upon  the  conduct  of  the  Presi- 
dent;  and  the  following  extract  will  enable  the  reader  to  judge  what 
he  may  expect  from  the  perusal  of  it. 


*  This  may  be  a  proper  place  for  correcting  the  misrepresentation  which  has 
l«>cn  so  industriously  propagated  respecting  (he  Welsh  Bible  printed  by  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  It  has  been  confidently  stated,  that  it  was  printed 
from  rivalry  and  opposition  to  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge 
"  This"  (says  Lord  Teignmouth  with  great  truth,)  "  is  denied.  The  first  order 
for  printing  an  edition  of  the  Welsh  Scriptures  on  account  of  the  Bible  Society, 
was  dated  on  the  3d  of  September  1804;  the  first  information  which  the  Commit- 
tee of  that  Society  received  '  that  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge 
had  come  to  a  resolution,  at  their  last  meeting,  to  print  an  edition  of  20,000  Welsh 
Bibles,  &c.'  was  made  in  the  words  of  the  quotation,  by  a  member  of  both  Socie- 
ties, on  the  18th  of  March,  1805-  The  spirit  of  rivalry  in  this  case  must  have 
been  prophetic."    (Letter  to  Dr.  Wordsworth,  p.  11-) 


76  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  1. 


Extract  from  Lord  Teignmouth's  Letter  to  the   Committee.     January 
19,  1805. 

"  In  the  publication  of  the  Welsh  Bible,  the  Committee  most  pro- 
perly considered  it  their  duty  to  make  the  new  edition  as  correct  as 
possible  ;  and  confiding  in  the  judgment  and  abilities  of  Mr.  Charles, 
they  accepted  his  assistance  in  preparing  that  edition  for  the  press. 
The  zeal  and  assiduity  with  which  that  gentleman  has  discharged  the 
task,  are  entitled  to  the  grateful  acknowledgments  of  the  Conmiittee  : 
but  the  propriety  of  his  emendations  (as  far  as  orthography  is  con- 
cerned) has  been  questioned  by  a  gentleman  of  respectability,  who, 
I  am  informed,  superintended  the  very  edition  which  Mr.  Charles  has 
corrected  ;  and  the  Committee  of  a  Society,  which  deservedly  holds 
a  high  place  in  pubhc  estimation,  has  given  its  sanction  to  the  objec- 
tions of  Mr.  Roberts.  Its  opinion  will  naturally  have  great  weight, 
and  may  have  a  prejudicial  influence  on  the  interests  and  success  of 
our  Society,  if  they  should  persevere  in  printing  the  Welsh  Bible, 
without  a  full  consideration  of  those  objections.  Thoy  would,  in- 
deed, have  merited  the  attention  of  the  Committee,  if  they  had  come 
before  them  in  any  other  mode  ;  and  this  observation  naturally  sug- 
gests the  propriety  of  the  minutest  investigation  of  the  emendations 
proposed,  and  of  the  objections  started.  It  cannot  fail  to  do  credit 
to  the  candour  and  impartiality  of  the  Committee  ;  and  their  final  de- 
termination, whatever  it  may  be,  can  then  be  made  with  confidence. 
Admitting  the  judgment  of  the  Committee  to  be  fully  satisfied  with 
the  alterations  made  by  Mr.  Charles,  such  a  conviction  would  not  be 
sufficient  to  authorize  the  printing  of  the  Welsh  Bible  with  those  al- 
terations at  present.  The  effect  of  them,  we  are  told  by  Mr.  Ro- 
berts, is  to  make  the  language  a  different  dialect  from  that  of  the  Bi- 
ble at  present  in  use ;  and  that  any  departure  from  the  established 
orthography  will  be  particularly  inconvenient  to  the  public.  Mr. 
Roberts,  indeed,  appears  to  have  formed  his  opinion  on  the  supposed 
alterations  without  having  seen  them,  and  to  judge  from  other  speci- 
mens of  novel  orthography  :  but  it  would  be  idle  to  repel  his  objec- 
tions by  such  a  remark  ;  it  is  more  becoming,  in  my  opinion,  to  meet 
them  fairly,  examine  them  coolly  and  impartially,  and  thus  ascertain 
their  validity  in  a  firm  resolution  to  yield  to  them,  if  valid.  Till  this 
examination  be  made,  we  shall  not  be  properly  qualified  either  to 
maintain  or  renounce  the  proposed  amendments,  and  still  less  to  sa- 
tisfy the  public  mind,  (an  object  of  the  greatest  importance  at  all 
times,  and  most  peculiarly  so  on  the  present  occasion,)  if  ullimatoly 


CHAP.  II.j  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  ,y« 

it  should  be  thought  advisable  to   print  the  Bible  in  its  amended 
form," 

The  conduct  of  the  Committee  in  accepting  the  offer  of  a  corrected 
copy  of  the  Welsh  Bible  from  an  individual  who,  though  not  a  regular 
Minister  of  the  Established  Church,  was  known  to  be  a  man  of  integ- 
rity, an  excellent  Welsh  scholar,  and  critically  acquainted  with  the 
sacred  text ;  and  who  had  also  recommended  himself  to  the  esteem  of 
the  Society  by  his  exertions  in  Wales  to  promote  its  success,— was 
certainly  not  of  a  nature  to  subject  their  proceedings  to  any  just  ani- 
madversion. The  offer  promised,  in  the  first  instance,  to  expedite 
the  accompHshment  of  their  dbject ;  and  they  were  further  induced 
to  embrace  it  by  the  hope  of  being  able,  through  the  zeal  and 
industry  of  Mr.  Charles,  to  give  to  their  edition  a  superior  degree  of 
accuracy  and  correctness.  As  soon  as  they  were  informed  that  the  pro- 
priety of  the  steps  they  were  taking  had  been  seriously  controverted, 
they  yielded  to  the  advice  of  their  noble  President ;  embarked,  under 
his  direction,  in  a  course  of  the  most  strict  and  conscientious  inquiry ; 
and  evinced,  by  their  behaviour  throughout,  and  particularly  by 
their  adoption  of  a  common  text  with  the  Society  for  Promotino- 
Christian  Knowledge,  at  the  close,  )hat  they  had  no  jealousy  to  in*^ 
dulge,  no  vanity  to  gratify,  no  peculiar  interest  to  serve  ;  no  end,  in 
short,  which  they  were  anxious  to  compass,  but  that  of  putting  the 
word  of  God  in  a  correct,  intelligible,  and  acceptable  form  into  the 
hands  of  the  people. 

To  Mr.  Charles,  whatever  may  be  thought  of  the  system  of  ortho- 
graphy which  he  was  desirous  to  adopt,  nothing  can  be  imputed, 
which  will  derogate  in  the  slightest  degree  from  his  integrity,  and  his 
laudable  zeal  for  the  purity  and  correctness  of  the  Welsh  Bible. 
With  a  frankness  and  alacrity  which  nothing  could  have  inspired  but 
a  confidence  in  the  sincerity  of  his  intentions,  and  (what  to  him  ap- 
peared) the  justness  of  his  theory,  he  met  all  the  inquiries  promoted 
by  that  court  in  which  the  merits  of  his  corrections  were  to  be  tried. 
Nor  does  it  redound  little  to  his  praise,  that  he  manifested  no  symp- 
tom whatever  of  chagrin  or  resentment  at  the  issue  to  which  the  in- 
restigation  was  brought ;  but  voluntarily  assisted  in  bringing  forward 
that  text  by  which  it  was  determined  that  liis  own  should  be  su- 
perseded.* 

*  In  what  degree  Mr.  Charles  afterwards  contributed  to  improve  the  edi- 
tion stereotyped  at  Oxford  in  1809,  by  the  corrections  with  which  he  supplied  the 
condHctoi-s  of  that  work,  the  author  will  not  undertake  to  say:  so  much,  however,, 
he  can  assert,  from  an  inspection  of  correspondence  in  the  possession  of  iMr. 
Charles's  family,  that  corrections  were  repeatedly  transmitted  bv  that  excellent 

12 


73  HISTORV  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I 

For  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  it  must  in 
justice  be  said,  that  the  part  which  it  acted  was  such  as  became 
an  Institution,  identified  in  principle  and  design  with  the  doctrine  and 
the  discipline  of  the  Established  Church,  and  bound  by  the  spirit  of 
its  constitution  to  watch  over  the  text  of  Holy  Scripture,  and  to  res- 
cue it  from  the  injurious  efferfs  of  wilful  r.ormptinn  or  fanciful  inno- 
vation. 

One  party  only  remains  to  be  considered,  and  that  is,  the  respect- 
able informant,  with  whom  the  whole  business  of  the  investigation 
originated.  From  the  channel  through  which  the  complaint  was 
transmitted,  and  the  turn  which  was  given  to  it  by  the  enemies  of  the 
Society,  as  though  it  amounted  to  a  charge  of  altering  the  translation, 
and  not  the  orthography,  Mr.  Roberts  certainly  fell  for  a  time  under 
the  suspicion  of  not  being  influenced  by  the  most  friendly  motives  in 
the  part  which  he  had  acted.  The  question  at  issue  was  also  of  a 
description  to  require,  in  order  to  determine  on  which  side  the  truth 
lay,  a  knowledge  of  the  Welsh  language,  which  those  on  whom  the 
investigation  of  it  devolved,  in  no  degree  possessed.  Add  to  this, 
that,  for  the  reasons  already  given,  the  arbitration  was  arrested 
shortly  after  it  had  commenced ;  and  by  its  entire  supersession  the 
real  subject  of  difference  between  the  litigant  parties  remained  wholly 
undecided.  Truth  however  requires  the  acknowledgment,  that  Mr. 
Roberts  has  brought  forward  such  evidence  in  support  of  his  objec- 
tion to  the  new  orthography,*  as  to  leave  no  room  for  doubting  what 
would  have  been  the  judgment  of  the  Arbitrator  on  this  part  of  the 
controversy,  had  the  question  been  carried  to  a  decision.!  For  the 
motives  by  which  Mr.  Roberts  was  actuated,  there  was  every  thing 


man ;  that  many  of  them  were  "  inserted  j"  and  that  his  finishing  of  them  was  re- 
presented as  conferring  an  obligation  not  only  on  the  conductors  of  the  edition, 
but  on  "  the  Principality  at  large." 

»  See  "  Welsh  Bibles." 

■)-  It  is  due  to  Mr.  Roberts  to  state,  that,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  him  by  tiie 
Rev.  Walter  Davies,  in  June,  1805,  the  latter  gives  a  decided  opinion  against 
the  new  orthography.  "  The  Holy  Scriptures,"  (says  Sir.  Davies)  "  as  they  now 
stand,  excepting  a  few  typographical  errors,  and  inaccuracies  of  punctuation,  are, 
according  to  the  best  of  my  judgment,  exactly  as  they  ought  to  be.  I  do  not  see, 
among  the  numerous  proposed  alterations  in  orthography,  a  single  item  of  any 
weight.  The  gutturals,  aspirates,  and  plenitude  of  consonants,  though  considered 
an  eye-sore  in  the  new  theory  of  vision,  are  nevertheless,  and  have  been,  for  a 
length  of,time,  the  appropriate  and  peculiar  characteristics  of  our  language." — 
«  Welsh  Bibles,"  p.  22. 


CHAP.  11.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


79 


in  his  conduct,  subsequently  to  the  date  of  his  original  complaint,  to 
authorize  the  belief,  that  they  were  strictly  honourable  and  con- 
scientious ;  and  that  he  intended  nothing  so  little,  by  the  course  he 
pursued,  as  to  afford  an  opportunity  for  the  invidious  use  which  was 
in  some  instances  made  of  his  communication.  In  the  letter  before 
cited,  Mr.  Roberts  expresses  his  "  feehngs  of  extreme  concern  for 
the  circumstances  which  introduced  him  to  the  notice  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society."  "  With  heart  and  soul"  (he  continues) 
"  would  I  labour  and  co-operate  with  every  friend  of  the  human  race 
in  promoting  the  circulating  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  While  I  view 
Christendom  burning  with  seraphic  zeal  in  carrying  on  this  work  of 
God-like  benevolence,  I  cannot  but  hope  and  pray,  that  some  genu- 
ine particle  of  the  same  sacred  zeal  may  ever  animate  my  own  bosom 
as  a  vital  principle  of  action."  The  close  of  his  letter,  while  it  com- 
pletes Mr.  Roberts's  vindication  of  his  conduct,  may  very  properly 
terminate  this  account  of  the  controversy. 

"  Now,  while  I  repeat  my  coincidence  of  opinion  with  our  national 
authorities,  I  cannot  help  at  the  same  time  expressing  my  deepest 
regret,  if  there  has  been  any  thing  reprehensible  in  the  language  and 
mode  of  my  opposition  to  its*  intended  adoption  in  a  Biblical  edition  ; 
or  if  its  prevention  could  have  been  effected  in  a  manner  more  con- 
ciliatory, and  expressive  of  the  respect  due  to  the  character  which 
Mr.  Charles  supports  as  a  Christian.  Much  indeed  would  I  depre- 
cate the  guilt  of  embarrassing  any  individual  or  Societies  in  their 
honest  endeavours  to  supply  immortal  beings  with  the  records  of 
divine  revelation.  Living  as  we  do  in  an  important  period  of  time, 
and  the  voice  of  Jehovah  so  audibly  in  his  providence  admonishino- 
his  servants  to  abound  in  fruits  of  righteousness  and  works  of  bene- 
volence ;  we  cannot  but  feel  our  obhgations  to  employ  hand  and  tongue, 
and  exert  the  utmost  energies  of  head  and  heart,  in  promoting  the 
prosperity  and  glory  of  Christ's  holy  catholic  church,  that  is  at  this 
time  looking  forth  as  the  morning,  fair  us  the  sun,  and  terrible  as  an 
army  with  banners." 

By  this  time  inteUigence  was  received  from  Basle,  in  answer  to  the 
communication  addressed  to  that  place,  inviting  its  inhabitants  to  co- 
operate with  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  in  the  advance- 
ment of  its  foreign  object.  The  parties  who  had  been  addressed,  an- 
nounced their  wiUingness  to  adopt  the  proposal  of  forming  a  Bible 
Society  for  their  town  and  vicinity ;  but  added,  that,  from  local  diffi- 
culties, they  were  not  yet  in  a  condition  to  proceed  to  such  an  es^ 

*  Viz.  the  new  orthography. 


80  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  !. 

tablishment ;  they  had  therefore  determined,  under  present  circum- 
stances, to  unite  their  exertions  with  those  of  their  brethren  at  Nu- 
renberg. 

An  interesting  letter  was  also  transmitted  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ober- 
lin,  Minister  of  a  parish  in  Alsace,  containing  five  villages,  and  em- 
bracing a  mixed  religious  population  of  Roman  Catholics,  Lutherans, 
Reformed,  and  Baptists.  This  letter  reported  the  intended  distribu- 
tion of  some  French  and  German  Bibles,  purchased  by  funds  with 
which  Mr.  Oberlin  had  been  supplied  from  England  ;  and  the  pastoral 
simplicity  with  which  it  described  the  principal  characters  for  whom 
the  gift  of  a  Bible  was  designed,  recommended  it  warmly  to  the  feel- 
ings of  the  Committee,  and  will,  it  is  believed,  sufficiently  apologize 
to  the  reader  for  ib<  insertion. 

"  I  have  made  a  list  of  such  persons  as  I  consider  most  deserving 
of  such  a  present.  Among  the  large  number  of  individuals  and  fa- 
milies to  whom  a  Bible  is  a  most  welcome  present,  I  first  put  down 
such  characters  as  are  most  active  in  promoting  the  Redeemers  king- 
dom, and  in  doing  good  to  the  bodies  and  souls  of  their  fellow-men. 

"  1.  The  Jirst  Bible  shall  be  given  as  a  present  to  Sophia  Bernard, 
who  is  one  of  the  most  excellent  women  I  know,  and,  indeed,  an  or- 
nament to  my  parish.  While  unmarried,  she  undertook,  with  the 
consent  of  her  parents,  the  support  and  education  of  three  helpless 
boys,  whom  their  wicked  father  had  often  trampled  under  his  feet, 
and  treated  in  a  manner  too  shocking  to  relate,  when,  nearly  starving 
with  hunger,  they  dared  to  cry  out  for  food.  .Soon  afterwards,  she 
proved  the  happy  means  of  saving  the  lives  of  four  Roman  Catholic 
children,  who,  v\ithout  her  assistance,  would  have  fallen  a  prey  to 
want  and  famine.  Thus  she  had  the  management  of  seven  children^ 
to  whom  several  more  were  added,  belonging  to  members  of  three 
several  denomination^  :  she  now  hired  a  house  and  a  servant  girl, 
and  supported  the  whole  of  the  family  entirely  with  her  own  work, 
and  the  little  money  she  got  from  the  industry  of  the  children,  whom 
she  taught  to  spin  cotton.  At  the  same  time,  she  proved  tlie  greatest 
blessing  to  the  whole  village  where  she  lived.  For  it  is  impossible 
to  be  more  industrious,  frugal,  clean,  cheerful,  edifying  by  her  whole 
walk  and  conversation ;  more  ready  for  every  good  word  and  work ; 
more  mild  and  affectionate,  more  tirm  and  resolute  in  dangers,  than 
she  was.  Satan  so  enraged  some  of  her  enemies,  that  they  threaten- 
ed to  destroy  her  old  tottering  cottage  ;  but  God  was  graciously  pleas- 
ed to  preserve  her.  A  tine  youth,  of  a  noble  mind,  made  her  an 
offer  of  his  hand.  She  first  refused,  but  he  declared  he  would  wait 
for  her  even  ten  years.     When  she  replied,  that  she  could  never  con- 


CHAP.  II.J  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  gj^ 

sent  to  part  from  her  poor  orphans,  he  nobly  answered,  '  Whoever 
lakes  the  mother,  takes  the  children  too.'  So  he  did — and  all  these 
children  were  brought  up  by  them  in  the  most  careful  and  excellent 
manner.  Lately,  they  have  taken  in  some  other  orphans,  whom  they 
are  training  up  in  the  fear  and  love  of  God.  Though  these  excel- 
lent people  pass  rather  for  rich,  yet  their  income  is  so  limited,  and 
their  benevolence  so  extensive,  that  sometimes  they  hardly  know  how 
to  furnish  a  new  suit  of  necessary  clothes.  To  them  I  intend  to  give 
a  Bible,  considering  that  their  own  is  very  often  lent  out  in  different 
Roman  Catholic  villages, 

''  2.  A  second  Bible  I  intend  to  give  to  an  excellent  woman,  Maria 
Schepler,  who  lives  at  the  opposite  end  of  my  extensive  parish,  where 
the  cold  is  more  severe,  and  the  ground  unfruitful,  so  that  nearly  all 
the  householders  arc  poor  people,  who  must  lend  their  clothes  to 
each  other  when  they  intend  to  go  to  the  Lord's  Supper.  This  poor 
woman  is  also  a  very  distinguished  character,  in  whose  praise  I  could 
say  much,  were  I  to  enter  into  particulars.  Though  distressed  and 
afflicted  in  her  own  person  and  circumstances,  yet  she  is  a  mother, 
benefactress,  and  teacher  to  the  whole  village  where  she  lives,  and  to 
some  neighbouring  districts  too.  She  takes  the  most  lively  interest 
in  all  that  relates  to  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  upon  earth,  and  often 
groans  under  a  sense  of  all  the  inroads  made  by  the  powers  of  dark- 
ness. She  also  has  brought  up  several  orphans,  without  receiving 
the  smallest  reward,  keeps  a  free-school  for  females,  and  makes  it  a 
practice  to  lend  her  Bible  to  such  as  are  entirely  deprived  of  it. 

"  A  third  Bible-present  I  intend  to  make  to  an  excellent  widow-wo- 
man, Catharine  Scheiddegger,  who  is,  like  the  former,  a  mother  to 
orphans,  and  keeps  a  free-school ;  as  also  does  another  young  woman, 
who  instructs  little  children  in  a  neighbouring  village,  in  such  know- 
ledge as  may  render  them  useful  members  of  human  and  Christian 
society. 

"  I  might  easily  enumerate  many  more  characters  of  a  similar  de- 
scription, whose  eyes  will  overflow  with  grateful  tears,  if  they  are 
favoured  with  the  present  of  a  Bible." 

Coincident  with  the  receipt  of  these  communications  from  Germa- 
ny, was  that  of  the  first  regular  information  relative  to  the  design  en- 
tertained by  the  Baptist  Missionaries  at  Serampore,  to  engage  in  an 
extensive  system  of  oriental  translations.  The  statement  was  con 
veye^d  in  an  extract  of  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  (now  Dr.)  Carey 
at  Calcutta,  to  the  Secretary  of  the  mission,  the  late  Rev.  Andrew 
Fuller;  and  it  represented  the  Missionaries  as  already  employed 
on  four  languages,  and  as  possessing  considerable  advantages,  should 


82  HISTORY  OF  THE  BKlTlSll  [VAKT  U 

they  be  adequately  supported,  for  translating  the  Bible  into  all  the 
languages  of  the  East.  As  the  letter  of  Dr.  Carey  was  dated  antece- 
dently to  the  formation  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and 
steps  had  been  taken  by  the  latter  to  establish  at  Calcutta  a  Corres- 
ponding Committee  for  the  accomplishment  of  a  similar  design,  in 
which  Committee  the  three  principal  Baptist  Missionaries  were  ex 
pressly  included  ;  it  did  not  appear  expedient  that  any  further  mea- 
sures should  at  that  time  be  adopted. 

Such  was  the  slate  to  which  things  had  arrived  in  both  the  domes- 
tic and  the  fercign  department,  when  a  publication  appeared  which 
opened  upon  the  Society  the  first  of  those  many  attacks  by  which  it 
was  destined  to  he  assaulted.  The  title  of  this  publication  was  "  An 
Address  to  Lord  Teignraouth,  President  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  occasioned  by  his  address  to  the  Clergy  of  the  Church 
of  England;  by  a  Country  Clergyman:"  and  although  the  extrava- 
gant weakness  and  unmeasured  scurrility  of  this  composition  depri- 
ved it  of  all  just  claim  to  consideration,  yet  the  importance  of  the 
question  which  it  professed  to  defend,  the  high  tone  of  orthodoxy 
and  churchmanship*  which  it  assumed,  and  the  extraordinary  indus- 
try with  which  it  was  dispersed,  appeared  to  demand  that  it  should 
not  be  permitted  to  circulate,  without  receiving  some  degree  of  at- 
tention. Such  at  least  was  the  view  taken  of  it  by  the  Bishop  of 
London.  Aware  of  the  mischievous  influence  which  might  be  pro- 
duced by  the  propagation  of  those  notes  of  alarm  which  were  sound- 
ed in  the  Country  Clergyman's  Address  ;  and  desirous  to  obtain  for 


«  The  following  specimens  from  <he  Address ;  the  first,  containing  the  Country 
Clergyraans  theory  of  Christian  charity;  the  second,  his  sentiments  on  the  mis- 
chief to  be  apprehended  from  a  liberal  distribution  of  the  Scriptures;  will  show 
the  reader,  how  little  originality  there  has  been  in  the  absurdities  advanced  by  the 
majority  of  those  who  have  succeeded  the  Country  Clergyman  in  this  line  of  con- 
troversy. 

"  Christian  charity  no  where  recommends  associations  of  discordant  principles, 
combinations  of  men  professedly  at  variance,  and  in  hostility  with  each  other:  but 
Christian  charity  enjoins  that  which  renders  all  these  elaborate  Societies  useless: 
it  teachfsand  obliges  Christians  to  be  like-minded,  to  have  one  faith,  one  baptism, 
one  speech,  and  one  hope  of  their  calling."     Address,  p.  11. 

"  It  is  to  be  expected,  that  each  member  of  your  heterogeneous  Society  will  draw 
hia  portion  of  books  for  tiio  promotion  of  his  particular  opinion:  for  it  is  easily 
seen,  that  a  Bible  given  away  by  a  Papist,  will  be  productive  of  Popery.  TlieSo. 
cinian  will  make  his  Bible  speak  and  spread  Socinianism  :  while  the  Calvinis.,  the 
Baptist,  and  the  Quaker,  will  teach  the  opinions  peculiar  to  their  sects.  Supply 
these  men  with  liiblex,  (/  sjteah  us  to  a  true  Churchman,)  and  you  supply  them  tcith 
arm*  against  ymnsclf."    Id.  p.  13. 


CHAP.  11]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  83 

himself  and  the  other  Episcopal  Patrons  of  the  Society,  the  means 
of  justifying  to  themselves,  and,  should  it  be  found  necessary,  to  the 
world,  the  part  they  had  taken.  His  Lordship,  after  some  correspond- 
ence with  the  author  on  the  subject,  appointed  a  meeting  of  those 
Prelates  at  London-House,  on  Saturday  the  9th  of  March,  and  re- 
quested that  Lord  Teignmouth  and  the  author  would  attend  on  that 
occasion. 

Having  procured  the  Society's  Minute  and  Correspondence  Books, 
and  made  such  extracts  from  both  as  seemed  to  bear  on  the  case,  the 
author  accompanied  Lord  Teignmouth  to  the  meeting  in  which  the 
Institution  was  for  the  first  time  to  be  put  upon  its  trial.  The  Pre- 
lates assembled  were,  the  Bishops  of  London,  Durham,  and  Exeter, 
(now  Salisbury:)  the  Bishop  of  St.  David's,  being  absent  from  town, 
was  prevented  from  giving  his  attendance. 

As  the  general  accusation  against  the  Society  was,  the  danger  which 
it  threatened  to  the  Established  Church,  some  time  was  occupied  in 
canvassing  the  ground  upon  which  such  a  charge  was  pretended  to 
be  advanced.  Certain  questions  were  then  proposed  on  the  part  of 
the  Bishops,  respecting  the  conduct  of  the  Committee,  and  the  nature 
and  tendency  of  their  ordinary  proceedings.  To  these  questions  the 
author  replied  in  general,  that  their  Lordships  having  signified  their 
approbation  of  the  principles  of  the  Society,  he  presumed  it  was  not 
expected  that  he  should  enter  into  a  justification  of  them :  that  he 
was  prepared  to  show,  by  a  reference  to  the  official  records  of  the 
Institution,  that  the  Committee  had  acted  in  strict  conformity  with  its 
fundamental  regulations.  The  author  then  adduced,  in  proof  of  this 
assertion,  and  in  more  particular  answer  to  the  queries  proposed,  the 
facts  and  circumstances  with  which  he  was  prepared  ;  and  concluded, 
by  inviting  their  Lordships  to  examine  the  books,  and  to  judge  for 
themselves,  whether  the  Society  had  not  been  faithful  to  its  principles 
and  engagements.  The  Bishop  of  Durham,  who  had  taken  the  prin- 
cipal share  in  putting  the  interrogatories,  testified  his  cordial  acqui- 
escence in  this  line  of  defence.  "  Show  me"  (said  the  Bishop)  "  that 
the  Society  has  acted  correctly,  and  I  am  satisfied." 

The  documents  having  been  submitted  to  the  inspection  of  their 
Lordships,  and  the  matters  in  the  statement  produced  by  the  author, 
particularly  discussed,  the  Bishops  expressed  their  entire  satisfaction 
with  the  conduct  of  the  Society ;  and  unanimously  determined,  that 
it  should  continue  to  receive  their  patronage  and  support. 

Lord  Teignmouth,  whose  equanimity  on  this,  as  well  as  on  every 
other  occasion  of  similar  trial,  experienced  no  sort  of  perturbation, 
listened  to  all  that  was  said  on  either  side  with  the  most  tranquil  and 


\ 


84  HISTORV  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  ] 

dignified  composure.  At  length,  when  the  Prelates  had  delivered 
their  judgment,  his  Lordship  addressed  them  in  these  memorable 
words  :  "  Well,  my  Lords,  I  know  not  what  your  Lordships  may  think, 
but  for  my  own  part  I  can  truly  say,  I  had  rather  be  the  object  of  ten 
such  pamphlets,  than  the  author  of  one  of  its  pages.  I  thank  God, 
my  last  moments  will  not  be  embittered  by  the  reflection  of  having 
written  such  a  pamphlet." 

After  the  meeting  broke  up,  the  author  had  a  private  interview 
with  the  Bishop  of  London,  by  his  Lordship's  request ;  and  received 
his  instructions  to  complete  the  business  of  the  day  by  publicly  reply- 
ing to  the  Country  Clergyman's  Address.  With  these  instructions  the 
author  yielded  a  ready  compliance  ;  and  in  little  more  than  three 
^veeks,  (viz.  on  the  6th  of  April)  brought  before  the  public  a  pam- 
phlet entitled  "  A  Letter  to  a  Country  Clergyman,  occasioned  by  his 
Address  to  Lord  Teignmouth,  &c.  by  a  Suburban  Clergyman."  What 
the  merits  of  this  answer  were,  in  which  invective  was  combated  by 
raillery,  and  the  weapon  of  ridicule  was  opposed  to  the  panoply  of 
prejudice,  misrepresentation,  and  alarm,  it  belongs  to  others  to  deter- 
mine. It  is  sufficient  for  the  author  to  know  that,  such  as  it  was,  it 
satisfied  those  whom  it  chiefly  concerned  him  to  please  ;  and  recon- 
ciled them  more  effectually  to  the  determination  they  had  formed  to 
maintain  their  connexion  with  the  Institution. 

While  the  controversy  which  has  been  related,  was  exercising  the 
friends  of  the  Society  in  the  metropolis  and  its  immediate  vicinity, 
its  affairs  were  making  no  litle  progress  in  different  parts  of  the  island. 
The  known  determination  of  the  Society  to  furnish,  with  all  possible 
expedition,  a  supply  of  the  Welsh  Scriptures,  had  raised  the  despond- 
ing minds  of  that  ardent  people,  and  stimulated  them  to  extraordinary 
exertions  in  behalf  of  its  funds.  Mr.  Charles  promoted  it  with  per- 
severing activity  among  those  classes  to  which  his  itinerant  labours 
gained  him  access.  The  Bishop  of  Bangor  (Dr.  Warren)  gave  it  the 
advantage  of  his  recommendation  ;  and  instructed  the  Rural  Deans 
throughout  his  diocese,  to  distribute  its  plans,  and  to  solicit  benefac- 
tions in  its  favour.  By  these  and  similar  means  the  Institution  was 
advertised  in  various  divisions  of  the  Principality  ;  and  the  influence 
of  this  procedure  was  attested  by  a  mass  of  contributions,  both  con- 
gregational and  personal,  amounting  within  the  year  to  nearly  1 ,90(W.* 
This  sum  was  the  more  remarkable,  and  certainly  not  the  less  valua- 
ble, from  the  consideration  of  its  having  been  contributed,  for  the 


*  Vide  List  of  Subscribers   appended    to   the    First    Annual    Report,  un Jcr 
Collections." 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  gg 

most  part,  by  persons  composing  the  plain  and  inferior  orders  of  the 
community.  The  words  of  the  Society's  correspondent  are  re- 
markable— 

"  There  are  none  of  our  poor  people  willing  to  live  and  die  with- 
out contributing  their  mites  towards  forwarding  so  glorious  a  design. 
Their  zeal  and  eagerness  in  the  good  cause,  surpass  every  thing  I 
have  ever  before  witnessed.  On  several  occasions  we  have  been 
obliged  to  check  their  liberality,  and^take  half  what  they  offered,  and 
what  we  thought  they  ought  to  give.  Great  joy  prevails  universally 
at  the  thought  that  poor  Heathens  are  likely  soon  to  be  in  possession 
of  a  Bible  ;  and  you  will  never  hear  a  praj^er  put  up,  without  a 
petition  for  the  Bible  Society  and  Heathen  Nations." 

Scotland  also  began,  about  this  period,  to  discover  that  attachment 
to  the  Society,  and  that  concern  for  its  prosperity,  which,  augmenting 
from  year  to  year,  have  at  length  incorporated  a  large  proportion  of 
the  Scottish  population  among  the  most  ardent  and  generous  promo- 
ters of  the  Institution.     The  link  which  connected  the  Society  with  that 
division  of  the  British  empire,  was  supplied  by  the  personal  service 
of  the  late    pious  and  philanthropic  David  Dale,  Esq.  and  Glaso-ow 
the  place  of  his  residence,  was  that  part  of  Scotland,  in  which  the 
Society  was  first  publicly  recognized,  and  measures  were  adopted  for 
exciting  a  general  interest  in  its  support.     It  was  not  till  November, 
1804,  that  the  Committee  obtained  an  introduction  to  the  acquaintance 
of  this  invaluable  agent.     For  this  advantage  they  were  indebted  to 
one  of  their  number,  Robert  Steven,  Esq.  a  gentleman,  whose  ser- 
vices to  the  Society,  both  in  its  Scottish  and  its  general  connexions, 
entitle  him  to  honourable  and  grateful  commemoration.     Through 
this  channel  a  communication  was  opened  with  Mr.  Dale,  and  a  sup- 
ply of  circular  addresses  transmitted  to  him  for  distribution,  in  such 
manner  as  he  might  find  practicable  and  expedient.     With  a  zeal 
correspondent  to  the  expectation  which  had  been  encouraged,  Mr. 
Dale  immediately  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Society  ;  and  he  took  his 
measures  with  such  promptitude  and  wisdom,  that  through  the  divine 
blessing,  he  was  enabled  to  announce,  on  the  4th  of  March,  that  the 
Presbytery  of  Glasgow  had  resolved  on  a  public  collection  being  made 
at  all  the  churches  within  their  bounds  ;  and  that  it  was  intended  by 
some  active  friends  of  the  Institution  among  the  Laity,  to  exert  them- 
selves in  procuring  general  subscriptions. 

This  intellignce  was  followed,  in  the  course  of  two  months,  by  the 
gratifying  information,  that  the  Synod  of  Glasgow  and  Ayr  had  imita- 
ted the  example  of  the  Presbytery  of  Glasgow,  and  determined  upon 
promoting  a  collection  in  behalf  of  the  Society.     This  determination 

13 


86 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 


took  place  on  the  11th  of  April,  1805;  and  the  Synod  ordered  the 
statement  on  which  their  resolution  had  been  grounded,  to  he  printed, 
and  sent  to  the  ministers  of  the  different  churches  and  chapels  within 
their  bounds,  "  to  be  read  from  the  pulpits,  and  the  collection  to  be 
recommended  with  suitable  exhortations  :"  they  further  ordered  cer- 
tain copies  to  be  transmitted  to  every  minister,  in  order  "  to  be  dis- 
tributed among  his  people."  To  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Dalrymple,  Mi- 
nister of  Ayr,  belongs  the  honour  of  having  brought  the  proposition 
under  the  consideration  of  the  Synod.  "  I  give  you  joy,"  (writes  this 
venerable  man  to  his  friend  Mr.  Dale,)  "  and  would  take  some  small 
share  of  it  myself,  that  we  have  lived  to  see  the  day  of  a  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society.  In  the  82d  year  of  my  age,  and  59th  of  my  mi- 
nistry ;  next  to  both  deaf  and  bhnd,  it  is  little  I  can  do  in  an  active  way 
to  assist  in  so  glorious  a  design  :  but  that  little  fhall  not  be  wanting. 
This  evening  I  intend  to  overture  our  Synod,  for  a  collection,  after 
the  good  example  of  the  Presbytery  of  Glasgow ;  and  I  hope  to 
succeed."  With  what  primitive  simplicity  and  apostolical  earnestness 
such  an  advocate  would  be  likely  to  plead,  may  be  easily  supposed : 
the  success  of  his  application  has  been  seen  ;  and  it  unites  with  the 
sentiments  expressed  in  his  letter,  to  challenge  for  his  memory  an 
honourable  record,  among  the  earhest  and  most  zealous  of  the  So- 
ciety's Scottish  benefactors. 

The  first  anniversary  of  the  Society  was  now  approaching ;  and 
the  Committee,  anxious  to  appear  with  advantage  before  their  con- 
stituents and  the  public,  unanimously  requested  their  President,  whose 
judicious  counsel  had  so  materially  aided  them  in  conducting  the 
affairs  of  the  Institution,  to  draw  up  the  first  annual  report.  With 
this  request  his  Lordship  complied ;  and  the  necessary  steps  having 
been  taken  to  arrange  all  the  preparatory  measures,  the  anniversary 
was  celebrated,  on  Wednesday  the  1st  of  May,  1805,  at  the  New 
London  Tavern,  Cheapside  ;  to  which  place  the  meetings  of  the  Com- 
mittee had,  in  the  month  of  December,  1804,  been  removed,  as  being 
more  central  and  convenient  than  that  in  which  they  had  previously 
been  accustomed  to  meet. 

At  twelve  o'clock  the  President  took  the  chair,  supported  by  the 
Bishop  of  Durham,  W.  Wilberforce,  Esq.  and  other  distinguished 
characters.  His  Lordship  read  the  report,  which  he  had  prejiared 
at  the  instance  of  the  Committee,  and  which  had  been  previously 
submitted  to  their  approbation.  The  Bisijop  of  Durham  then  rose  ; 
and,  after  a  frank  and  energetic  declaration  of  his  sentiments  in  favour 
of  the  Society,  and  a  just  eulogiumon  the  conduct  of  the  President  in 
devoting  so  much  time,  labour,  and  anxiety,  to  the  direction  of  the 


CHAP,  ni.l  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


87 


.Society's  aflairs,  concluded  a  speech  in  which  the  characters  of  the 
Prelate  and  the  Christian  were  equally  sustained,  hy  moving,  that  the 
warmest  thanks  of  the  meeting  should  be  presented  to  his  Lordship 
for  his  faithful,  zealous,  and  persevering  attention  to  the  business  of 
the  Institution.  The  proposition  was  greeted,  as  were  others  of  a  simi- 
lar import,  in  reference  to  the  several  labourers  in  the  various  de- 
partments of  the  same  common  work,  with  strong  demonstrations  of 
approval  and  regard. 

The  scene  presented  on  this  interesting  occasion  was  distinguished 
by  features  which  gave  it  an  irresistible  influence  over  the  kindest 
and  most  elevated  affections  of  the  heart.  Persons  of  various  com- 
munions, circumstances^  and  stations ;  the  Prelate  and  the  Presby- 
terian, the  Lutlieran  and  the  CaJvinist,  the  Peer  and  the  Q,uaker,  here 
mingled  in  new  and  undissembling  concord  ;  and,  "  agreeino-  in  the 
truth  of  God's  holy  word,"  mutually  professed  their  determination  to 
"  live  in  unity  and  godly  love."  Pride  and  contention,  prejudice  and 
bigotry,  arrogance  on  the  one  part,  and  contumacy  on  the  other,  ap- 
peared to  have  fled  before  the  genius  of  the  Bible.  Each  individual 
seemed  to  feel  that  the  long  and  disgraceful  reign  of  misunderstand- 
ing and  hostility  among  professing  Christians  was  passed  away ;  and 
many  a  tear  attested  the  sincerity  of  that  reconciliation  which  pro- 
mised to  heal  the  breaches  of  intestine  division,  and  to  unite  the  here- 
tofore conflicting  members  of  Christ's  holy  cathohc  church,  in  ao 
indissoluble  league  of  peace,  and  amity,  and  cordial  co-operation. 


CHAPTER  III. 

1805—6. 

J-  HE  anniversary  meeting  and  the  distribution  of  the  Report,  by 
which  it  was  succeeded,  appear  to  have  consolidated,  in  a  great  de- 
gree, the  internal  resources  of  the  Society,  and  inspired  very  anima- 
ting hopes  of  its  acquiring  a  considerable  ascendant  in  the  public  es- 
timation. 

The  encouragement  which  had  been  given  to  the  plan  of  the  In- 
stitution, previously  to  the  termination  of  the  first  year  of  its  existence, 
very  sensibly  augmented,  as  that  plan  was  more  fully  dcA^eloped  in 


83  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

practice.  Add  to  this,  that  the  circulation  of  papers  and  documents, 
explanatory  of  its  principles  and  its  effects,  caused  its  nature  and 
tendency  to  be  better  understood.  In  proportion  as  this  was  the  case, 
the  impression  in  its  favour  became  more  decisively  manifest ;  and 
testimonies  to  that  purpose  continued  to  accumulate  from  Christians 
of  different  denominations,  and  from  various  parts  of  the  United 
Kingdom. 

That  flame  which  had  been  early  kindled  in  Wales,  continued  to 
spread  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  Principality  ;  and  the  influence  of 
the  Society  was  attested  by  the  increasing  liberality  of  their  contribu- 
tions, and  their  warm  and  growing  interest  in  its  prosperity. 

From  Ireland,  under  its  existing  circumstances  of  comparative  ig- 
norance and  depression,  little  was  to  be  expected  in  the  way  of 
direct  or  pecuniary  co-operation.  Much,  it  was  thought,  would  be 
gained  to  the  common  stock  of  general  improvement,  if  the  inhabit- 
ants of  that  country  should  be  roused  to  a  sense  of  their  moral  wants, 
and  thus  be  stimulated  to  desire  a  participation  of  those  inestimable 
benefits  which  the  Society  was  intended  to  confer.  By  the  disper- 
sion of  intelligence,  however  partial  and  limited  it  may  have  been, 
that  end  was  in  some  measure  attained.  Already  the  dawn  appeared 
of  that  hopeful  solicitude  which  it  was  felt  of  so  much  importance  to 
excite ;  and  we  shall  soon  have  occasion  to  record  the  evidence  of 
its  growth,  in  effects  of  the  most  promising  description. 

In  North  Britain  the  Society  had  made  a  successful  entrance,  within 
a  few  months  after  its  formation  ;  and  both  the  Presbytery  of  Glas- 
gow, and  the  Synod  of  Glasgow  and  Ayr,  had  given,  by  their  public 
collections  through  their  respective  bounds,  an  unequivocal  testimony 
of  their  approbation  and  friendship.  These  auspicious  beginnings 
were,  after  a  very  short  interval,  succeeded  by  measures,  assuming 
a  still  more  decisive  character,  and  involving  more  completely  the 
suffrages  of  national  opinion.  Scarcely  had  the  Society  entered  upon 
its  second  year,  when  Scotland  was  seen  proclaiming  her  attachment 
to  the  principles  of  the  Institution,  by  giving  publicity  and  recom- 
mendation to  its  plans  in  her  capital ;  and  that  through  a  medium, 
calculated  above  every  other  to  ensure  for  them  extensive  acceptance 
and  success.  Robert  Scott  Moncrieff,  Esq.  was  the  person  to  whom 
the  Society  stands  indebted  for  having  been  introduced  to  so  honour- 
able and  advantageous  a  connexion.  This  respectable  individual, 
having  proposed  to  the  directors  of  "  the  Society  in  Scotland,  incor- 
porated by  Royal  Charter,  for  Propagating  Christian  Knowledge," 
to  patronize  and  co-operate  with  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 


CHAP.  III.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  89 

ciety ;  they  cordially  assented  to  the  proposal,  and  on  the  8th  of  May 
issued  the  following  notification  in  "  the  Edinburgh  Advertiser." 


Copy  of  an  Advertisement  inserted  in  the  Edinburgh  Advertiser  for  1805. 
BRITISH  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 

"  A  Society  having  been  lately  formed  in  London  with  the  above 
<]esignation,  under  the  patronage  and  direction  of  some  of  the  high- 
est dignitaries  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  of  many  other  pious 
and  respectable  characters,  both  of  the  Established  Church  and  Dis- 
senters, in  that  country,  the  exclusive  object  of  which  is  to  diifuse 
the  knowledge  of  the  Holy  Scriptui^es,  by  circulating  them  in  the 
different  languages  spoken  throughout  Great  Britain  and  Ireland ; 
and  also,  according  to  the  extent  of  its  funds,  in  the  languages  of 
foreign  countries  :  '  The  Committee  of  Directors  of  the  Society  in 
Scotland  for  Propagating  Christian  Knowledge,"  highly  approving  of 
the  object  of  this  admirable  Institution,  which  proposes  one  of  the  best 
conceivable  means  for  the  speedy  and  universal  diffusion  of  the  Gospel, 
and  perfectly  satisfied  with  the  security  which  it  affords  for  a  wise  and 
faithful  application  of  its  funds  ;  have  resolved,  most  cordially  to 
unite  their  efforts  with  those  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety in  promoting  so  desirable  an  end ;  and  for  this  purpose,  they 
have  appointed  the  following  Gentlemen  of  their  number ;  viz.  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Hunter,  Mr.  Black,  and  Mr.  Jones,  Ministers  of  the  Gos- 
pel at  Edinburgh  ;  Robert  Scott  Moncrieff,  Esq.  of  New-halls,  with 
the  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the  Society ;  a  Sub-Committee,  to 
correspond  with  the  Bible  Society  in  London,  and  to  adopt  and  pur- 
sue such  measures  as  may  be  thought  proper,  in  order  to  obtain 
contributions  and  collections  in  Scotland,  for  promoting  the  great  ob- 
ject of  that  Institution." 

The  effect  of  a  declaration  so  explicit,  from  a  quarter  of  such 
high  respectabihty,  may  be  easily  anticipated.  The  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society  became  known  and  respected  throughout  Scotland ; 
a  foundation  was  thereby  laid  in  the  capital,  for  a  deep  and  perma- 
nent interest  in  its  favour  ;  and  a  collection  on  its  behalf,  throughout 
the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of  Edinburgh,  was  one  of  its  earliest 
and  most  beneficial  results..  In  "  the  act  and  recommendation,"  by 
which  this  collection  was  authorized,  and  which  was  dated  the  29th 
of  January,  1806,  the  Presbytery  state,  that,  "  having  considered 
the  objects  of  the  Society,  under  the  name  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  for  the  purpose  of  circulating  Bibles  at  home  and 


90  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  (PART  1. 

abroad,"  they  "  give  their  cordial  approbation  to  this  Institution, 
and  appoint  a  collection  for  this  Society  to  be  made  in  all  the  Churches 
and  Chapels  within  their  bounds,  on  Thursday,  February  27,  being 
the  day  appointed  by  the  King,  to  be  observed  as  a  national  fast 
through  Scotland,  on  account  of  the  present  state  of  the  Kingdom." 

In  speaking  more  particularly  of  the  Society,  the  Presbytery  de- 
scribe it  in  the  following  terms. 

"  The  Society  for  whose  benefit  this  collection  is  appointed,  wag 
established  a  few  years  ago  in  London  ;  and  consists  of  a  large  num- 
ber of  respectable  men,  belonging  to  the  Church  of  England,  and 
the  Dissenters,  who  are  warmly  attached  to  the  Christian  religion, 
and  the  prosperity  of  their  country." 

After  explaining  the  occasion  of  the  Society's  formation,  and  the  na- 
ture, extent,  and  benefit  of  its  proceedings,  the  Presbytery  thus 
conclude  their  candid  and  liberal  appeal. 

"  Such  are  the  labours  of  love,  in  which  the  Society  is  engaged  ; 
labours  most  conducive  both  to  the  present  and  eternal  interests  of 
their  fellow-creatures  ;  and  which  are  admirably  fitted,  by  the  bless- 
ing of  God,  for  the  accomplishment  of  His  promises,  'that  the  know- 
ledge of  the  Lord  shall  cover  the  earth,  as  the  waters  do  the  sea  ;' 
'  that  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  shall  become  the  kingdom  of  our 
God,  and  of  His  Christ.' 

"  Though  they  have  been  employing  the  funds  under  their  manage- 
ment with  fidelity  and  considerable  success,  there  is  need  of  much 
larger  donations  for  carrying  on  the  extensive  and  useful  purposes  of 
their  Institution. 

"  The  Presbytery  hope,  that  enough  has  been  said  to  show  the 
vast  importance  of  this  undertaking,  and  earnestly  recommend  to  all 
under  their  charge,  to  contribute,  as  liberally  as  their  circumstances 
will  admit,  for  increasing  the  funds  and  usefulness  of  the  Society." 

This  solemn  recognition  of  a  Society  in  which  Bishops  presided 
and  Sects  co-operated,  emanating  from  bodies  whose  ecclesiastical 
constitution  renders  them  almost  equally  opposed  to  prelacy  and  to 
separation,  evinced  a  spirit  of  Christian  generosity  which  cannot  be 
too  highly  commended  ;  the  memorial  of  it  will  form  an  honourable 
record  in  the  religious  history  of  Scotland.  The  conduct  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Edinburgh  on  this  occasion,  viewed  in  connexion  with 
that  of  the  Presbytery  of  Glasgow,  and  the  Synod  of  Glasgow  and 
Ayr,  will  sufticiently  account  for  the  deep  root  which  the  Society  will 
hereafter  be  found  to  have  taken  in  the  northern  part  of  the  Island, 
and  for  the  luxuriant  growth  which  its  interest  has  continued  to  ex- 
perience among  all  classes  and  denominations  of  Scottish  Christians. 


C<HAP.  IIIJ  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  91 

In  England,  the  effect  of  those  publications  which  advertised  the 
existence  of  the  Society,  announced  its  proceedings,  and  invited  gene- 
ral co-operation,  was  also  manifested,  though  by  slower  degrees,  and. 
for  a  time,  with  inferior  demonstrations  of  liberality  and  zeal.  The 
seed  which  has  since  so  abundantly  sprung  up,  was  destined  to  be  for 
a  considerable  period  buried  under  the  soil ;  and  although  it  is  true 
that  the  augmentation  of  general  contribution  was  great,  and  for  the 
most  part  annually  progressive,  yet  it  is  as  true,  that  it  required  four 
years  to  double  the  amount  of  the  first  year's  annual  subscriptions  ; 
the  return  of  the  first  year  from  this  source  being  1,235/.  3s.  that  of 
the  fourth,  2,493Z.  12s.  6J. 

Having  glanced  at  the  circumstances  which  showed  the  growing- 
strength  of  the  Institution,  and  its  progress  in  the  acquisition  of  do- 
mestic support,  the  author  will  now  resume  the  narrative  of  its  pub- 
lic transactions. 

The  intercoTirse  maintained  with  the  German  Bible  Society  at  Nu- 
renberg,  had  led,  as  will  be  recollected,  to  a  correspondence  of  an 
interesting  nature  with  a  Roman  Catholic  Clergyman  in  Swabia  ;  and 
the  event  of  it  had  been,  the  grant  of  1000  copies  of  the  Nurenberg 
Protestant  New  Testament  to  that  individual,  for  circulation  at  his 
discretion. 

In  the  meantime,  the  zeal  of  some  enlightened  Roman  Catholics  at 
Ratisbon,  having  been  excited  by  the  proceedings  of  the  Protestants 
at  Nurenberg,  the  example  of  the  latter  was  imitated  by  the  former ; 
and  a  Roman  Catholic  Bible  Society  was  established  at  Ratisbon,  un- 
der the  direction  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wittman,  Director  of  the  Ecclesi- 
astical Seminary  in  that  place. 

The  Director's  Address  to  the  Christians  of  the  Roman  Cathohc 
persuasion,  throughout  Germany,  is  peculiarly  simple,  liberal,  and 
devout. 

"  TO  THOSE  WHO  VALUE  THE  DOCTRINE  OF  JESUS. 

"  Dear  Brethren  and  Sisters  in  Christ ! 
"  It  is  desirable  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  of  the  New  Testament 
might  be  put  into  the  hands  of  many  pious  Christians  at  a  low  price. 
Thereby  they  would  be  comforted  in  their  afflictions,  strengthened  in 
their  trials,  and  more  preserved  from  the  temptations  of  the  world. 
Many  excellent  persons  do  not  find,  in  the  public  religious  instruc- 
tion, that  for  which  they  hunger ;  they  are  also  often  in  the  confes- 
sional only  judged  for  their  outward  deeds,  without  being  led  to  an 
acknowledgment  of  their  inward  corruption,  and  to  faith  in  the  blood 


92  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

of  Jesus  their  Redeemer :  if  these  could  read  the  Holy  Scriptures  of 
the  New  Testament  in  the  quiet  time  of  holidays,  their  faitii  in  the 
simple  doctrines  from  the  mouth  of  Jesus  Christ  would,  by  the  mercy 
of  their  Saviour,  be  thereby  enlivened ;  and  the  Lord's  gifts  in  the  Holy 
Spirit  be  quickened  in  them.  They  would  hear  the  voice  of  the 
Father  in  their  inward  part,  drawing  them  to  their  Saviour,  of  which 
Christ  saith  :  "  They  shall  be  all  taught  of  God  ;  and  whosoever  hath 
learned  of  the  Father,  and  receiveth  it,  cometh  unto  me.'  John  vi. 
44.     (German  Ti-anslation.) 

"  Also,  Christian  brethren  and  sisters  could  meet  together  in  small 
parties  of  two  or  three  on  Sunday  and  holiday  afternoons,  and  read 
a  chapter  in  the  New  Testament,  and  confer  together  on  it,  whereby 
a  subject  of  short  united  prayer  would  impress  itself  on  their  minds, 
and  what  the  Lord  saith  would  be  fulfilled :  '  If  two  of  you  shall 
agree  on  earth,  as  touching  any  thing  that  they  shall  ask,  it  shall  be 
done  for  them  of  my  Father  in  heaven."  Matt,  xviii.  19.  Christians  ! 
you  are  so  unlike  the  world,  you  are  regarded  as  nothing  by  it;  it 
has  no  satisfaction  in  you,  and  you  also  can  gain  none  from  it ;  and 
when  you  are  for  having  here  and  there  a  little  fellowship  with 
it,  then  it  causes  disquiet  to  your  spirits,  and  you  soon  find  yourselves 
in  the  like  state  with  Peter,  when  he  was  among  the  people  in  the 
hall.  Be  ye  separated,  then,  and  let  it  be  as  the  Lord  saith  :  '  There 
shall  be  five  in  one  house  divided,  three  against  two,  and  two  against 
three.'  Luke  xii.  52.  But  be  ye  so  much  the  more  united  together 
in  the  Lord,  in  joint  prayer,  and  in  comfort  of  the  words  of  Christ. 

"  From  these  considerations  has  arisen,  in  tlie  minds  of  some  cler- 
gymen, a  wish  to  set  on  foot  a  cheap  German  edition  of  the  New  Tes- 
tament, for  the  use  of  many  pious  Christians,  the  Repository  thereof 
lo  be  at  Ratisbon,  in  the  Ecclesiastical  Seminar)^  as  a  central  place 
in  Germany,  and  to  wait  for  what  the  Lord  may  be  pleased  farther 
to  work  therein. 

"  I  hereby  give  this  intelhgence  to  some  known  confessors  of 
Christ,  with  a  request  that  they  will  consider  the  matter  before  the 
Lord,  recommend  it  to  him  in  prayer ;  and  if  he  is  pleased  to  afford 
them  an  opportunity  to  contribute  in  any  way  towards  it,  they  will 
not  neglect  it.  Christian  poverty  and  love  have  accomplished  greater 
things  in  the  world  than  the  power  and  riches  of  the  world  could  do. 

"  O  Lord  !  Redeemer  of  our  souls  !  Shepherd  of  the  small  despised 
flock !  Do  with  this  work  as  may  please  thee.  Thy  kingdom  pro- 
ceeds an  incessant  pace  in  a  still  small  way  ;  and  those  who  oppose  it 
can  do  nothing  against  it,  but  become  thy  footstool,  and  contribute  to 
Ihc  rest  of  thy  feet  in  the  peace  of  tliy  people.     If  it  please  thee,  let 


CHAP,  ill]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  93 

thy  holy  history,  the  history  of  thy  childhood,  of  thy  ministry,  of  thy 
suffering,  and  of  the  victory  in  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  apostles  and 
firstlings  of  the  Christian  church,  come  into  the  hands  of  thy  little 
ones  for  their  comfort  and  confirmation. 

(Signed)  WITTMAN." 

Scarcely  had  this  Institution  been  formed,  when  the  Roman  Catho- 
lic Clergyman  before  referred  to  made  application  to  the  Nurenberg 
Society  for  permission  to  commute  the  1000  Protestant  Testaments 
which  he  was  to  have  received  from  their  depository,  for  an  equal 
number  of  Catholic  Testaments  from  the  proposed  depository  at  Ra- 
^tisbon.  The  Nurenberg  Society,  regarding  the  application  as  per- 
fectly reasonable,  and  not  foreseeing  that  any  objection  would  he 
against  its  admission,  yielded  a  ready  compliance  to  the  wishes  of  the 
applicant ;  and  transferred  the  order  from  their  own  to  the  Ratisbon 
Society,  without  deeming  it  necessary  to  wait  till  the  sense  of  the 
parties  from  whom  the  grant  had  proceeded  could  be  taken  upon  the 
subject. 

To  the  Committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  this 
measure  appeared  to  be  one  which,  from  its  novelty,  and  the  conse- 
quences with  which  it  was  pregnant,  called  for  very  grave  and  deh- 
berate  consideration.  Immediately  on  the  receipt  of  a  direct  commu- 
nication from  the  Roman  Catholic  Clergyman,  conveying  the  request 
which  he  had  made  to  the  Nurenberg  Society,  and  stating  the  success 
with  which  that  request  had  been  attended,  a  resolution  was  passed, 
declaring,  that  the  proposal  to  exchange  the  order  of  1000  Protestant 
Testaments  for  an  equal  number  of  Catholic  Testaments  could  not 
be  acceded  to 

The  effect  of  this  resolution,  the  wisdom  of  which,  under  the  pecu- 
liar circumstances  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  could  not 
be  questioned,  was  painfully  felt  and  affectingly  represented  by  the 
Nurenberg  Society,  whose  somewhat  precipitate,  though  certainly 
well-intended  procedure,  had  placed  both  themselves,  and  the  con- 
ductors of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  in  a  situation 
of  great  embarrassment.  The  former  pleaded,  in  justification  of  the 
course  they  had  ventured  to  pursue,  the  accommodation  which  it  had 
afforded  to  the  Catholic  Clergyman,  by  relieving  him  from  the  diffi- 
culties which  he  must  have  experienced  in  an  attempt  to  distribute, 
to  any  extent,  among  members  of  his  own  communion,  copies  of  the 
Protestant  Testament.  They  further  stated,  that  the  Catholic  edition 
to  which  the  order  had  been  transferred,  would  be  printed,  not  from 
a  slavish  translation  of  the  Vulgate,  but  from  Mr.  Schwarzel's  ver- 
14 


94  HJSTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

sion  of  the  original  Greek,  without  note  or  comment,  a  version  which, 
while  it  satisfied  enlightened  Catholics,  had  been  favourably  received 
by  Protestants  themselves. 

The  Committee,  while  they  sympathized  with  the  feelings  of  their 
Nurenberg  friends,  and  saw  much  in  their  statement  to  atone  for  the 
precipitation  with  which  they  had  acted,  considered  it  expedient, 
after  a  full  and  dispassionate  investigation  of  the  subject,  to  confirm 
their  first  resolution.  Desirous,  however,  of  upholding  the  credit  of 
the  Nurenberg  Society,  which  had  become  pledged  by  this  transaction, 
and  anxious  to  prevent  the  charge  of  ilhberality  from  being  brought 
against  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  with  any  semblance  of 
reason,  several  Members  of  the  Committee  united,  in  their  private 
capacity,  to  defray  the  charge  of  the  1000  Testaments  ordered  at 
Ratisbon ;  while  the  Catholic  Clergyman,  having  accepted,  with 
grateful  acquiescence,  the  fulfilment  of  the  Society's  original  inten- 
tion, continued  to  retain  his  claim  for  the  Ratisbon  copies  ;  and  thus 
became,  in  the  event,  doubly  endowed. 

The  author  has  been  studiously  particular  in  relating  the  circum- 
stances of  this  transaction,  because  they  serve  to  illustrate  the  cau- 
tious prudence  and  conscientious  exactitude,  with  which  the  Commit- 
tee of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  have  been  accustomed 
to  act.  It  will  appear,  from  what  has  been  stated,  how  careful  they 
were,  in  this  instance,  (as  they  will  be  found  to  have  been  in  every 
similar  trial,)  to  guard  against  being  carried  away  by  their  best  feel- 
ings, and  by  the  tempting  prospect  of  an  immediate  good,  so  as  to 
adopt  a  measure  which  might,  by  hoAvever  forced  a  construction,  be 
interpreted  into  a  violation  of  the  letter  or  the  spirit  of  their  regula- 
tions. The  Society  was,  at  this  time,  in  its  infancy ;  its  relations 
with  the  Protestant  churches  of  Christendom  were  but  recently 
entered  into,  and  partially  formed  :  the  prejudices  existing  against 
Roman  Catholics,  and  every  thing  which  pertained  to  them,  were 
in  their  greatest  strength  ;  and  the  version  in  question,  though  re- 
spectably vouched  for,  was  yet  very  defectively  known  and  accredited. 
These  considerations  were  sufficient  to  recommend  and  to  justify 
extreme  caution  on  the  part  of  the  Society,  lest  an  error,  in  so  early 
a  stage  of  its  proceedings,  might  draw  its  principles  into  suspicion, 
and  throw  obstacles  in  the  way  of  its  future  movements,  which  no 
exertions  of  prudence  or  energy  would  afterwards  enable  it  com- 
pletely to  surmount. 

For  the  Roman  Catholic  ClergjTnan  himself,  it  is  due  to  his  cha- 
racter to  observe,  that  he  behaved  throughout  the  business  in  a  man- 
ner which  reflected  the  highest  credit  both  upon  his  integrity  and 


CHAP.  Ill]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  95 

his  candour.  His  letters  breathed  the  spirit  of  fervent  piety  and 
genuine  cathohcism ;  and  with  an  appropriate  and  animated  extract 
from  one  of  them  the  account  of  this  transaction  shall  be  closed. 

"  I  feel  the  highest  regard  for  the  wise  and  prudent  zeal  of  the 
English  Bible  Committee,  because  it  is  my  own  desire  to  see  the  pure 
and  genuine  Word  of  God  spread,  and  I  am  so  entirely  against  all 
corruption  of  this  invaluable  treasure,  that  I  myself  would  prevent 
it  by  all  means  in  my  power.  As  the  degeneracy  of  all  outward 
churches  is  so  great  and  general,  and  threatens  to  become  still 
greater  and  more  general,  i  comfort  myself  with  this,  that  the 
Lord  is  retiring  into  the  inner  temple,  and  more  gloriously 

BUILDING  UP  the  INVISIBLE  CHURCH.  At  LEAST  HE  DOES  NOT  SIT  IDLE 
AT  THE  RIGHT  HAND  OF  HIS  FaTHER,  NOR  CAN  HE  LOSE  HIS  SUIT  ; 
WHATEVER  MAY  NOW  BE  THE  APPEARANCE,  HE  MUST  FINALLY  BE  THE 
GAINER.  Our  duty  HOWEVER  IS  THIS,  TO  PRAY  MORE  EARNESTLY 
THAN  EVER  :    '  LeT  THY  KINGDOM  COME  !'    AND,  '  LoRD,  ABIDE  WITH  US, 

FOR  IT  IS  TOWARDS  EVENING.'  Dr.  Sailcp  (vvho  by  his  truly  evangeli- 
cal instructions  and  writings  has  proved  a  great  blessing  to  the  Roman 
Catholics  in  Germany)  thus  expresses  himself  in  his  last  book : 
'  Christianity  is  so  tirmly  founded  on  its  own  basis,  that,  after  it  has 
outlived  the  times  of  persecution,  after  it  has  remained  unshaken  in 
the  age  of  superstition,  it  will  also  outlive  this  age  of  infidelity  and 
contempt.'  Therefore,  we  cannot  sufficiently  rejoice  that  we  are 
privileged  to  serve  such  a  Master,  who  is  infinitely  superior  to  all  his 
enemies  ;  vvho  has  the  victory  in  his  hands,  ever  since  the  world  has 
stood  ;  who  finally  shall  put  all  enemies  under  his  feet ;  at  whose 
name  every  knee  shall  bow,  and  every  tongue  confess  that  Jesus 
Christ  is  Lord." 

The  progress  made  by  the  Nurenberg  Society  in  maturing  its  plans, 
and  recommending  its  design  to  the  patronage  of  the  public,  though 
neither  rapid  nor  at  any  time  considerable,  appears  on  the  whole,  to 
have  afforded  its  conductors  a  reasonable  degree  of  satisfaction  and 
encouragement.  A  detailed  account  of  the  first  anniversary  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  expressly  translated  and  printed 
for  the  purpose,  was  circulated  Avith  great  industry,  both  in  Nuren- 
berg and  in  its  vicinity ;  and  produced,  it  was  thought,  a  very  advan- 
tageous eflect. 

Having,  towards  the  close  of  1805,  completed  the  first  impression 
of  their  Testament  on  standing  types,  the  Nurenberg  Society  an- 
nounced its  completion,  in  a  printed  Address,  and  solicited  assistance 
from  their  German  fellow-christians  in  order  to  enable  them  to  print 
the  entire  Bible  in  a  similar  manner.     In  the  course  of  their  Address 


gg  HJSTORV  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  1. 

they  advert,  with  sentiments  of  respect  to  the  Roman  Catholic  Bible 
Institution  at  Ratisbon,  and  manifest  a  fraternal  disposition  towards 
its  Members  ;  which  evinces  tlie  conciliatory  influence  of  a  love  for 
the  word  of  God,  and  of  a  sincere  desire  to  promote  its  general 
diffusion. 

"  The  printing  of  this  New  Testament"'  (they  state)  "  was  delayed 
by  several  circumstances,  one  of  which  will  afford  pleasure  to  every 
friend  of  tlie  Bible.  The  very  same  person,  who  had  to  cast  the 
types  for  our  New  Testament,  received,  nearly  at  the  same  time,  an 
order  to  cast  the  types  for  another  New  Testament,  which  is  to  be 
printed  for  the  use  of  Roman  Catholic  Christians,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  some  very  worthy  and  truly  enlightened  Clergymen  of  that 
persuasion." 

This  good  understanding  between  Protestants  and  Catholics  in  a 
cause,  which,  judging  from  past  experience,  might  have  been  con- 
sidered likely  to  generate  very  different  feelings,  was  considered  at 
the  time  an  auspicious  circumstance  :  and  it  may  now  be  referred  to, 
as  marking  the  dawn  of  that  era  in  which  Catholics  and  Protestants 
have  reciprocated  expressions  of  kindness ;  and,  either  by  actual  co- 
operation, or  by  amicable  competition,  have  mutually  conspired  to 
promote  the  distribution  of  the  Scriptures  among  all  orders  and  classes 
of  people. 

The  Address,  while  it  did  justice,  as  we  have  seen,  to  the  zeal  of 
the  Catholics  at  Ratisbon,  reported,  also,  in  terms  of  due  commenda- 
tion, the  warm  encouragement  given  to  the  designs  of  the  Nurenberg 
Society  by  the  Protestants  in  different  parts  of  Germany  and  Switzer- 
land. Instances  were  cited  of  individual  liberality,  which  testified 
how  much  the  hearts  of  the  people  were  alive  to  the  interests 
of  vital  religion,  and  how  seasonably  the  work  of  diffusing  the  Holy 
Scriptures  was  introduced  among  them.  A  venerable  old  man,  whom 
Providence  had  raised  from  small  beginnings  to  a  state  of  competency, 
is  described  as  having  presented,  with  tears  of  pious  gratitude,  two 
sums  of  1,100  florins  each;  one  in  aid  of  the  Missionary  cause,  and 
the  other  for  the  purpose  of  circulating  the  word  of  God  among  his 
German  countrymen.  Another,  who  had  served  forty  years  in  a  very 
respectable  family,  and  saved  a  considerable  sum  of  money,  which  he 
was  accustomed  to  devote  almost  entirely  to  benevolent  purposes,  is 
stated  to  have  brought  300  florins,  "  as  a  gift  of  love,  to  be  employed 
solely  for  tln>  printing  and  distribution  of  Bibles."  To  these  interest- 
ing facts — interesting  the  rather,  as  being  the  first  fruits  of  those  exer- 
tions which  were  afterwards  remunerated  with  so  plentiful  a  harvest 
—were  added  assurances,  "  that  in  several  parts  of  Switzerland,  and 


CHAP.  IFI]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  o- 

chieHy  in  the  Canton  of  Bern,  a  similar  zeal  had  been  manifsted  ;  and 
that  the  inhabitants  both  of  town  and  country,  strove  with  each  other 
in  offering  their  mites  to  the  Bible  Institution." 

Such  demonstrations  of  earnestness  and  industry  in  the  conductors 
of  the  Nurenberg  Bible  Society,  and  of  zeal  and  liberality  in  its  mem- 
bers and  friends,  were  observed  by  the  Committee  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society  with  great  and  increasing  satisfaction.  Nuren- 
berg was  the  portion  of  continental  ground  in  which  they  had  begun 
their  foreign  labours.  To  that  spot,  for  a  period,  their  operations 
were  confined.  It  was,  in  fact,  the  cradle  of  their  continental  great- 
ness ;  and  they  watched  over  it  with  a  fondness  which  disposed  them 
to  rejoice  in  every  indication  of  present  advancement,  and  every  pre- 
sage of  future  success. 

To  the  100/.  originally  contributed  at  the  formation  of  the  Society 
in  that  place,  the  Committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society 
had  recently  added  a  second  donation  of  200/.  in  aid  of  an  impression 
of  the  entire  Bible  on  standing  types,  or  stereotype,  as  circumstances 
migiit  determine.  The  intelligence  conveyed  through  the  address 
just  referred  to,  confirmed  the  expectation  upon  which  the  second 
grant  had  been  made  ;  the  Committee,  who  had  voted  it,  saw  their 
judgment  of  the  zeal  and  perseverence  of  their  Nurenberg  friends 
abundantly  confirmed  ;  and  from  what  they  had  witnessed  in^the  trial 
thus  made,  they  felt  encouraged  to  proceed  to  still  further  exertions, 
satisfied,  that  if  they  were  but  diligent  to  plant  and  to  water,  God 
would  give  the  desired — the  promised  increase. 

By  this  time,  the  communication  opened  with  Halle  in  Saxony  be- 
gan to  take  effect ;  and  by  means  of  it,  a  channel  was  obtained,  through 
which  it  was  hoped,  and  as  events  have  since  shown,  not  witho°ut 
reason,  that  the  stream  of  divine  truth  might  be  beneficially  directed 
to  numerous  portions  of  the  continent,  in  which  its  refreshing  w^aters 
were  deeply  and  affectingly  needed  :  Dr.  Knapp,  Director  of'the  Or- 
phan-House in  that  city,  gave  a  friendly  reception  to  the  overture 
made  by  the  Society  in  the  summer  of  1804  ;  and,  in  return,  invited 
their  attention  to  the  depository  over  which  he  presided,  and  in  which 
a  stock  of  Bibles  and  Testaments  existed,  ready  for  immediate  distri- 
bution. 

The  Canstein  Bible  Institution,  the  depository  here  alluded  to,  was 
founded  at  Halle,  in  1710,  by  Charles  Hildebrand,  Baron  de  Can- 
^tem ;  at  his  decease,  the  care  of  it  devolved  upon  the  celebrated 
Professor  Franke,  founder  and  director  of  the  Orphan-House  in  that 
city ;  and  passing  in  succession  to  the  several  directors  of  that  chari- 
table establishment,  it  thus  came  under  the  administration  of  the  Rev. 


98  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

Dr.  Knapp,  The  Institution  had  now  subsisted  for  a  period  of  near- 
ly ninety-five  years,  during  which  time  above  three  miUion  copies, 
either  of  the  whole  Bible  or  New  Testament,  had  been  printed  in 
different  languages,  and  dispersed,  not  only  throughout  most  of  the 
European  countries,  but  even  through  different  parts  of  America  and 
the  Russian  colonies  in  Asia :  many  thousand  copies  had,  through 
this  medium  of  dispersion,  been  distributed  gratuitously  to  the  poor  ; 
and  there  was  evidence  of  the  most  unquestionable  nature,  that  a  sig- 
nal blessing  had  attended  the  whole  undertaking. 

The  Bibles  and  Testaments  issued  by  this  excellent  Institution 
were  printed  in  the  city  of  Halle  till  the  year  1735,  when  it  obtained 
from  Frederick  William  the  privilege  of  being  permitted  to  estai)lish 
a  printing-ofhcc  of  its  own.  In  consequence  of  this  indulgence,  a 
very  large  building  was  annexed  to  the  Orphan-House,  in  which  Bi- 
bles are  continually  printing  in  such  numbers,  that,  to  use  the  lan- 
guage of  the  Society's  correspondent,  "  there  is  always  a  large  sup- 
ply ready  for  sale."  Dr.  Knapp,  from  whose  communications  these 
particulars  have  been  derived,  accompanied  his  statement  with  an 
assurance,  that  "  if  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  sbonld  be 
disposed  to  make  use  of  the  Bible  Institution,  for  the  attainment  of 
their  noble  and  benevolent  designs,  he  would  feel  exceedingly  hap- 
py to  execute  their  orders." 

Advantage  was  immediately  taken  of  this  intelligence  ;  and  as  Dr. 
Knapp  appeared  to  possess  both  the  means  and  the  disposition  to  co- 
operate effectually  with  the  views  of  the  Society,  he  was  requested 
to  furnish  distinct  information  on  the  following  points:  1st.  In  what 
places  the  Scriptures  were  wanted  in  the  several  languages  in  which 
the  Canstein  Institution  had  printed  and  continued  to  print  them  ? 
2dly.  By  what  mode  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  might 
assist  in  the  distribution  of  them  ?  To  these  inquii'ies,  which  had  for 
their  principal  object  to  ascertain  the  state  of  the  Scriptures,  both  as 
to  the  want  of  them  and  the  facilities  for  dispersing  them  in  Prussia, 
Poland,  and  the  Russian  empire.  Dr.  Knapp  paid  a  kind  and  ready 
attention ;  and  the  train  into  which  he  put  them,  elicited,  in  process 
of  time,  such  information  as  enabled  the  conductors  of  the  Society  to 
extend  their  connexions,  and  to  form  new  links  of  communication  with 
persons  and  places,  to  which,  but  for  this  introduction,  they  might  not 
have  found  so  easy  and  effectual  an  access. 

While  things  were  thus  proceeding  at  Nurenberg,  and  Halle,  mea- 
sures had  been  concerted  by  the  Society's  correspondents  at  Berlin, 
with  the  prosperous  result  of  which  it  will  now  be  proper  that  the 
reader  should  be  made  acquainted. 


CHAP.  Ill]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 

y  J 

The  Rev.  John  Jasnicke,  stimulated  by  the  example  of  Nurenbero- 
and  encouraged  by  the  generous  proposal  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  exerted  himself  with  so  much  judgment  and  perseve- 
rance, that  the  foundation  of  a  Bible  Society  was  laid  in  Berlin  in 
the  commencement  of  1806,  under  the  direction  of  some  noblemen 
and  other  persons  of  great  distinction  and  exemplary  character.  On 
the  nth  of  February,  the  Institution  received  the  sanction  of  His 
Prussian  Majesty;  and  on  the  31st  of  March,  the  Committee  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  redeemed  their  pledge,  by  votin- 
to  the  newly-formed  Institution  the  promised  sum  of  100/.  addin^  a 
further  donation  to  an  equal  amount,  as  an  inducement  to  the  Berlin 
Bible  Society  to  extend  their  labours,  at  that  time  employed  in  print- 
ing the  Bohemian  Bible,  to  an  impression  of  the  Pohsh  Bible,  the 
want  of  which  was  understood  to  be  severely  and  extensively  felt 

The  estabhshment  of  the  Berlin  Bible  Society  was,  in  the  infant 
circumstances  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  regarded  as 
an  acquisition  of  considerable  moment.  The  importance  of  its  situa- 
tion, the  zeal  of  its  directors,  and  the  authority  of  the  royal  sanction 
under  which  it  appeared  before  the  public,  gave  it  altogether  an  im- 
posing aspect;  and  naturally  induced  very  high  expectations  of  its 
luture  greatness  and  success. 

Of  this  Institution,  which,  though  (as  it  has  since  appeared) 
scarcely  known  in  the  capital  from  which  it  derived  its  designation 
and  very  partially  supported  in  other  parts  of  the  kingdom,  contri- 
ved, cn.efly  through  the  exertions  of  a  single  individual  *  to  print 
20  000  copies  of  the  Bible  and  New  Testame^nt  in  the  Bohe  Jian'and 
Polish  languages  ;  to  promote  similar  exertions  in  various  other  pla- 
ces ;  and  to  keep  alive  likewise  an  interest  in  favour  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures till  an  Establishment  was  effected  for  extending  their  circula- 
tion throughout  the  whole  Prussian  dominions.  Of  an  Institution  so 
wise  y  planned,  so  zealously  conducted,  and  so  happily  superseded. 
It  will  be  interesting  to  trace  the  origin,  and  to  follow  the  labours  till 
hey  reached  their  consummation.  The  latter  of  these  objects  will 
have  Its  place  in  the  details  which  are  hereafter  to  be  recorded  Of 
the  former  something  has  already  been  said  :  what  remains  to  be  told 
may  be  very  suitably  extracted  from  the  excellent  "  Address"  issued 
'Voth  rfr^  Society  soon  after  its  formation,  and  iLcribed 
A  o  the  Christians  of  the  Prussian  States." 

DaI^tJ'''*-^'^^'r^''^°"''''  ''""^'^'  ^^"^"'  ^'^^  ^  considerable  time 
past,  the  spirit  of  active  Christian  charity  has  been  awakened,  and  a 

*TheRer.J.  Jaenicke. 


100  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

fire  kindled  by  the  Lord,  which  already  shines  into  the  remotest  parts 
of  the  earth — in  the  powerful  kingdom  of  Great  Britain,  a  Society 
has  been  formed,  consisting  of  all  ranks  and  religious  denominations, 
for  the  laudable  purpose  of  propagating  the  word  of  God  to  the  ut- 
most of  their  power,  by  cheap  distribution  among  the  ppor. 

"  No  fire  burns  upon  the  altar  of  the  Lord,  without  spreading  its 
flames  around.  This  fire  has  also  extended  its  flames.  The  zeal  of 
Christians  in  England  has  also  infused  itself  into  the  hearts  of  Chris- 
tians in  Germany. 

"  Already  in  the  German  Empire  a  Society  has  been  formed,  actu- 
ated by  the  same  spirit,  and  for  the  same  purpose,  as  that  in  England. 
In  the  Prussian  Siates,  also,  there  is  still  room  for  sowing  the  good 
seed  of  the  word  of  God.  They  still  contain  districts,  where,  in  the 
houses  of  many  poor  Protestant  families,  the  precious  Bible  is  sought 
in  vain.  A  number  of  sincere  friends  of  God  and  of  mankind,  in 
and  out  of  Berlin,  constrained  by  the  love  of  Christ  and  of  their  fel- 
low-christians,  have  associated,  after  the  example  of  the  above-men- 
tioned English  and  German  Bible  Societies,  to  collect  a  fund  for  the 
purpose  of  purchasing  Bibles  and  New-Testaments  from  the  Bible 
Institution  at  Halle,  to  be  gratuitously  distributed,  or  sold  at  a  very 
low  price,  to  the  really  poor  in  the  Prussian  States.  They  also  in- 
tend to  pubhsh  a  new  edition  of  the  Bohemian  Bible :  a  donation  of 
lOOl.  which  has  been  voted  them  by  the  Bible  Society  in  London  for 
this  purpose,  laid  the  foundation  of  this  fund,  which  has  since  been 
augmented  by  the  benevolent  contributions  of  several  voluntary  sub- 
scribers of  all  ranks." 

Mr.  Jsenicke's  letter  to  the  King  of  Prussia,  and  his  Majesty's  re- 
ply, will  complete  this  account. 

TO  THE  KING  OF  PRUSSIA. 

"  Most  mighty  and  most  gracious  Lord  and  Sovereign, 
"  With  all  due  humility  I  lay  the  inclosed  address  at  the  foot  of 
your  royal  throne.  Moved  by  the  present  falling  away  from  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  increasing  contempt  of  the  Holy  Sciip- 
tures,  several  of  your  Majesty's  faithful  subjects  have  united  together 
for  the  purpose  of  putting  the  Holy  Bible  into  the  hands  of  the  poor, 
particularly  of  the  soldiers'  children.  From  my  oflicc  of  distributing 
meat  to  the  poor  during  the  last  five  years,  I  have  had  a  frequent  op- 
portunity of  observing  the  deplorable  ignorance  of  the  poor  in  the 
great  truths  of  salvation.  And  as  in  the  dominions  of  your  Majesty, 
particularly  in  Silesia,  there  are  several  Bohemian  Colonies,  part  of 


CHAP.  III.]  A.ND  FOREIGx^  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  |01 

which  stand  in  need  of  the  Bohemian  Bible,  which  can  be  procured 
neither  from  the  Bible  Institution  of  the  Hallish  Orphan-House,  nor 
in  Bohemia  itself;  our  Bible  Society  has  determined  not  only  to  pur- 
chase German  Bibles  for  distribution  among  tlie  poor,  but  also  to  print 
a  new  edition  of  the  Bohemian  Bible  here  in  Berlin  ;  the  more  so,  as 
several  Protestant  clergymen  in  Bohemia  have  already  subscribed  for 
1000  copies. 

"  Our  Society  will  also  consult  some  zealous  ministers  in  Prussia, 
whether  the  Polish  Bible  could  not  be  printed  either  in  Konigsberg 
or  Dantzig,  in  order  to  distribute  it  among  the  Protestants  of  South 
Prussia. 

"  As  your  Majesty  will  perceive  by  this  statement,  that  6ur  Bible 
Society  has  the  eternal  welfare  of  our  fellow-men  for  its  object,  we 
feel  the  greater  confidence  in  addressing  your  Majesty,  hoping  that  it 
will  please  your  Majesty  to  take  it  under  your  most  gracious  protec- 
tion, which  we  most  humbly  solicit. 

*'  I  am  your  Majesty's  most  humble  and  most  dutiful  servant  and 
subject, 

F.6.7,1806.  "JOHN  J^NICKE." 

REPLY  OF  HIS  PRUSSIAN  MAJESTY. 
"  It  is  with  real  satiefaction  that  I  discover,  from  your  letter  of  the 
7th  of  February  and  the  enclosed  Address,  the  laudable  endeavours 
of  the  Prussian  Bible  Society  for  the  gratuitous  and  cheap  distribu- 
tion of  the  Bible  to  the  poor  of  my  dominions  ;  and  while  I  render 
justice  to  your  particular  merit  in  promoting  such  a  useful  Institution, 
I  transmit  to  you  at  the  same  time  20  Frederick  d'ors,  as  an  addition 
to  its  funds. 

*'  I  am  your  gracious  King, 

"  FREDERICK  WILLIAM." 

Feb.  11,  1800. 

Such  were  the  fruits  of  the  intercourse  maintained  by  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society  with  the  continent  of  Europe,  antecedent- 
ly to  the  termination  of  its  second  year.  They  consUtute  a  part  of 
that  day  of  small  things,  which  prudence  forbids  us  to  despise,  and 
gratitude  to  forget.  Compared  with  the  splendid  occurrences  by 
which  they  have  been  succeeded  they  sink  into  disesteem,  and  can 
scarcely  be  rescued  from  the  reproach  of  insignificance.  But  the 
recital  of  them  was  due  to  the  credit  of  those  exertions  by  which 
they  were  produced,  and  to  the  elucidation  of  those  transactions  for 
15 


102  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

which  they  prepared  the  way.  In  themselves,  it  is  trusted,  they  are 
not  wholly  without  interest ;  but  they  become  additionally  interesting, 
when  considered  as  preserving  a  memorial  of  the  first  blushes  of 
that  rising  light,  which  now  shines  with  so  great  effulgence  on  the 
principal  nations  of  the  European  continent. 

The  progress  which  the  cause  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society  had  made  in  the  affairs  of  its  foreign  department  was  greeted 
by  its  conductors,  and  by  all  to  whom  the  intelligence  of  its  proceed- 
ings was  imparted,  with  expressions  of  cordial  delight.  In  the  mean 
time,  the  wants  of  Great  Britain  were  neither  forgotten,  nor  lightly 
considered.  Much  exertion  was  made  to  accelerate  the  production 
of  some  fruits  from  the  stereotype  press,  in  order  that  the  desirable 
business  of  distribution  might  commence  among  the  necessitous  part 
of  the  British  population.  This  object  was  obtained  in  September, 
1805,  when  an  impression  of  an  octavo  English  Testament  was  an- 
nounced as  ready  for  delivery.  As  this  Testament  exhibited  the  first 
specimen  of  the  application  of  stereotype  to  any  part  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  and  was  besides  the  first  article  provided  by  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society  for  home  circulation,  a  resolution  was 
passed,  at  the  meeting  in  which  its  completion  was  reported,  that  a 
copy  of  it,  accompanied  with  a  circular  letter,  should  be  presented 
to  the  President,  the  Vice-Presidents,  each  Member  of  the  Commit- 
tee, and  Principal  Officers  of  the  Society.  .This  measure,  it  was 
thought,  while  it  evinced  a  due  respect  for  the  parties  to  whom  it  re- 
ferred, would  afford,  at  the  same  time,  a  satisfactory  testimony,  that 
the  copies  issued  in  the  languages  of  the  United  Kingdom  would  be 
— what  the  fundamental  rule  had  stipulated  they  should  be — "  the  au- 
thorized version  without  note  or  comment." 

With  a  view  to  identify  the  copies  issued  by  the  Society,  and  there- 
by to  prevent,  as  far  as  possible,  any  fraud  upon  its  charity  by  mer- 
cenary artifices,  or  any  other  of  the  various  modes  of  abuse,  the 
Society's  imprint  was  inserted  in  the  title  page,  and  its  designation 
stamped  upon  the  binding.  The  latter  of  these  expedients  has  since 
been  adopted  by  other  Societies  of  reputation,  both  at  home  and 
abroad  ;*  and  both  have  been  mentioned  as  evidences  of  that  discreet 
and  precautionary  management,  which,  in  the  warmth  of  its  zeal  for 
diffusing  the  Scriptures,  the  Institution  has  not  failed  from  its  very 
outset  to  exemplify  and  observe. 


*  Among  these  may  be  particularly  mentioned — a^  home,  the  Society  for  Pro- 
moting Christian  Knowledge  5  and  abroad,  the  Pctersbnrg  (now  Russian)  Bible 
Hociety. 


CHAP.  Ill]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


103 


An  impression  of  the  New  Testament  having  thus  been  prepared, 
the  work  of  distribution  commenced  without  delay  ;  and  Ireland, 
whose  wants  were  deemed  the  most  urgent,  and  were  also  at  that 
time  the  best  ascertained,  was  the  first  scene  in  which  it  was  carried 
into  effect.  Individual  agents,  and  Sunday  schools  were  the  medium 
through  which  the  copies  transmitted  for  this  purpose,  were  put  in 
circulation.  The  Dublin  Association  was  also  assisted,  as  were  sub- 
sequently the  Naval  and  Mihtai^  Bible  Society  in  London,  and  cer- 
tain other  religious  Institutions  ;  by  being  permitted  to  share  with  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  in  its  advantageous  arrangements 
with  the  University  of  Cambridge :  and  every  opportunity  was 
eagerly  embraced  of  supplying,  both  directly  and  indirectly,  the 
scriptural  wants  of  the  country,  and  of  exciting  attention  to  the  im- 
portance of  readiiig  and  dispersing  the  lively  oracles  of  God. 

One  of  the  earliest,  and  most  beneficial  results  from  the  distribu- 
tion in  Ireland,  combined  with  other  exertions  of  a  similar  description 
in  that  country,  was  the  establishment  of  a  Bible  Society  at  Dubhn. 
Of  this  Institution, — small  in  its  commencement,  and  subsisting  for  a 
period  with  very  limited  countenance  and  equivocal  support;  but 
now  possessing  distinguished  patronage,  and  operating  with  ample 
means,  and  through  a  wide  and  still  widening  jurisdiction, — occasion 
will  hereafter  be  furnished  for  speaking  at  large.  The  author  will 
content  himself  at  present  with  explaining  briefly  the  circumstances 
of  its  origin,  and  the  conduct  observed  by  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society  in  accepting  a  connexion  with  it. 

But  as  the  Dublin  Association,  to  which  reference  has  before  been 
made,  contributed  materially  to  excite  that  spirit  which  caused  the 
Scriptures  to  be  so  eagerly  inquired  for,  and  their  distribution  to  be 
so  seriously  considered,  it  will  be  proper  to  introduce  the  proposed 
explanation,  by  laying  before  the  reader  a  compendious  account  of 
that  Patriotic  Institution,  which  was  the  precursor  in  this  field  of  use- 
fulness, and  prepared  the  way,  by  its  laudable  exertions,  for  the 
establishment  of  that  national  Bible  Society,  the  circumstances  of 
whose  origin  are  hereafter  to  be  related. 

In  the  year  1792,  a  Society  was  formed  in  Dublin,  under  the  title 
of  "  The  Association  for  Discountenancing  Vice,  and  Promoting  the 
Knowledge  and  Practice  of  the  Christian  Pteligion."  Stimulated  by 
a  splendid  donation  from  an  unknown  benefactor,  for  encouraging  the 
distribution  of  the  Scriptures,  they  resolved  to  make  that  a  principal 
object  of  their  attention  ;  and,  in  this  determination,  with  a  zeal  which 
cannot  be  too  highly  commended,  they  expressed  their  hope,  in  a 
printed  Address,    "  that  effectual  provision  would  be  made,  that  no 


104  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  {PART  I. 

house,  no  cabin,  in  the  whole  kingdom,  in  Zi>hich  there  was  a  single  per- 
son who  could  read,  should  be  destitute  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.'''  The 
members  of  this  "  Association,"  which  at  its  commencement  in  Octo- 
ber, 1792,  amounted  to  only  three,  had,  in  1794,  increased  to  240  ; 
and  80  vigorously  had  they  exerted  themselves  in  prosecution  of  their 
end,  that,  in  1795,  we  find  them  addressed  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Burrowes, 
in  the  following  terms  : 

"  Yo'u  have  distributed  quarto*  Bibles  for  the  use  of  families. 
You  have  put  it  in  the  power  of  fathers  to  instruct  their  children  in 
Christian  knowledge  from  the  words  of  Christ  himself — to  draw  the 
stream  of  morals  and  life  from  the  fountain-head,  even  the  Rock  of 
your  salvation  :  and  you  have  deposited  in  many  houses,  where  per- 
haps it  is  the  only  book,   the  very  best  book  which  can  be  had."t 

In  179G,  the  Association  report,  through  the  Rev,  Dr.  Magee,  that 
"  the  dissemination  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  had  gone  on  with  rapidity ,- 
and  that  every  Bible  of  4,500  (which  were  all  that  could  be  pro- 
cured from  Messrs.  Rivington,  in  London,  being  their  whole  stock,) 
would  have  been  disposed  of  long  since,  if  the  subscribers  had  not 
found  it  prudent  to  abate  in  their  exertions." 

So  strongly  did  the  Directors  of  the  Association  feel  themselves 
pressed  by  increasing  applications,  that,  in  1801,  they  addressed  the 
public  generally  on  the  subject;  and  made  a  forcible  appeal,  in  a  si- 
milar strain,  to  "  the  Irish  absentees,  and  particularly  to  the  proprie- 
tors of  landed  estates,  who  answered  to  that  description."  In  1802, 
they  reported,  that  the  Scriptures  "  were  received  with  avidity,  and 
sought  after:"  and  we  have  had  their  declaration  in  1804,  as  ex- 
pressed in  the  letter  transmitted  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, that  "  tlie  demand  tlaily  increased  ;"|  accompanied  at  the  same 
time,  with  the  important  confession,  "  that  the  funds  of  the  Associa- 
tion mere  unable  to  supply  it." 

In  such  a  state  of  mutual  excitement  towards  the  possession  and 
the  distribution  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  an  excitement  which  had 

*  It  is  due  to  tlie  Society  for  Promotinfj  Christian  Knowledge,  to  observe,  that 
these  quarto  Bible:*,  ainouiiting  to  C.'iO,  were  obtained  from  their  depository:  and 
the  same  Society,  gieatly  to  their  honour,  presented  the  Association  in  1801,  with 
1,450  Bibles. 

t  Anniversary  Sermon  before  the  Association. 

I  In  a  letter  addressed  to  the  British  and  Foreigrn  Bible  Society,  dati'd  October 
II,  1804,  the  Secretaries,  after  stating  the  account  of  books  distributed  by  the 
Association  in  the  preceding  year,  add,  that  "  Iheilemauil  fur  them  is  prngrctsireli/ 
null  rapidlii itwrfaxinp" 


CHAP.  HI.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  j05 

spread  from  the  Protestants  to  not  a  kw  members  of  the  Roman  Ca- 
thohc  Church,  the  formation  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society 
was  made  known  throughout  Ireland  ;  and  produced  in  many  parts, 
as  was  natural,  a  desire  to  associate  on  a  similar  principle,  and  to  pro- 
mote the  creation  of  separate  means  for  the  exclusive  distribution  of 
the  Holy  Sci'iptures.  "  The  Dublin  Association"  had  unquestionably 
done  much ;  but  had  demonstrated,  by  its  confession,  that  it  was  ut- 
terly unable  to  do  every  thing  which  the  wants  of  the  people  (wants 
at  that  time  very  defectively  known)  imperatively  required.  With  a 
decided  preference  on  the  part  of  its  managers  to  the  distribution  of 
the  Holy  Scriptures,  as  a  mean  of  Christian  instruction,*  the  very 
constitution  of  the  Association  suggested,  and  to  a  certain  degree 
prescribed,  the  application  of  a  proportion  of  its  funds,  to  other 
means,  as  co-operating  to  produce  the  same  general  end.  It  was 
therefore  considered,  that  such  an  Institution,  however  excellent 
and  useful,  could  not  be  expected  to  concentrate  sufficient  force  upon 
this  paramount  object,  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  ;  and  the 
public  good  appeared  to  demand,  that  its  exertions  in  this  department 
should  be  assisted  by  some  competent  auxiliary,  expressly  directed  to 
the  accomplishment  of  this  single  and  separate  design. 

The  parties  on  whose  minds  this  impression  had  been  made,  M'ere 
at  first  disposed  to  seek  the  attainment  of  their  object,  by  forming  a 
personal  alliance  with  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  by 
exerting  themselves  vigorously  to  raise  subscriptions  in  aid  of  its 
funds.     But  they  had  not  advanced  far  in  the  execution  of  their  pur- 


*  The  foUewing'  passages  (the  first  of  which  has  in  part  been  quoted  before) 
show  how  strongly  the  Managers  of  the  Association  were  attached  to  the  distri- 
bution of  the  Scriptures;  and  iiow  differently  they  thought  on  their  intellifiibilify 
to  the  common  people,  from  many  who  have  written  against  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society. 

"  We  acknowledge"  (says  the  Address,)  "  with  satisfaction  and  gratitude,  the 
valuable  labours  of  those  who  defend  Christianity  by  the  weapons  of  argument. 
But  we  venture  to  assert,  that  the  most  popular,  as  well  as  the  most  efl'eclual  de- 
fence of  Christianity,  must  ever  consist  in  the  exhibition  of  its  own  native  beauties, 
as  seen  in  the  clear  mirror  of  God's  Word.  It  is  obvioMs,  that,  to  the  lower 
classes  in  particular,  an  elaborate  detail  of  the  various  evidences  of  the  Christian 
religion  must  in  most  instances  be  uninteresting  and  unsuitable.  They  have  nei- 
ther the  time,  nor  the  habits  necessary  for  receiving  conviction  ia  this  way.  But 
the  man  of  narrowest  capacity,  who  has  only  common  sense  and  common  honesty, 
will  scarcely  fail,  in  perusing  the  Bible  itself,  to  discover  at  once  that  the  rules 
which  it  lays  down  tend  directly  to  make  him  good  and  happy  : — he  will  recog- 
nize in  it  a  language  speaking  immediately  to  the  heart,  and  conveying  an  intrinsic 
and  almost  irresistible  evidence  of  sincerity  and  truth." 


106  HISTORY' OF  THE  BRITISH  [PARTI. 

jiose,  when  it  occurretl  to  them,  that  a  similar  Institution  estabhshcd 
in  Dubhn,  and  directed  immediately  to  the  supply  of  their  own  popu- 
lation, would  excite  more  attention,  raise  larger  contributions,  and 
bring  into  action  a  greater  variety  of  useful  instruments  than  could 
be  expected  from  the  exertions  of  individuals  forming  merely  a  frac- 
tional port  of  a  Society  whose  operations  were  conducted  in  London, 
and  whose  funds  composed  a  common  stock  for  the  spiritual  benefit 
of  the  whole  human  race.  It  was  therefore  judged  expedient,  that 
a  distinct  Bible  Society  should  be  constituted  in  Dublin,  for  the  ser- 
vice of  Ireland;  and  such  an  Institution  was  accordingly  established. 

With  these  sentiments  and  views  very  candidly  unfolded  in  a  print- 
ed address,  "  The  Dublin  Bible  Society"  announced,  through  an 
official  communication,  its  actual  establishment  ;  and  respectfully 
solicited  the  countenance  and  aid  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety. Acting  on  that  system  of  cautious  procedure  by  which  their 
conduct  has  been  invariably  governed,  the  Committee  in  London  ab- 
stained from  pledging  themselves  to  any  thing  which  might  be  con- 
strued into  a  recognition  of  the  new  Society,  till  they  should  have 
become  satisfied,  that  it  was  definitively  constituted  on  principles  >imi- 
lar  to  their  own.  The  point,  on  which  satisfaction  was  particularly 
required,  and  which  was  explained  in  a  friendly  correspondence,  re- 
garded the  express  restriction  of  the  copies  to  be  circulated  to  those 
of  the  (tuihorizcd  version.  A  clause  to  that  efiect  having  been  pro- 
posed and  adopted  at  a  Special  General  Meeting,  "  The  Dublin  Bible 
Society"  was  distinctly  recognized  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society  as  an  allied  Institution  ;  and  an  intercourse  immediately  com- 
menced, which,  through  many  vicissitudes  of  discouragement  and  ob- 
struction, has  ripened  at  length  into  a  well-understoo'  and  satisfactory 
connexion. 

To  this  account,  in  which  the  Dublin  Association,  and  the  Hiber- 
nian Bible  Society  are  mutually  implicated,  it  may  be  useful  to  add 
the  following  expression  of  the  sentiments  of  the  former,  on  the  ab- 
solute duty  of  circulating  the  Bible  ;  inasmuch  as,  while  it  reflects 
honour  on  one  Institution,  it  serves  as  a  justilication  of  the  practice 
of  both. 

"  The  advantage  which  the  Bible  possesses — of  being  the  irrefraga- 
ble manile>tation  of  tJod's  will  to  his  rational  creatures,  raises  it,  with 
respect  to  practical  efficacy,  infinitely  above  all  that  ever  came  from 
the  pen  of  man  ;  and  makes  it  a  means  of  working  on  the  public  mind, 
of  such  invaluable  importance,  as  to  render  it  doubtful,  xu'liether  they 
x-ho  ncfiUct  to  give  it  the  utmost  possible  circulation,  are  more  iinpiovs  or 


CHAP.  Ill]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  jq^ 

impolitic — more  insensible  to  their  ozvn  interests,  or  more  ungrateful  to 
their  God.'"'* 

The  attention  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  was,  about 


this  time,  excited  to  the  consideration  of  the  Gaelic  Scriptures.  Re- 
presentations were  transmitted  from  persons  of  credibility,  stating, 
that,  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland,  very  fcAv  persons  were  in  posses- 
sion of  a  complete  Bible  ;  that  among  those  who  possessed  a  sino-Ie 
volume  of  the  four  in  which  the  Scriptures  had  been  published,  the 
proportion  did  not  exceed  one  in  forty ;  that  the  price  of  a  complete 
copy  was  beyond  the  ability  of  the  poor  to  purchase  it ;  and  that,  in 
fact,  it  was  not  easily  procurable  at  any  price.  It  was  added,  that, 
in  the  island  of  Sky,  containing  about  15,000  persons,  scarcely  one 
Gaelic  Bible  was  to  be  found. 

It  further  appeared,  on  the  authenticity  of  an  Address,  delivered 
in  May,  1803,  by  the  Secretary  to  the  "  Society  in  Scotland  for  Pro- 
pagating Christian  Knowledge,"  that,  "  out  of  335,000  persons  in  the 
Highlands,  300,000  were  considered  not  to  understand  any  other  lan- 
guage than  the  Gaelic,  so  far  at  least  as  to  comprehend  a  book  writ- 
ten, or  a  continued  discourse." 

This  information  was  of  a  nature  to  awaken  the  most  lively  con- 
cern in  the  breast  of  the  Committee.  It  was  immediately  felt,  that  an 
attempt  ought  to  be  made  to  answer  the  wants  and  the  desires  of  a 
people  so  truly  deserving  of  compassion  and  rehef.  But,  before  any 
step  could  be  practically  adopted,  it  was  requisite,  that  two  prelimi- 
nary points  should  be  distinctly  and  satisfactorily  ascertained : 

1.  Whether  the  edition  at  that  time  printing  under  the  direc- 
Uon  of  "  the  Society  in  Scotland  for  Propagating  Christian  Know- 
ledge" would  be  deemed  sufficient ;  and, 

2.  Whether,  in  the  event  of  another  edition  being  required,  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  in  the  present  state  of  its  fund.- 
and  its  engagements,  were  competent  to  undertake  it. 

A  correspondence  was  therefore  opened  with  the  Board  of  the  So- 
ciety in  Scotland,  in  order  to  obtain  the  necessary  materials  for  the 
formation  of  a  just  opinion  upon  the  subject.  The  final  result  of  this 
correspondence  was  a  determination,  on  the  part  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  to  print  a  new  edition  of  the  Gaelic  Bible  for 
the  use  of  the  Highlanders,  and  to  employ,  for  that  purpose,  the  text 
accredited  and  used  by  the  venerable  Society  to  which  the  referenco 
had  been  made. 

*  Address  to  the  Proprietors  of  Irish  Estates,  &e. 


108  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

The  version,  which  constituted  this  text,  had  been  effected  with 
singular  care  ;  and  was  recommended  by  testimonies  to  its  fidelity 
and  accuracy  which  entitled  it  to  the  highest  respect.  That  portioa 
of  it  which  contained  the  New  Testament,  was  the  production  of  the 
Rev.  James  Stewart,  Minister  of  Kilhn ;  and  was  printed  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  above  Society,  in  1767;  previously  to  which  era, 
no  part  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  had  appeared  in  a  Gaelic  dress.  In 
1802,  under  the  auspices,  and  at  the  expense,  of  the  same  Society, 
the  Old  Testament  was  pubhshed.  Three  parts  out  of  four  into 
which  this  portion  of  the  Bible  had  been  divided,  were  rendered  from 
the  Hebrew,  with  great  simplicity,  and  with  as  literal  an  adherence 
to  the  original  text  as  the  idiom  of  the  respective  languages  would 
admit.  In  the  fourth  part,  executed  by  another  hand,  the  style  was 
described  as  receding  from  this  simplicity  ;  and  the  literal  and  plain 
interpretation  was  said  to  have  been  exchanged  for  the  free  and  ele- 
vated. This  division,  therefore,  of  the  sacred  text,  was  judiciously 
placed  under  correction  by  the  Scottish  Society ;  and  the  probability 
was,  from  the  measures  they  adopted,  and  the  standard  of  translation 
which  they  professed  to  observe,  that  the  version,  when  finally  com- 
pleted, would  approach  as  nearly  to  perfection,  as  human  wisdom  and 
perseverance  could  advance  it. 

Such  was  the  text,  from  which  the  proposed  impression  of  the  Bri- 
tish and  Foreign  Bible  Society  was  to  be  printed ;  and  it  deserves  to 
be  recorded  to  the  honour  of  the  Directors  of  "  the  Society  in  Scot- 
land for  Propagating  Christian  Knowledge,"  that,  when  addressed  on 
the  subject  of  the  Gaelic  Scriptures,  though  occupied  themselves  in 
preparing  an  edition,  they  did  not  betray  any  symptoms  of  selfishness 
or  jealousy,  but  generously  imparted  the  desired  information  ;  fur- 
nished a  copy  of  the  Old  Testament,  as  soon  as  it  left  the  press,  for 
the  use  of  the  printer  employed  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety ;  and  expressed  their  perfect  readiness  to  redeem  "  the  pledge 
they  had  given  of  cordial  co-operaition,"  and  "  to  afford  every 
facihty  to  the  measures  of  a  Society  in  which  they  professed  to  take 
a  lively  interest,  and  whose  success  they  wished  to  promote  to 
the  utmost  of  their  power." 

So  much  may  suffice  to  acquaint  the  reader  with  the  origin  and  the 
course  of  the  Society's  proceedings,  in  reference  to  their  edition  of 
the  Gaelic  Bible  for  the  use  of  the  Scottish  Highlanders  ;  and  it  will 
appear  in  the  sequel,  that  both  the  determination  to  print  an  impres- 
sion, and  the  choice  of  the  particular  text,  were  satisfactorily  and  de- 
oigively  confirmed. 


<:HAP.  III.j  AND  FOIIEIGJN  BIBLK  SOCIETY.  jQ«) 

It  may  not  be  amiss,  before  taking  leave  of  this  subject,  to  observe, 
that  it  was  the  translation  of  the  New  Testament  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Stewart,  as  above  described,  which,  upon  a  question  being  moved  in 
the  Assembly  of  the  Church  of  Scotland  about  the  propriety  of  print- 
ing it,  occasioned  the  celebrated  vindicatory  letter  from  the  pen  of 
the  late  Dr.  Johnson  ;  and,  as  that  letter,  besides  answering  by  an- 
ticipation the  principal  objection  against  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  contains  the  wisest  and  most  liberal  sentiments,  expressed  in 
the  strongest  and  most  dignitied  language,  no  apology  will  be  neces- 
sary for  introducing  an  extract  from  it  in  this  connexion. 

August  3,  1766, 
"  I  did  not  expect  to  hear,^  that  it  could  be,  in  an  Assembly  con- 
vened for  the  propagation  of  Christian  knowledge,  a  question, 
whether  any  nation,  uninstructed  in  religion,  should  receive  instruc- 
tion ;  or  whether  that  instruction  should  be  imparted  to  them  by  a 
translation  of  the  holy  books  into  their  own  language.  If  obedience  to 
the  will  of  God  be  necessary  to  happiness,  and  knowledge  of  his  will 
be  necessary  to  obedience,  I  know  not  how  he  that  withholds  this 
knowledge,  or  denies  it,  can  be  said  to  love  his  neighbour  as  himself. 
He  that  voluntarily  continues  in  ignorance,  is  guilty  of  all  the  crimes 
which  ignorance  produces  ;  as  to  him  that  should  extinguish  the  tapers 
of  a  light-house,  might  justly  be  imputed  the  calamities  of  shipwreck. 
'  Christianity  is  the  highest  perfection  of  humanity ;  and  as  no  man  is 
good  but  as  he  wishes  the  good  of  others,  no  man  can  be  good  in  the 
highest  degree,  who  wishes  not  to  others  the  largest  measures  of  the 
greatest  good.  To  omit  for  a  year,  or  for  a  day,  the  most  efficacious 
method  of  advancing  Christianity,  in  compliance  with  any  purposes  that 
terminate  on  this  side  of  the  grave,  is  a  crime  of  which  I  know  not  that 
the  world  has  yet  had  an  example,  except  in  the  practice  of  the  plant- 
ers in  America,  a  race  of  mortals,  whom,  I  suppose,  no  other  man 
wishes  to  resemble."  The  conclusion  is  as  follows:  "  Let  it,  how- 
ever, be  remembered  that  the  efficacy  of  ignorance  has  long  been 
tried,  and  has  not  produced  the  consequence  expected.  Let  know- 
ledge, therefore,  take  its  turn  ;  and  let  the  patrons  of  privation  stand 
awhile  aside,  and  admit  the  operation  of  positive  principles.  You 
will  be  pleased.  Sir,  to  assure  the  worthy  man  who  is  employed  in  the 
new  translation,  that  he  has  my  wishes  for  his  success  ;  and  if  here, 
or  at  Oxford,  I  can  be  of  any  use,  that  I  shall  think  it  more  than 
honour  to  promote  his  undertaking." 

Shortly  after  the  business  of  the  Gaelic  Bible  had  been  taken  up, 
the  case  of  the  numerous  Prisoners  of  War  was  brought  under  the. 
IG 


110  HifelOKY  OF  THE   BRITISH  [PART  J. 

Society's  consideration,  and  excited  a  very  lively  sympathy  in  their 
favour,  and  a  strong  disposition  to  administer  to  their  reliel".  Little 
concern  had  hitherto  been  shown  by  any  religious  Institution  for  the 
spiritual  accommodation  of  that  unfortunate  class  of  individuals.  Se- 
parated from  their  country  and  their  natural  connexions,  and  ar- 
rested in  their  career  of  professional  duty,  they  had  to  suffer  all  the 
hardships  of  bondage  and  privation  in  an  enemy's  country,  and  that, 
in  many  cases,  for  a  conduct  which  would  have  entitled  them  to  re- 
spect and  remuneration  in  their  own.  The  very  circumstance* 
which  so  honourably  discriminated  them  from  other  sTibjects  of  con- 
finement, and  rendered  their  case  more  deserving  of  compassion, 
placed  them  at  the  same  time  at  a  still  greater  distance  from  the 
means  and  the  prospect  of  relief. 

At  the  period  when  the  Society  first  turned  its  attention  to  this 
matter,  the  number  of  French,  Spanish,  and  Dutch  prisoners,  was 
very  considerable  ;  scarcely  less  than  30,000.  Their  condition  was 
no  sooner  laid  open  than  it  was  unanimously  determined  to  meet  the 
deplorable  want  of  the  Scriptures  which  prevailed  among  them,  by 
a  prompt  and  adequate  remedy.  In  the  spirit  of  this  determination,  an 
order  was  made  on  the  23d  of  December,  1805,  to  print  an  imi)ression 
both  of  the  Spanish  Testament,  and  the  French  Bible  ;  and,  by  a  sub- 
sequent resolution  on  the  2d  of  February,  180G,  it  was  directed,  that 
the  latter,  for  which  very  large  demands  were  likely  to  arise,  should 
be  printed  by  the  more  cumuiudious  and  efhcientmode  of  stereotype. 
Inasmuch,  however,  as  it  did  not  consist  with  the  views  or  the  prac- 
tice of  the  Society,  to  delay  doing  any  thing  till  every  thing  could  he 
accomplished,  recourse  was  had  to  temporary  expedients,  in  the  in- 
terval of  preparing  for  a  regular  and  permanent  supply.  Instruc- 
tions, therefore,  were  issued  for  purchasing  French  Testaments  to 
the  amount  of  100/.  and  as  Spanish  Testaments  were  not  to  be  pro- 
cured on  any  terms,  the  difficulty  was  provided  for  by  causing  an  ex- 
tra number  of  copies  of  the  Gospels  to  be  printed,  in  order  that  they 
might  be  put  into  distribution  singly,  as  they  respectively  issued  from 
the  press. 

Thus  was  a  beginning  made  in  that  department  of  beneficence, 
which  aftenvards  occupied  so  greatly  the  labours  of  the  Society,  and 
by  means  of  which  its  spiritual  bounty  was  conveyed  to  so  many  re- 
ceptacles of  ignorance,  misery,  and  vice.  In  no  part  of  its  practical 
system  has  the  Institution  appeared  to  greater  advantage  than  in  that 
which  respects  its  conduct  towards  Prisoners  of  War.  In  fliis  com- 
merce of  pure  and  gratuitous  benevolence,  it  is  to  be  seen,  literally 
returning  good  for  evil,  blessing  for  cursing,  mercy  for  vengeance 


CHAP.  III.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  JH 

and  thus  illustrating  and  adorning,  in  an  eminent  and  almost  unexam- 
pled degree,  the  precept  and  the  spirit  of  the  Gospel.  We  shall 
have  occasion,  hereafter,  to  see  many  evidences  of  the  pleasing  effects 
which  resulted  immediately  from  the  operation  of  these  measures  : 
and  we  are  led  to  anticipate  consequences  of  still  greater  moment, 
when  the  objects  of  their  kindness,  now  restored  to  their  country, 
and  reunited  to  their  connexions,  shall  have  diffused  that  knowledge 
of  divine  truth,  which  they  acquired  in  the  land  of  their  captivity  and 
exile. 

Nor  was  the  care  of  the  Society  for  Foreigners  restricted  to  those 
who  inhabited  their  respective  countries,  or  who,  by  the  casualties  of 
war,  had  been  immured  in  British  prisons.  A  pious  solicitude  was 
equally  discovered  for  those,  who,  born  in  other  regions,  speaking 
other  languages,  and  attached  to  other  modes  of  religious  worship,  had 
either  permanently  established  themselves  in  Great  Britain,  or  were 
found  occasionally  resident  among  us. 

In  the  number  of  these  aliens,  the  Germans  were  considered  as 
forming  that  class  which  more  particularly  needed  the  assistance  of 
the  Society,  and  by  which  it  would  be  likely  to  be  most  thankfully 
accepted.  As  soon,  therefore,  as  it  was  ascertained,  that  the  So- 
ciety at  Nurenberg  had  completed  their  edition  of  the  Testament,  an 
inquiry  was  instituted  respecting  the  state  of  the  Germans  in  the  Bri- 
tish metropolis,  and  other  parts  of  the  empire,  with  respect  to  their 
want  and  desire  of  the  Scriptures  in  their  vernacular  tongue  :  and  the 
information  derived  from  this  inquiry,  led  to  an  order  upon  Nuren- 
berg for  1000  German  Testaments,  to  be  transmitted  to  the  London 
Depository. 

While  these  operations,  directed  to  the  execution  of  the  Society's 
object,  were  thus  actively  going  forward,  care  was  taken  to  seize 
every  just  opportunity  of  giving  such  notoriety  to  its  existence  and 
its  proceedings,  as  might  acquaint  the  country  with  its  real  merits,  and 
induce  a  liberal  co-operation  in  its  favour.  The  publication  of  the 
First  Report  was,  with  that  view,  made  the  subject  of  very  extended 
advertisement ;  and  many  respectable  channels  of  communication 
were  employed,  to  bring  it  into  general  circulation.  By  an  order  of 
the  Committee,  copies  of  it  were  transmitted  to  public  libraries,  both 
ill  town  and  country;  and  deposited,  with  permission,  in  boarding- 
houses  and  reading-rooms  at  various  watering-places,  and  other  sta- 
tions of  fashionable  or  miscellaneous  resort. 

The  good  effect  of  these,  and  similar  measures,  was  evinced  by 
the  growing  attention  which  the  Society  excited  ;  and  it  may  be  ob- 
served in  general,  that  the   active  dissemiaatioa  of  the  Society'? 


112  HISTORV  OF  THE  BRITISH  IPART  I. 

Annual  Reports,  and  of  such  other  papers  as  detailed  its  plans  and 
proceedings,  has  been  a  principal  engine  of  propagating  its  influ- 
ence, and  of  extending  both  its  reputation  and  its  success. 

The  author  is  aware,  that  among  the  charges  advanced  against  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  its  frequent,  and,  as  they  have 
been  called,  ostentatious  appeals  to  the  public,  have,  by  some  of 
its  opponents,  been  made  the  subject  of  grave  and  very  serious  ani- 
madversion ;  and  its  conduct,  in  this  respect,  has  been  contrasted  with 
that  of  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  ;  not  a  little, 
as  it  has  been  concluded,  to  the  advantage  of  the  latter. 

One  of  the  Society's  opponents  speaks  with  a  rather  invidious  em- 
phasis, of  the  "  unforced  extent  and  dignity"  of  the  Society  for 
Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  ;  and  of  "  the  silent  and  unostenta- 
tious manner  in  which  all  its  proceedings  are  carried  on."* 

Another  opponent,  of  considerable  rank,  professed  himself  disgust- 
ed at  the  "  pomp  and  parade  with  which  the  proceedings,  and  indeed 
all  the  meetings  of  this  new  Society  were  set  forth  in  the  public 
papers  ;  and  the  more  so,  when  he  compared  it  with  the  simplicity 
and  modesty  of  the  old  Society."! 

A  third,  determined  to  improve  upon  this  favourite  idea,  carried  it 
to  an  extreme  which  stopped  little  short  of  absurdity.  As  there  wei'e 
those,  who,  at  the  time  the  statement  was  made,  gravely  represented 
it  as  conclusive  against  the  modesty  and  wisdom  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  set  it  down  in  the  wri- 
ter's own  words : 

"  True  charity  is  never  ostentatious  ;  it  vaunteth  not  itself,  is  not 
puffed  up  :  satisfied  with  humbly  and  sincerely  endeavouring  to  pro- 
mote the  glory  of  God,  and  the  welfare  of  mankind,  these  two  excel- 
lent Societies  have  kept  on  their  way  in  peace  ;  and  have  made  no 
noisy  appeals  to  the  passions  or  the  feelings  of  mankind,  in  their 
own  behalf.  They  have  been  thankful  to  Providence  for  the  bene- 
factors which,  from  time  to  time,  have  been  raised  up  for  their 
support ;  but  have  been  more  solicitous  to  discharge  with  propriety 
Ihe  important  duties  they  have  undertaken,  than  to  conciliate  the  fa- 
vour of  those  by  whose  iiberality  their  funds  might  possibly  be  enlarged. 

'"  So  far,'''  adds  the  author,  "  has  this  forbearance  been  carried,  that 
(heir  very  existence  is  unknown  to  many,  even  among  the  Members  of  the 

*  Dr.  Wordsworth's  Letter  to  Lord  Teignniouth,  p.  35. 

+  The  late  Bishop  Randolph'a  Letter  to  the  Colchester  Clergy,  as  published  in 
•  he  Atitijacobiu  Review. 


€HAP.  III.l  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  II3 

Established  Church.  And  it  is  an  indisputable  fact,  that  some  Clergy- 
men have  been  induced  to  connect  themselves  with  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  merely  because  they  believe  it  to  be  the  only  Institution 
which  could  furnish  them  with  Bibles  at  a  reduced  price  for  distribution 
among  the  poor,''^'^ 

Such  language  might  be  proper  enough,  if  it  were  used  as  an  apolo- 
gy for  the  Societies  to  which  it  refers ;  but  it  seems  difficult  to  re- 
frain from  smiling  at  the  simplicity  of  a  writer  who  could  use  it  with 
a  view  to  their  panegyric.  The  fact,  however,  is,  that  the  venerable 
Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  has  exposed  the  folly  of 
its  injudicious  advocates,  and  justified  the  conduct  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  by  adopting,  in  a  great  measure,  the  policy  so 
successfully  employed  by  the  latter ;  and  the  increase  of  the  membei's 
and  funds  of  that  venerable  Institution,  proclaims  the  benefits  which 
it  has  reaped  by  this  wise  transition  from  secrecy  and  quietude,  to 
publicity  and  exertion.     But  to  return  : 

About  the  period  when  the  steps  just  adverted  to  were  taken,  a 
few  individuals,  of  comparative  obscurity,  and  aspii'ing  to  no  other 
distinction  than  that  of  exemplary  zeal  for  the  diffusion  of  scriptural 
truth,  formed  themselves  into  a  voluntary  Association  for  aiding  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  by  contributing  to  the  increase  of 
its  funds. 

The  first  demonstration  in  favour  of  the  Society,  upon  a  principle 
of  combined  and  aggregate  exertion,  had  been  made  at  Glasgow  in 
March,  1805,  when  the  Presbytery  of  that  city  set  the  example,  so 
speedily  and  honourably  followed  by  the  Synod  of  Glasgow  and  Ayr, 
and  afterwards  by  different  Presbyteries,  of  a  collection  at  all  the 
Parish  Churches  and  Chapels  within  its  bounds.  The  next  was  that 
of  these  individuals  in  London,  who  composed  the  Association  already 
described.  The  third  place  in  the  order  of  associated  efforts,  the 
order  of  time  at  least,  is  claimed  by  the  town  of  Birmingham.  It  must, 
indeed,  be  conceded  to  Wales,  that  the  Congregational  Collections 
made  in  that  country,  (the  first  which  took  place,  on  any  considera- 
ble scale,)  partook,  in  some  measure,  of  the  aggregate  quality  ascri- 
bed to  the  Associations  in  Glasgow,  London,  and  Birmingham ;  there 
is,  however,  this  difference  in  the  cases,  that  the  collections  transmit- 
ted from  Wales  were  only  contingent  and  occasional,  while  the  con- 
tributions from  the  respective  bodies  in  Glasgow,  London,  and  Bir- 

*  "  laquiry  into  the  Claims  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  by  the 
Rpv.  J.  H. Spry."  pp.  5,  6. 


114  HiSTOIiV  OF  THE  BRITISH  (PARTI. 

mingham,  were  raised  upon  system,  and  accompanied  with  a  pledge 
of  continuance  and  periodical  renewal. 

As  the  voluntary  Associations  in  the  two  last  instances  contained 
the  rudimental  originals  of  Auxiliary  Bible  Societies,  and  were,  in 
fact,  the  harbingers  of  those  most  useful  and  productive  Institutions, 
I  think  it  due  to  their  character  and  services  to  explain  more  parti- 
cularly their  nature,  and  the  means  by  which  they  proposed  to  benefit 
the  Society,  on  whose  behalf  their  exertions  were  made. 

The  Association  in  London  was  formed  in  July,  1805,  and  was  de^ 
signated  "  The  Association  for  the  purpose  of  contributing  to  the 
fund  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society."  The  laws  for  its 
government,  with  the  view  of  accommodating  it  to  persons  of  hum- 
ble circumstances,  set  the  terms  of  membership  designedly  low. 
Every  individual,  on  becoming  a  member,  was  required  to  pay  a  do- 
nation of  not  more  than  seven  shillings,  or  less  than  two  ;  and  to  con- 
tribute monthly  not  less  than  sixpence,  or  more  than  one  shilling. 
Each  member  was  in  his  turn,  to  collect  from  eight  members,  inclu- 
ding himself:  the  collectors  were  to  be  annually  changed,  in  alpha- 
betical order,  and  those  of  the  preceding  year  to  become  the  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Association  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society 
for  the  year  ensuing.  To  the  table  of  regulations  from  which  these 
particulars  have  been  selected,  was  prefixed  the  following  address. 

"  It  is  admitted  by  every  true  member  of  fhe  rbnrcb  of  Chi-ist, 
that  it  is  his  duty  to  do  what  lies  in  his  power  to  promote  the  spread- 
ing of  the  knowledge  of  the  word  of  God  ;  and  in  tliis  day,  when,  on 
the  one  hand,  infidelity  and  licentiousness  exhibit  themselves  with 
such  unexampled  eflrontery,  and  on  the  other,  when  so  many  bright 
examples  are  set,  both  by  individuals  and  societies,  of  arduous  exer- 
tion in  the  cause  of  truth  and  righteousness,  every  Christian  is  pecu- 
liarly called  upon  to  show  himself  on  the  Lord's  side,  and  to  hold 
forth  the  word  of  life  to  his  perishing  fellow-sinners.  The  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society  appears  to  be  especially  worthy  of  sup- 
port from  Christians  in  every  class  of  life  :  men  as  competent  to  the 
task  as  perhaps  the  world  can  produce,  have  associated  not  only  to 
supply  such  persons  in  our  own  country  as  are  destitute  of  Bibles, 
but  to  distribute  them  in  foreign  languages  throughout  the  globe,  as 
far  as  their  means  shall  enable  them.  And  it  appears,  that,  although 
their  plan  and  intentions  are  of  the  most  enlarged  naturo,  yet  that 
the  state  of  the  world  is  such  as  to  call  jbr  the  concurrent  exertions 
of  all  descriptions  of  Christians  ;  and  many  places  gall  indeed  with 


CHAP.  Ill]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  , ,  ► 

lid 

an  affecting  voice  :  for  there  are  numbers  of  our  fellow  immortals, 
in  different  parts  even  of  Europe,  who  long  for  Bibles,  who  thirst  for 
the  water  of  hfe,  and  find  no  man  to  give  them.  Such  being  the  state 
of  the  world,  and  such  the  object  of  the  Society,  they  gladly  accept 
of  assistance  from  any  persons  or  societies  who  are  desirous  of  con- 
tributing to  the  good  work.  And  it  having  been  considered  that  there 
are  many  persons,  who,  on  account  of  their  subscriptions  to  other 
societies,  or  on  account  of  the  narrowness  of  their  incomes,  would  not 
be  justified  in  becoming  direct  members  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  who  would  yet  be  desirous  of  contributing  somewhat 
proportioned  to  their  abihty :  it  is  therefore  the  object  of  this  Asso- 
ciation to  embrace  such  persons  according  to  the  subsequent  plan." 
London^  August  1,  1805. 

The  Birmingham  Association  was  formed  in  April,  1806,  chiefly 
through  the  active  instrumentality  of  the  Rev.  Edward  Burn,  the  di- 
ligent and  highly-respected  Minister  of  St.  Mary's  in  that  town.  This 
gentleman  addressed  a  letter  to  the  Committee  on  the  4th  of  October, 
1805,  requesting  a  supply  of  the  Society's  Annual  Report ;  "  it  beino- 
the  wish  of  some  friends  in  Birmingham  to  make  an  effort  to  promote 
a  subscription  towards  the  Society  among  all  denominations."  One 
hundred  copies  of  the  Report  were  accordingly  transmitted  to  Mr. 
Burn  for  distribution,  at  his  discretion  and  that  of  his  friends ;  and 
the  consequence  was,  a  movement  in  the  different  circles,  which  led 
to  the  definitive  union  in  April,  1806.  It  deserves  to  be  recorded, 
that  the  different  Dissenting  Ministers  in  the  town,  as  well  as  several 
members  of  their  respective  congregations,  contributed  their  friendly 
assistance  to  carry  the  proposed  measure  of  a  general  Association 
mto  effect ;  and  the  chair  was  occupied,  both  at  the  primary  meeting, 
and  on  most  subsequent  occasions,  by  George  Simcox,  Esq.  a  <«-entIe- 
mau  of  whose  judgment,  candour,  and  philanthropy,  it  would  be  diffi- 
cult to  speak  in  terms  exceeding  their  desert. 

The  design  of  this  Association  was  stated  in  the  printed  advertise- 
ment to  be,  that  a  united  effort  should  be  made  by  the  different  deno- 
minations of  Christians  in  Birmingham,  in  aid  of  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society.  In  order  to  accomplish  this  design,  it  was  pro- 
posed to  divide  the  town  into  twelve  districts,  and  to  appoint  certain 
gentlemen,  whose  names  were  given,  to  take  themseverally  in  charge, 
for  the  purpose  of  soliciting  subscriptions.  A  recommendation  was 
submitted  to  the  ministers  of  the  different  churches  and  chapeLs,  to 
adopt  such  measures  with  their  respective  congregations,  as  might 
best  conduce  to  a  general  and  efficient  co-operation.     The  gentlemea 


116  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  J, 

present  at  the  original  meeting,  together  with  the  clergy  and  acting 
magistrates  in  the  town,  were  appointed  a  Committee  to  receive  the 
report,  and  to  transmit  the  amount  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society  ;  and  it  was  further  directed,  that  the  sum 
so  transmitted,  should  be  presented  as  "the  united  contribution  of  the 
different  denominations  of  Christians  in  the  town  of  Birmingham." 

While  the  Society  was  thus  variously  occupied,  and  receiving  such 
testimonies  of  approbation  and  countenance,  the  elements  of  hostility 
were  secretly  at  work,  and  a  storm  was  collecting,  by  which  the  agents 
who  raised  it  presumptuously  hoped  to  involve  the  Institution  in  cer- 
tain and  irremediable  destruction.  The  mode  of  attack  was  similar 
to  that  which  had  been  adopted  on  the  former  occasion  ; — an  attempt 
to  detach  from  the  Society  its  episcopal  patrons  :  and  it  ended,  as  that 
had  done,  in  utter  disappointment  and  defeat.  As  the  circumstances 
of  this  second  assault  and  repulse  are  very  little  known,  it  may  not 
be  displeasing  to  the  reader  to  have  them  before  him. 

On  the  21st  of  February,  1806,  the  author  received  a  letter  from 
the  Bishop  of  London,  then  in  residence  at  St.  James's  Square,  ex- 
pressing a  desire,  on  the  part  of  his  Lordship,  to  see  him  "  on  busi- 
ness of  some  importance."  This  letter  was  speedily  followed  by  a 
second,  containing  a  request,  that  the  author  would  bring  with  him 
"  the  last  list  of  the  Members  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, and  the  last  regulations  and  orders  that  were  introduced ;  and 
also  mark  with  a  cross  those  whom  he  knew,  and  believed  to  be  Mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  England." 

On  Tuesday,  the  25th,  the  day  appointed  for  the  interview,  the 
author  attended  at  St.  James's  Square.  Upon  entering  the  Bishop's 
apartment,  it  was  immediately  to  be  perceived,  that  something  un- 
pleasant had  happened.  His  Lordship's  countenance  was  sad,  and 
his  thoughts  manifestly  troubled  him.  The  Bishop  soon  accosted  the 
author  in  nearly  the  following  terms :  ''  Mr.  Owen,  I  have  sent  for 
you,  to  tell  you,  that  I  have  received  a  pamphlet  written  against  the 
Bible  Society.  It  is  addressed  to  me  ;  and  charges  me  with  mislead- 
ing my  episcopal  brethren,  and  betraying  the  Established  Church. 
It  is  much  more  severe  than  the  Country  Clerg3'man's  Letter  to  Lord 
Teignmouth,  and  much  better  written."  The  author  told  the  Bishop, 
that  he  was  prepared  to  show,  as  when  cited  on  a  former  occasion, 
that  the  Society  had  acted  in  strict  conformity  to  its  princi[)les  ;  and 
further,  that  he  should  hold  himself  in  readiness  to  undertake  its  de- 
fence, either  publicly  or  privately,  as  his  Lordship  might  please  to 
direct.  "  I  do  not  know  yet"  (said  the  Bishop)  "  what  it  may  be 
best  to  do,     JIV"  Cmeaning,  as  the  author  understood  hii  Lordship, 


CHAP.  111. 1  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  U^ 

the  Bishops)  "are  to  have  a  meeting  on  Friday;  and  I  wish  you  in 
the  meantime  to  draw  up  a  memorial  on  the  subject  of  the  Society, 
and  to  send  it  me  by  that  day.  I  will  afterwards  let  you  know,  what 
is  further  to  be  done."  With  these  instructions  the  author  promised 
to  comply ;  and  as  the  publication  of  the  pamphlet  in  question  was 
delayed,  till  the  copies  as  presents  should  have  been  fully  delivered, 
he  prepared  the  desired  memorial  with  all  practicable  expedition,  and 
•transmitted  it  with  the  necessary  documents,  by  the  day  which  his 
Lordship  had  appointed. 

The  memorial  contained  a  select  enumeration  of  facts,  adapted  to 
explain  the  nature  of  the  Society's  general  proceedings,  and  to  evince 
the  correctness  with  which  it  had  adhered  to  its  fundamental  regula- 
tions, in  all  its  transactions  both  abroad  and  at  home.  As  the  con- 
clusion of  the  memorial  expressed  the  sentiments  by  which  the  con- 
duct of  the  author  was  governed  in  this  moment  of  conflict  and  trial, 
he  hopes  to  be  excused  for  inserting  it  in  this  place. 

"  Upon  the  whole,  my  Lord,  I  trust  it  will  appear,  not  only  to 
your  Lordship,  but  also  to  every  reasonable  man,  that  our  case  is  a 
good  one.  For  my  own  part,  I  shall  be  ready  to  answer  any  objec- 
tions which  may  be  brought  against  the  Society  with  decency  and 
temper,  in  such  manner  as  may  be  prescribed.  To  anonymous  at- 
tacks I  am  afraid  we  must  be  exposed.  The  facility  of  wounding  a 
generous  mind  by  insinuations  too  readily  believed,  is  a  temptation 
which  those  can  scarcely  resist  who  are  employing  all  the  resources  of 
an  implacable  spirit  to  blow  up  into  a  flame  the  embers  of  dissention. 
I  joined  the  Bible  Society  with  no  other  view  than  that  of  promoting 
the  interests  of  the  Church  of  England,  and  of  our  common  faith  ;  and 
believe,  in  my  conscience,  after  nearly  two  years  close  and  official 
experience,  that  the  Society  has  promoted,  and  is  yet  likely  to  pro- 
mote, in  a  substantial  manner,  both  those  ends.  This  consideration 
reconciles  me  to  the  sacrifice  of  much  time  and  labour  and  anxiety 
to  the  duties  of  an  oftice  which  was  forced  upon  me  ;  and  which  I 
have  discharged,  and  while  I  remain  in  it,  will  continue  to  dischai'ge, 
without  fee  or  reward.  I  shall  be  happy  to  receive  your  Lordship's 
commands  upon  this  and  any  other  subject ;  as,  next  to  the  satisfaction 
of  my  own  conscience,  is  the  desire  I  have  of  approving  myself, 

"  My  Lord, 
"  Your  very  faithful  Servant,  &c." 

It  now  only  remains  to  describe  the  event  of  this  private  and  con- 
Sdential  investigation.     After  a  considerable  silence  on  the  part  of 
17 


18 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 


the  Bishop,  which  it  did  not  become  the  author  to  interrupt,  his 
Lordship  at  length  reported,  that  the  writer  of  the  pamphlet  had 
proved  to  be  the  same  individual,  who  in  the  Spring  of  1805,  had  ap- 
peared under  the  character  of  the  Country  Clergyman ;  and  that  he 
had  consented  (in  the  language  of  the  Bishop)  "  to  make  the  amende 
honojirable,'''  by  withdrawing  the  whole  impression  of  his  pamphlet. 

Thus  quietly  and  efficaciously  was  this  storm  dispersed :  an  angry 
controversy  was  thereby  happily  prevented  ;  and  the  Society,  deliver- 
ed once  again  from  the  hand  of  its  enemies,  was  suffered  to  proceed, 
without  further  interruption,  to  the  triumphant  celebration  of  its  se- 
cond Anniversary. 

On  this  occasion,  as  on  the  preceding,  a  spirit  of  Christian  harmony 
pervaded  the  numerous  assembly,  and  an  interesting  solemnity 
characterized  throughout  the  transactions  of  the  day. 

The  members  of  the  Society,  though  discriminated  by  various  modes 
of  religious  sentiment  and  discipline,  lelt,  that,  in  this  cause  at  least, 
they  were  brethren  :  they  listened  to  the  tidings  in  which  they  had  a 
common  concern,  with  eager  attention  ;  and  each  appeared  desirous 
to  rival  the  other  in  testifying  his  joy  at  the  success  of  that  Institution 
which  had  so  auspiciously  united  them  all. 

Amidst  the  calamities  of  an  expensive  war,  which  necessarily  im- 
posed extraordinary  burdens,  they  saw  their  treasury  replenished 
with  liberal  olVerings  ;  and  while  commerce  was  crippled,  and  trade 
discouraged,  and  little  was  to  be  heard  through  the  vehicles  of  secular 
intelligence  but  rumours  of  successful  ambition,  and  forebodings  of 
still  more  extended  devastation  and  thraldom,  they  were  regaled  with 
the  delightful  information  of  new  channels  oj)ened  for  communicating 
the  glad  tidings  of  the  Gospel  of  Peace,  and  of  fresh  accessions  of 
strength  to  their  confederated  exertions  for  promoting  the  instruction 
and  the  happiness  of  mankind. 

It  would  naturally  occur  to  the  Members  of  the  Society,  assembled 
under  circumstances  of  so  great  political  distress,  to  contrast  the  con- 
dition of  foreign  nations  with  that  of  their  own  ;  and  to  derive  from 
the  reflection  an  increased  conviction  of  their  obligation  to  improve 
those  privileges,  so  peculiarly,  and  so  wonderfully  maintained.  This 
consideration,  among  others  of  a  similar  tendency,  was  very  per- 
tinently adverted  to  by  the  President  in  the  close  of  his  Report;  and 
the  passage  is  at  once  so  beautiful  and  appropriate,  that  it  shall  be 
adopted  as  the  conclusion  of  this  chapter. 

"  But  when  we  reflect  upon  the  alarming  and  afflictive  dispensations 
of  Providence  which  have  visited  foreign  nations,  while  we  have  been 
blessed  with  an  exemption  from  them,  gratitude  to  the  great  Disposer 


CHAP.  FV.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  jl'J 

of  events,  in  every  possible  way,  is  more  than  a  common  duty;  and, 
in  endavouring  to  promote  his  honour  by  the  diffusion  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  we  discharge  but  a  small  part  of  those  solemn  obligations 
which  his  singular  favour  so  peculiarly  imposes  upon  us.  What 
effects  may  flow  from  the  most  successful  labours  of  the  Society,  is 
not  within  the  limits  of  human  foresight :  Paul  may  plant,  ApoUos  may 
water,  but  it  is  God  alone  who  giveth  the  increase.  But  we  may  be 
allowed  to  entertain  a  reasonable  expectation,  that  the  seed  of  the 
word  will  not  be  sown  in  vain ;  and  that  among  the  numbers  to  whom 
it  will  be  conveyed  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  many 
will  receive  it  with  joy,  and  cultivate  it  with  profit ;  and  that  the 
beneficial  effects  of  the  Institution  will  extend  to  generations  yet 
unborn." 


CHAPTER  IV 


1806—7. 


In  entering  upon  the  duties  of  its  third  year,  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society  found  itself  possessed  of  respectable  strength ; 
and  felt  that  it  had  made,  all  circumstances  considered,  no  con- 
temptible progress  in  the  acquisition  of  pecuniary  resources  and 
pubHc  estimation. 

The  state  of  its  funds  did  not  indeed  report  that  striking  aug- 
mentation which  some  of  its  sanguine  friends  might  have  been  led 
to  expect :  but  an  increase  of  nearly  300/.  in  the  annual  subscrip- 
tions, and  of  more  than  1,000/.  in  the  contributions  from  Wales, 
together  with  an  entirely  new  article  of  revenue  from  Scotland, 
amounting  to  nearly  4,000/.  was  an  indication  of  improvement, 
which  authorized  a  confident  hope,  that  the  Society  would,  even- 
tually, obtain  an  income  commensurate  with  its  projected  and  pro- 
bable expenditure. 

The  testimonies  of  approbation  which  it  had  been  accustomed 
lo  receive,  augmented  in  a  higher  proportion ;  and  afforded  much 
greater  and  more  animating  encouragement. 

Wales,  though  unavoidably  disappointed  in  its  expectation  of  re- 
ceiving the  promised  Welsh  Bibles,  continued  to  cherish,  principally, 
as  heretofore,  among  the  humbler  classes  of  its  population,,  a  zealous 


120 


FlISTORV  OF  THE  BRITJS^I  [PART  I 


regard  for  the  object  of  the  Institution,  and  to  manifest  a  persever- 
ing disposition  to  aid  its  resources,  by  eft'orts  of  extraordinary  hbe- 
raUty. 

Unequivocal  evidences  were  furnished  in  England  of  a  similar  at- 
tachment to  the  cause  of  the  Society,  and  of  a  desire  to  co-operate 
effectually  in  its  support.  A  large  addition  of  names  to  the  list  of  an- 
nual subscribers  ;  the  zeal  of  the  humble  Association  in  London  :  and 
particularly  that  of  the  more  powerful  combination  in  Birmingham, 
gave  indisputable  proofs  of  a  strong  sensation  excited  in  favour  of  the 
Society's  views  among  the  inhabitants  of  South  Britain  ;  and  justified 
the  warmest  anticipation  of  an  extending  and  permanent  impression. 

The  interest  which  Scotland  evinced  in  the  success  of  the  Society's 
undertaking,  was  too  clearly  developed,  not  to  awaken  the  most 
lively  emotions  of  satisfaction  and  of  hope,  in  contemplating  the  ac- 
cession of  so  zealous  and  powerful  an  ally.  Collections  transmitted 
from  six  Presbyteries,  announced  a  degree  of  approbation,  on  the 
part  of  tlie  Scottish  National  Church,  to  which  great  importance  was 
deservedly  attached.  The  conductors  of  the  Institution  were  en- 
couraged by  this,  and  other  circumstances  of  a  similar  description,  to 
hope,  that  the  character  of  their  Society  would,  in  due  course  of 
time,  be  justly  appreciated  by  those  ecclesiastical  authorities  through- 
out the  United  Kingdom,  from  whose  general  and  decided  counte- 
nance there  was  good  reason  to  believe,  that  both  the  Church  and 
the  Society  would  derive  an  equal  advantage. 

To  these  symptoms  of  progress  must  be  added  the  event  which  had 
recently  taken  place  in  Ireland,  in  the  establishment  of  a  kindred  So- 
ciety at  Dublin,  and  other  general  intiications  of  a  growing  solicitude 
for  aiding  and  encouraging  the  Parent  Institution.  Such  were  the 
circumstances  under  which  the  operations  of  the  third  year  com- 
menced ;  and  we  are  now  to  trace  the  course  of  them  through  their 
several  channels  both  Ibreign  and  domestic. 

The  German  Bible  Society  at  Nurenberg  had,  from  no;irly  the 
earliest  period  of  its  institution,  maintained  an  amicable  and  active 
communication  with  the  numerous  friends  of  religion,  who  resided  m 
Basle  and  its  vicinity.  The  insuflkicncy  of  the  means  possessed  by 
the  latter,  to  form  and  sustain  an  independent  establishment,  recon- 
ciled them  to  the  alternative,  of  connecting  themselves  for  the  pre- 
sent with  the  Society  at  Nurenberg,  and  employing  it  as  a  temporary 
instrument  for  the  accomplisliment  of  their  own  designs. 

it  soon,  however,  appeared,  that  a  change  of  position  from  Nuren- 
berg to  Basle  would  materially  promote  the  interests  and  the  effi- 
ciency of  the  general  system.     Basle  had  many  local  and  circumstan- 


CHAP.  IV]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  121 

tial  advantages,  which  quahfied  it,  in  an  eminent  degree,  for  becom- 
ing the  seat  of  a  Bible  Society.  Forming,  as  it  did,  the  centre  of  the 
German  "  Rehgious  Society,"  an  establishment  of  great  celebrity  and 
usefulness,  and  commanding  a  very  extensive  range  of  connexions 
with  persons  of  distinguished  piety  both  in  Switzerland  and  Germa- 
ny, it  possessed  facilities  of  communication  and  of  distribution,  which, 
in  reference  to  a  plan  for  the  general  dispersion  of  the  Scriptures, 
would,  it  was  perceived,  be  found  of  essential  importance.  Add  to 
these  considerations,  that  its  reputation  for  typography  and  paper, 
stood  deservedly  high  ;  and  that  it  enjoyed,  on  that  ground,  peculiar 
advantages  for  the  execution  of  Biblical  works. 

Impressed  by  a  candid  representation  of  these  circumstances,  the 
Committee  at  Nurenberg  most  readily  acquiesced  in  the  proposition 
made  to  them,  for  removing  the  German  Bible  Society  from  their 
own  direction  to  that  of  their  brethren  at  Basle.  The  latter,  on  their 
part,  announced  the  transfer,  as  having  been  made  with  mutual  con- 
sent ;  and  in  an  earnest  and  animated  appeal  to  the  German  public, 
solicited  aid  to  enable  them  to  bring  to  maturity  the  main  object  of 
their  Institution,  that  of  furnishing,  as  speedily  as  possible,  a  cheap 
impression  of  the  whole  Bible. 

It  will  throw  some  light  on  the  difficulties  with  which  Bible  Socie- 
ties had  to  struggle  in  the  early  part  of  their  career,  and  illustrate  at 
the  same  time  the  pious  zeal  and  determined  energy  of  their  advo- 
cates and  promoters,  to  extract  a  portion  of  that  address  with  which 
the  conductors  of  the  Basle  Bible  Society  (the  designation  -which  the 
German  Bible  Society  is  henceforth  to  bear)  entered  upon  the  dis- 
charge of  their  public  engagements. 

"  Our  prospects"  (they  say)  "  with  regard  to  the  ultimate  success 
of  this  Institution,  so  pregnant  with  blessings,  become  still  more  gloomy 
when  we  direct  our  sorrowing  view  to  the  almost  universal  desolation 
produced  by  the  present  war,  to  the  almost  total  stagnation  of  com- 
merce and  manufactories,  to  the  daily  increasing  impoverishment  of 
many  thousands,  to  the  parsimony  which  the  more  opulent  are 
obliged  to  observe  in  their  expenditure,  and  to  the  progressive  indi- 
gence, and  consequent  want  of  spirit,  among  our  poor  countrymen. 
And  yet,  on  the  other  hand,  all  these  melancholy  circumstances  are 
but  the  stronger  appeals  to  our  hearts,  to  hasten  to  the  relief  of  our 
desponding  countrymen  with  the  reviving  consolations  of  God's  word  ; 
to  carry  into  the  huts  of  the  indigent  the  glad  tidings  of  the  Gospel 
ot  salvation  ;  and  with  this  balm  from  heaven  to  dispel  the  tears  of 
sorrow  from  the  eyes  of  the  afflicted.  What!  shall  they  whose 
earthly  possessions  have  been  swept  away  by  the  ravages  of  the 


122  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  fPART  I, 

times,  remain  destitute  also  of  the  heavenly  manna  ?  Shall  they, 
whose  earthly  joys  are  gone  to  the  grave,  be  debarred  the  superior 
joys  of  religion,  because  they  have  not  money  sufficient  to  purchase  a 
Bible  for  themselves  and  their  families  ?"  "  Into  your  sympathizing 
bosoms,  worthy  promoters  of  Christianity,  we  pour  the  concerns  of 
ours  ;  and  leave  to  your  Christian  generosity,  to  3'our  active  philan- 
thropy, the  important  decision  of  the  question,  whether  our  Institu- 
tion shall  attain  its  great  object  or  not."  "  Highly  commendable  is  it 
to  lay  the  first  foundations  of  Christian  Institutions  ;  but  it  is  still 
more  commendable  and  productive  of  blessing,  to  raise  an  Institution 
already  established,  to  its  full  scope  of  utility,  and  to  give  to  its  fair 
energies  an  extensive  sphere  of  beneficial  operation." 

Such  were  the  sentiments  and  the  spirit  in  which  the  German  Bible 
Society  was  ushered  into  notice,  upon  its  transplantation  from  Nuren- 
berg  to  Basle.  The  reader  will  anticipate  the  best  effects  from  the 
influence  of  such  a  commencement ;  and  he  may  be  assured,  that  in 
that  anticipation  he  will  not  be  eventually  disappointed. 

The  Bible  Society  at  Berhn,  placed,  by  the  occupation  of  that 
capital  on  the  part  of  the  French,  in  circumstances  of  almost  unparal- 
leled embarrassment,  continued  to  maintain  its  exertions,  with  una- 
bated activity,  amidst  those  political  disasters  which  overwhelmed 
both  the  Prince  and  the  People.  The  printing  of  the  Bohemian 
Bible,  which  had  commenced  antecedently  to  the  breaking  out  of  hos- 
tiUties  between  Prussia  and  France,  proceeded,  with  little  interrup- 
tion, during  the  entire  continuance  of  that  awful  visitation  which 
might  have  been  expected  to  drain  the  resources  of  public  liberahty,^ 
and  paralyze  every  movement  that  was  directed  to  the  welfare 
of  mankind.  In  fact,  a  demonstration  was  given  by  this  triumph  over 
what  might  have  appeared  insurmountable  obstacles,  that,  though 
Kings  may  be  bound  in  chains,  and  Nobles  in  fetters  of  iron,  yet  the 
word  of  God  cannot  be  bound,  or  its  progress  effectually  retarded. 

As  early  as  November,  1805,  the  design  of  printing  an  edition  of 
the  Bohemian  Bible  was  publicly  announced  from  Berlin.  Still  fur- 
ther steps  were  taken  for  giving  it  notoriety,  when,  in  February, 
1806,  His  Prussian  Majesty  had  extended  his  royal  patronage  to  the 
Society,  and  authorized  the  employment  of  a  higher  tone,  and  mea- 
sures of  greater  confidence  and  decision. 

These  reiterated  appeals  were  not  without  their  effect.  In  the 
ensuing  month  of  June,  the  number  of  copies  subscribed  for,  amounted 
(0  1,100.  Dantzig  had,  in  the  meantime,  been  induced  to  form 
a  connexion  with  Berlin,  and  to  make  exertions  for  yielding  a  tribute 
lo  the  promotion  of  that  work  in  which  the  latter  was  so  honourably 


CHAP.  IV.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  j2'> 

engaged.  This  communication  was  chiefly  brought  about  through  the 
active  instrumentahty  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ewald,  Rector  of  the  Holy 
Trinity,  in  Dantzig,  who,  in  a  newspaper,  in  which  he  had  inserted 
the  address  from  the  Berhn  Bible  Society  to  the  King  of  Prussia,  and 
his  Majesty's  reply,  voluntarily  tendered  his  services  to  receive  and 
transmit  subscriptions  in  favour  of  that  Institution. 

Such  was  the  progress  which  this  small,  but  diligent  and  simple- 
minded  body  had  made  in  exciting  public  attention,  and  obtaining  sub- 
scriptions, when,  encouraged  by  a  second  pecuniary  grant  from  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  they  resolved  to  delay  no  longer 
the  execution  of  their  primary  design,  but  to  put  to  press  immediately 
an  edition  of  the  Bohemian  Bible,  amounting  to  3,000  copies.  The 
resolution  to  that  effect  was  dated  the  12th  of  August;  and,  on  the 
16th  of  the  ensuing  October,  the  French  army,  under  Napoleon  Bo- 
naparte, got  possession  of  Berlin. 

It  was  matter  of  rehef  and  consolation  to  lind,  that,  as  the  dearth 
of  the  Scriptures  was  so  great  in  Bohemia,  and  the  accomplishment 
of  the  intended  impression  would  be  unavoidably  retarded  by  the 
circumstances  of  distress  and  exaction  to  which  the  Prussian  domi- 
nions were  reduced,  a  temporary  supply  of  3,000  New  Testaments, 
together  with  the  Book  of  Psalms,  had  been  furnished  to  the  Bohe- 
mian congregations  from  the  Bible  Institution  at  Halle.  For  this  sea- 
sonable and  munificent  donation,  the  Society  at  Berlin,  and  the  Protes- 
tants in  Bohemia,  were  indebted  to  the  spontaneous  generosity  of  a 
Prussian  officer;  who,  understanding  that  copies  were  to  be  pro- 
cured from  that  repository,  with  a  liberahty  most  worthy  of  memo- 
rial and  of  imitation,  paid  the  entire  price  of  the  3,000  copies, 
amounting  to  600  rix  dollars,  and  added  100  more  to  defray  the  ex- 
penses of  conveyance  to  the  places  of  their  destination. 

It  is  a  pleasing  duty  to  record  such  acts  of  pious  munificence  in 
persons  sustaining  the  profession  of  arms.  They  afford  a  convincing 
testimony,  that  the  grace  of  God  is  not  restrained  in  its  operations  by 
the  narrow  rules  of  human  judgment.  Assuming  that  they  proceed 
from  a  Christian  principle,  we  cannot  but  regard  them  as  so  many 
proofs,  that  the  power  of  religion  may  be  felt  and  exemplified  under 
every  diversity  of  condition  or  employment ;  and  that  circumstances 
of  peculiar  temptation  may  be  overruled  in  such  a  manner  by  the 
influence  of  divine  grace,  as  to  exhibit  the  most  advantageous  displays 
of  charity  and  virtue. 

The  proceedings  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  were 
also  characterized  by  certain  communications  of  an  interesting  nature 
from  other  parts  of  the  European  continent,  to  which,  as  they  fix  the' 


124  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

era  of  its  entrance  on  stations,  since  become  conspicuous  for  activity 
and  influence,  it  will  be  proper  to  pay  some  attention. 

Among  the  places  of  consideration  to  which,  shortly  after  its  esta- 
blishment, the  Society  had  been  made  known,  through  the  exertions 
of  its  Foreign  Secretary,  and  certain  zealous  correspondents  abroad, 
was  Konigsberg,  the  capital  of  Prussia.  The  impression  made  by 
the  intelligence  of  the  formation  of  the  Society,  and  the  inquiries  with 
which  that  intelligence  was  accompanied,  was  such  as  to  induce  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Glogau,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wald,  the  latter  of  whom  was  a 
Counsellor  of  the  Consistory,  to  transmit,  through  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Knapp,  information  which  determined  the  Society  to  consider  that 
quarter  as  claiming  its  special  regard. 

The  substance  of  this  information,  together  with  some  particulars 
afterwards  received,  purported,  that  Ihq  province  of  Lithuania  con- 
tained a  population  exceeding  a  million  of  souls  ;  the  smaller  propor- 
tion of  which  was  subject  to  the  Prussian,  the  larger  to  the  Russian 
government :  that  it  possessed  74  churches,  and  460  schools  :  that  the 
peojde  were  in  general  religiously  disposed,  but  exceedingly  destitute 
of  the  Scriptures :  and  that  they  were  prepared  to  esteem  a  Bible 
gratuitousl}'^  bestowed,  as  "  an  extremely  valuable  acquisition."  To 
this  account  of  Lithuania  Mr.  Glogau  added  the  opinion  entertained 
by  himself  and  his  friends,  on  the  object  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  and  the  desirableness  of  extending  its  operations  to 
that  province.  As  the  language  employed  by  Mr.  Glogau,  confirms 
what  has  been  said  of  the  impression  made  on  the  people  of  Konigs- 
berg, and  justifies  the  solicitude  which  was  felt  on  their  behalf,  it  may 
be  proper  to  extract  it. 

"  The  plan  of  the  Society  of  Religious  Philanthropists  in  London, 
to  have  Bibles  printed  in  all  the  European  languages,  and  partly  to 
distribute  them  gratis,  partly  to  have  them  sold  at  very  low  prices  to 
indigent  Christians  of  all  nations,  which  you  have  had  the  goodness 
to  communicate  to  me,  is  of  so  generous  and  laudable  a  nature,  that 
they  will  undoubtedly  receive  the  warmest  thanks  for  it,  both  from 
their  contemporaries  and  from  posterity.  This  excellent  Society 
would  acquire  a  very  peculiar  claim  to  applause,  by  realizing  this  be- 
nevolent idea,  with  regard  to  the  province  of  Lithuania,  where  it  is 
greatly  to  be  apprehended  that  the  Bible,  particularly  the  Old  Tes- 
tament, must,  in  the  course  of  time,  fall  altogether  into  oblivion  among 
the  still  very  uncuUivated  inhabitants." 

The  war  which  shortly  after  broke  out,  prevented,  for  a  consider- 
able time,  the  adoption  of  measures  for  relieving  the  spiritual  wants 
of  Lithuania  ;  and  by  its  destructive  ravages  in  that  most  afflicted 


CHAP.  IV.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  j2;, 

province,  rendered  its  inhabitants  still  less  competent  to  any  effectual 
exertions  among  themselves.  But  the  object,  thus  brought  into  view 
by  this  early  communication,  was  kept  steadily  in  sight,  both  by  the 
people  of  Kbnigsberg,  and  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
through  all  the  vicissitudes  of  temporal  distress,  till  that  order  of 
things  was  established,  which  afforded  encouragement  to  prosecute  it 
with  a  reasonable  prospect  of  success. 

Another  transaction  arising  out  of  the  foreign  communications  of 
this  year,  was  that  which  introduced  the  operations  of  the  Society 
into  the  dominions  of  His  Danish  Majesty.  As  this  occurrence  will 
be  found,  in  the  event,  to  have  opened  a  way  to  that  connexion  with 
the  North  of  Europe,  from  which  consequences  of  so  great  import- 
ance have  since  been  derived,  it  will  be  proper  to  describe,  with 
some  degree  of  explicitness,  the  peculiar  manner  in  which  it  origin- 
ated. 

On  the  4th  of  August,  1806,  the  Committee  of  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society  took  into  their  consideration  the  case  and  circum- 
stances of  the  inhabitants  of  Iceland,  and  the  propriety  of  furnishing 
a  supply  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  in  their  native  language,  to  that  in- 
teresting, and,  as  it  appeared,  necessitous  people.  By  what  train  of 
cii'cumstances  the  attention  of  the  Committee  was  drawn  to  this  sub- 
ject, the  following  statement  will  explain. 

In  the  year  1805,  the  Rev.  John  Paterson,  and  the  Rev.  Ebenezer 
Henderson,  both  natives  of  Scotland,  and  animated  with  a  zeal  for 
the  propagation  of  the  Gospel,  resigned  their  country,  connexions, 
and  worldly  prospects,  in  order  to  serve  as  Christian  Missionaries  iu 
India.  Precluded  by  the  regulations  of  the  British  East-India  Com- 
pany from  occupying  stations  within  their  territorial  dominions,  they 
repaired  to  Copenhagen,  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  a  passage  to  Tran- 
quebar,  and  exercising  their  ministry  within  the  settlement  attached 
to  the  Danish  Crown,  on  the  coast  of  Coromandel.  Having  been 
disappointed  m  their  expectation,  they  felt  themselves  compelled  to 
abandon  the  design  ;  a  design  nearest  their  heart,  of  proclaiming  the 
glad  tidings  of  salvation  to  the  heathen :  and  began  to  consider,  in 
what  manner  they  might  turn  their  missionary  zeal  to  profitable  ac- 
count in  that  part  of  Christendom,  upon  which  the  Providence  oi 
God  appeared  to  have  cast  them. 

Under  this  impression,  they  commenced  a  very  diligent  inquiry 
into  the  state  of  religion  in  the  countries  by  which  they  wei'e  more 
immediately  surrounded.  Among  the  individuals  of  consideration, 
with  whom  they  had  formed  a  connexion  during  their  residence  at 
Copenhagen,  wag.  Justiciary  Thorkehn,  Privv-Keeper  of  the  Roya' 


126  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

Archives,  a  person  very  generally  respected,  and  distinguished  for 
his  zealous  attachment  to  the  cause  of  Christianity.  This  gentleman, 
being  a  native  of  Iceland,  and  feeling,  as  a  Christian  patriot,  for  the 
spiritual  welfare  of  his  country,  laid  open  to  these  disappointed  mis- 
sionaries a  field  of  immediate  usefulness,  hy  directing  their  attention 
to  the  religious  state  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  island,  and  to  the  dearth 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  at  that  time  prevaihng  among  them.  Mr. 
Thorkelin  stated,  that  the  population,  amounting  to  nearly  50,000, 
scarcely  contained  one  person  in  a  hundred  above  the  age  of  twelve 
or  fourteen,  who  could  not  read  ;  that  no  people  in  the  world  were 
fonder  of  reading ;  and  that  as  the  only  press  of  which  they  were 
possessed  had  not  been  uspd  for  many  years,  the  inhabitants  supplied 
the  want  of  printed  books  by  the  laborious  and  tardy  expedient  of 
transcribing  them  :  that  the  Scriptures  were  no  longer  to  be  obtained 
for  money ;  and  that  not  above  forty  or  fifty  copies  of  the  Bible  were 
to  be  found  throughout  the  island.  These  affecting  particulars  ex- 
cited in  the  breasts  of  these  excellent  young  men,  the  kindest  emo- 
tions. Touched  with  compassion  for  nearly  50,000  of  their  fellow- 
CJiristians,  inhabiting  a  remote  island,  and  destitute  of  those  sacred 
oracles  which  they  so  dearly  prized  and  revered,  Messrs.  Paterson 
and  Henderson  despatched  the  information  with  which  themselves 
had  been  so  deeply  impressed  to  their  friends  in  Scotland  ;  and  made 
an  earnest  appeal  on  behalf  of  this  interesting  and  destitute  people. 
Through  this  circuitous  channel  the  intelligence  was  conveyed  by  a 
respectable  correspondent  in  Edinburgh,  to  the  Committee  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  thus  the  question  of  adminis- 
tering aid  to  the  necessitous  Icelanders,  was  brought  regularly  and 
seriously  before  them. 

It  was  immediately  determined,  that  the  President  should  be  re- 
quested to  open  a  communication  with  the  Bishop  of  Iceland,  and 
offer,  in  the  name  of  the  Society,  to  defray  half  the  expense  of  an 
edition  of  6,000  Icelandic  Testaments.  With  this  request  his  Lord- 
ship complied  ;  and  as  a  letter  on  such  a  subject  from  a  British  No- 
bleman to  an  Icelandic  Prelate,  may  be  not  improperly  esteemed  a 
religious  curiosity,  the  author  will  gratify  the  reader  hy  transcribing 
it  for  his  satisfaction. 

To  the  Right.  Rev.  the  Bishop  of  IcdanJ. 

"  Right  Rev.  Sir,  London,  Sept.  23,  180(i 

"  I  have  the  honour  to  address  you,  and,  through  you,  the  Clergy 

of  Iceland,  on  the  part  of  a  Society  established  in  London,  under  the 


CHAP.  IV.l  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


127 


denomination  of  '  The  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society ;'  of  which 
I  am  the  President.  This  Institution  has  been  estabUshed  more  than 
two  years  ;  it  was  originally  proposed  by  a  few  individuals,  (who  take 
an  interest  in  the  eternal  welfare  of  their  fellow-creatures,)  and  is 
now  supported  by  numerous  Christians  of  all  classes  and  denomina- 
tions. The  object  of  it  is  pure  and  simple,  being  solely  and  expressly 
to  encourage  and  promote  a  wider  circulation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  ; 
and  it  embraces  in  its  operation  not  only  the  empire  of  Great  Bri- 
tain, but  all  countries  and  nations,  whether  Christian,  Pagan,  or  Ma- 
homedan,  as  far  as  the  means  and  opportunities  of  the  Society 
admit.  The  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  has  had  the  satisfac- 
tion to  learn,  that  the  object  of  its  establishment  has  been  most  cor- 
dially approved  in  Germany,  Switzerland,  and  other  parts  of  Europe  ; 
that  its  example  has  become  an  object  of  zealous  imitation,  and  that, 
by  the  blessing  of  God,  it  has  proved,  either  directly  or  indirectly, 
the  instrument  of  circulating  the  Holy  Scriptures,  to  a  very  great  ex- 
tent, upon  the  Continent.  I  am  persuaded,  Right  Reverend  Sir, 
that  this  information  will  not  be  uninteresting  to  you,  and  to  the 
Clergy  of  Iceland. 

"  Our  Society  has  been  informed,  that  copies  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, in  the  Icelandic  dialect,  are  very  scarce,  and  difficult  to  be  pro- 
cured ;  and  that,  on  this  account,  many  of  our  Christian  Brethren,  in 
your  country,  are  in  want  of  them.  Presuming  this  information  to 
be  correct,  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  would  have  felt 
much  gratitication  in  having  had  the  power  immediately  to  supply 
their  wants  ;  but  Icelandic  Bibles  can  be  neither  printed  nor  procured 
in  England.  The  Society  therefore  adopts  the  only  means  it  pos- 
sesses of  giving  effect  to  the  object  of  its  Institution,  by  an  offer  to 
contribute  a  moiety  of  the  expense  of  printing  an  octavo  edition  of 
5,000  copies  of  the  New  Testament,  in  the  Icelandic  dialect,  and  au- 
thorizes me  to  communicate  this  resolution  to  you.  Right  Reverend 
Sir,  and  the  Clergy  of  Iceland.  The  Society  will  have  great  plea- 
sure in  learning  from  you,  that  the  offer  is  accepted ;  and,  upon  re- 
ceiving information  to  that  effect,  and  of  the  amount  required  for  the 
purpose  expressed,  will  immediately  direct  a  remittance  of  it  to  Co- 
penhagen. 

"  I  hope  to  be  honoured  with  an  answer  to  this  letter,  as  soon  as 
an  opportunity  offers  ;  and  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  as 
well  as  myself,  will  be  happy  to  receive  from  you  any  information  on 


128  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  i. 

subjects  connected  with  the  object  of  its  Institution,  which  it  is  equally 
their  duty  and  wish  to  promote  in  the  greatest  possibl-;  extent. 
"  I  have  the  honour  to  be, 
"  Right  Reverend  Sir, 

•'  Your  most  obedient,  and 
"  Most  humble  Servant, 

"  TEIGNMOUTH.'* 

Shortly  after  the  date  of  their  despatch  to  Scotland,  and  considera- 
bly before  any  accounts  could  have  arrived  of  what  was  determined 
upon  in  London,  Messrs.  Paterson  and  Henderson  were  led  to  visit  a 
small  religious  Society  in  the  island  of  Fiihnen  ;  and  in  the  course  of 
communication  with  the  Directors  of  it,  upon  a  topic  of  mutual  inter- 
est, the  advancement  of  the  Redeemer's  Kingdom,  they  learnt,  that 
this  Society  had  also  turned  its  attention  to  the  state  of  rehgion  in 
Iceland,  and  had  ehcited,  by  a  correspondence  with  the  Bishop, 
very  important  information,  relative  to  the  want  and  desire  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  as  existing  among  the  inhabitants  of  that  island. 

It  appeared  from  the  intelligence  of  which  this  Society  had  thus 
become  possessed,  that  the  common  people  in  Iceland  were  not  be- 
hind those  of  the  same  description  in  Denmark,  in  regard  to  religious 
information,  owing  chiefly  to  their  great  desire  for  reading,  and 
knowledge  in  general,  and  the  excellent  religious  exercises  held  in 
many  houses  from  Michaelmas  to  Easter ;  that,  among  other  devo- 
tional books,  the  Bible,  and  particularly  the  New  Testament,  was 
customarily  read  in  every  family  which  was  able  to  obtain  it ;  and 
that  a  copy  was  not  then  to  be  had  for  money,  and  when  it  happened 
that  one  appeared  at  an  auction,  it  sold  at  an  enormous  price. 
''  Never,"  (writes  the  Bishop  of  Iceland  to  the  correspondent  who 
had  addressed  him,)  "  never  will  Iceland  forget  her  dear  Stistrup, 
who,  at  his  own  expense,  bought  and  sent  to  this  place  a  great  num- 
ber of  Bibles  and  New.  Testaments,  to  be  given  away  gratis.  This 
has  now  ceased,  however,  for  the  space  of  sixty  years  and  upwards, 
and  most  of  these  Bibles  are  now  worn  out.  I  remember  frequently 
to  have  lieard  the  best  farmers  in  the  parish,  warmly  contending 
which  of  them  should  have  the  loan  of  the  Bible  which  was  sent  to 
their  parish  for  themselves  and  their  children.  The  older  editions 
of  the  Scriptures  are  not  to  be  had  at  all.  The  printing-press  in  the 
inland  is  no  longer  in  order :   we  therefore  cannot  do  any  thing  to 


CHAP.  IV.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  129 

supply  this  want ;  and  the  common  people  in  Iceland  will,  within  ten 
years,  be  entirely  deprived  of  this  blessed  book,  which  is  so  dear  and 
precious  to  them. 

"  You  will  see  from  this,  my  dear  Sir,  how  infinitely  obliged  and 
thankful  I  and  my  countrymen  shall  be  to  the  dear  brethren  who,  of 
their  benevolence,  offer  to  favour  us  with  the  New  Testament  in  the 
Icelandic.  The  number  of  copies  I  will  not  take  upon  me  to  deter- 
mine. Your  letter,  however,  gives  me  occasion  to  mention,  that 
there  are  305  parishes,  and  about  47,000  inhabitants." 

In  consequence  of  information  so  calculated  to  inspire  both  com- 
passion and  encouragement,  the  Fiihnen  Society  had  determined,  an- 
tecedently to  the  interview  with  Messrs.  Paterson  and  Henderson,  to 
print  an  edition  of  the  Icelandic  Testament  to  the  amount  of  2,000 
copies. 

As  the  subject  had  occupied  the  attention  of  the  latter  while  resid- 
ing at  Copenhagen,  and  the  statements  made  by  the  Fiihnen  Society 
were  corroborated  in  all  material  points  by  the  different  articles  of 
intelligence  which  they  had  previously  received,  they  felt  a  strong 
disposition  to  see  the  proposed  relief  of  these  interesting  islanders 
placed  upon  a  scale  commensurate  with  their  necessities.  With  this 
view,  they  turned  their  eyes  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Socie- 
ty, (of  which,  at  that  time,  they  knew  little  more  than  the  name ;) 
and,  considering  this  to  be  a  case  in  which  its  funds  might  be  very 
opportunely  and  advantageously  employed,  and  being  profoundly  ig- 
norant of  the  steps  which  it  had  already  taken,  they  transmitted,  for 
its  information,  the  particulars  which  have  just  been  detailed.  The 
Committee  were  prepared  by  what  had  before  taken  place,  to  sympa- 
thize with  their  new  correspondents,  in  a  desire  to  afford  effectual 
assistance  to  Iceland.  Struck  with  the  undesigned  coincidence  of  the 
determination  on  the  part  of  the  Fiihnen  Society,  with  their  own  vote 
by  way  of  inducement,  they  resolved  on  the  6th  of  October,  the  day 
on  which  the  proposition  from  Fiihnen  was  brought  before  them,  to 
co-operate  with  that  Society  in  this  most  seasonable  measure  ;  and. 
by  an  amendment  of  their  former  grant,  to  authorize  the  enlargement 
of  the  projected  impression  of  the  Icelandic  Testament,  from  2,000 
to  5,000  copies. 

Such  were  the  circumstances  to  which  we  are  to  ascribe  the  intro- 
duction of  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Paterson  and  Henderson  to  the  notice, 
and  the  employment  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society ;  and 
the  origin  of  those  exertions  which,  promoted  by  the  wisdom  and  ac- 
tivity of  these  diligent  labourers,  and  fostered  by  the  paternal  care  of  a 
benign  and  gracious  Providonce.  have  terminated  in  measnros  sn  dig- 


130  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

nified  and  comprehensive,  on  the  part  of  the  Northern  Powers  of' 
Europe,  for  circulating  the  Holy  Scriptures  among  the  inhabitants  of 
their  respective  dominions. 

Some  advances  were  also  made  this  year  towards  a  communication 
with  Russia  ;  and  indications  were  given,  which,  though  faint  and  in- 
distinct, were  eagerly  cherished,  that  light  was  beginning  to  dawn  on 
the  skirts  of  that  vast  empire.  The  points  to  which  this  statement 
refers,  were  situated  respectively  in  the  vicinities  of  the  Baltic  and 
the  Caspian  seas  ;  and  as  it  may  be  satisfactory  to  the  reader  to  know, 
the  author  will  briefly  relate  what  was  done,  or  rather  attempted, 
with  a  view  to  improve  these  favourable  openings,  and  to  bring  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  into  contact  with  the  only  accessi- 
ble parts  of  the  Russian  population. 

In  the  month  of  March,  1806,  an  application  was  received  from  a 
respectable  Superintendent  of  the  Lutheran  church  in  Esthonia,  on 
the  Baltic,  in  behalf  of  "  fifty  parishes,  containing  at  least  15,000 
families."  This  Ecclesiastic  petitioned,  with  considerable  earnest- 
ness, that  the  Society  would  "  remember  them,  and  assist  them  with 
a  pecuniary  aid ;  in  order  that  the  whole  Bible,  or  at  least  a  part  of 
it,  might  be  gratuitously  or  cheaply  distributed  to  the  many  indigent 
persons,  who"  (he  added)  "  are  at  present  destitute  of  this  treasure." 
To  this  application  attention  was  immediately  paid ;  and  a  grant  to  a 
respectable  amount  was  tendered,  on  condition  of  a  Bible  Society 
being  formed  for  the  province  of  Esthonia.  Thus  incidently  was  an 
overture  made  for  an  establishment,  which,  though  not  effected  till 
several  years  afterwards,  may  trace  its  commencement  to  the  promp- 
titude and  kindness  with  which  the  Society  acted  on  this  occasion. 
The  sequel  will  show,  how  much  the  Society  reaped  from  the  favour- 
able reception  given  to  the  prayer  of  this  patriotic  Minister,  that  the 
Institution  would  "  communicate  blessings  to  thousands  of  his  coun- 
trymen, by  affording  them  the  means  of  access  to  the  best  of  all 
knowledge,  and  by  inspiring  their  minds  with  the  purest  motives  of" 
all  genuine  virtue  and  solid  consolation." 

A  second  point  within  the  territories  of  Russia,  from  which  a  line 
of  communication  was  drawn  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Socie- 
ty, was  Karass,  a  missionary  settlement,  to  the  north  of  the  Caspian 
sea.*     Here,  under  the  patronage  of  the  Edinburgh  Missionary  So- 


»The  Missionaries  wfio  firsK  embarked  in  this  service  were,  the  Rev.  Heniy 
Brunton,  and  Alexander  Paterson.  Tliey  were  despatched  in  April,  1802;  and  be- 
ing reinforced  in  the  ensuing;  suninicr  to  the  number  of  fifleeu  persons,  they  form 
cd  tlie  settlement  at  Harass,  a  village  situated  near  the  source  of  the  river  C'ubanc 


CHAP.  IV.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  13) 

ciety,  the  late  Rev.  Henry  Brunton,  and  his  associates,  one  of  whom, 
the  Rev.  Robert  Pinkerton,  will  hereafter  make  so  conspicuous  a 
figure  in  the  pages  of  this  History,  were  labouring  against  many  im- 
pediments, both  from  the  unhealthiness  of  the  chmate,  and  the  pre- 
judices of  the  natives,  to  propagate  the  knowledge  and  influence  of 
Christianity  among  a  Mahommedan  and  Heathen  population,  extend- 
ing from  the  banks  of  the  Wolga  to  the  shores  of  the  Euxine. 

On  this  mission.  His  Imperial  Majesty,  influenced  by  the  favourable 
representation  of  the  Secretary  of  State,  Count  Novassilsoff,  was 
graciously  pleased  to  confer  extraordinary  privileges  :  many  services 
were  also  rendered  to  it  by  other  individuals  of  high  rank  and  exem- 
plary piety,  and  who  possessed  considerable  weight  in  the  political 
councils  of  St.  Petersburgh.* 

In  consequence  of  the  distribution  of  certain  religious  tracts  in  the 
Tartar  dialect  of  the  Turkish  language,  and  the  conversation  and  dis- 
courses of  the  missionaries  and  their  converts,  many,  not  only  of  the 
people,  but  also  of  the  Molas  and  Effendis,  expressed  a  desire  to 
have  the  Bible  in  a  language  which  they  understood.  Intelligence 
to  this  effect  was  conveyed  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society 
from  Karass,  through  the  Secretary  of  the  Edinburgh  Missionary  So- 
ciety ;  and  there  was  added  to  it  the  assurance,  that  Mr.  Brunton  had 
made  himself  master  of  the  Turkish  and  Tartar  dialects  ;  that  read- 
ing was  much  cultivated  through  the  activity  of  the  Mahommedan 
Priests  ;  that  no  version  of  the  Old  Testament  had  hitherto  been 
printed  in  either  of  those  dialects  ;  and  that  Seaman's  version  of  the 
New  Testament,  printed  at  Oxford  in  1C66,  was  little  calculated  for 
the  purpose  of  general  circulation.  On  this  last  ground,  principally, 
Mr.  Brunton  and  his  associates  had  been  induced  to  undertake  a  new 
version  ;  and  the  object  of  transmitting  these  details  to  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  was  to  obtain  encouragement  and  aid  to- 
wards the  performance  of  so  desirable  an  undertaking.  This  object 
was  promptly  and  effectually  obtained  :  the  Committee,  regarding  the 

.^fter  manv  vicissitudes  of  dan^^er  and  suffering',  the  settlers  removed  in  1814,  for 
safety  and  convenience,  to  Gcorgievesk,  the  capital  of  the  Caucasian  government ; 
thirty-two  wcrsts  eastward  of  their  former  situation,  and  400  northward  of  Tiflis. 
See  an  interesting  account  of  this  mission  in  Dr.  Brown's  History  of  (he  Propaga 
lion  of  Christianity,  vol.  ii.  p.  583.     Also  Klaproth's  Travels  into  Caucasus,  &c. 

*  Among  these  should  be  mentioned  with  particular  commendation  and  grati- 
tude, His  Excellency  Count  Kotschoubey,  Minister  of  the  Interior,  to  whose  active 
and  persevering  attentions  the  mission  has  throughout  been  under  the  greatest  obli- 
gations. 


Ia2  JilsTOKY  01<'  THE  BRITISH  il'AKT  1 

proposed  work  as  pregnant  willi  ifreat  and  extensive  advantages,  de- 
termined to  supply  the  Translators  with  a  new  fount  of  Arabic  types, 
and  a  sufficient  quantity  of  paper  and  ink  to  enable  them  to  execute 
an  impression  of  5,000  copies.  The  course  and  compL-tion  of  this 
work  will  furnish  hereafter  much  interesting  matter  of  narration : 
but  itis  here  introduced  to  the  notice  of  the  reader,  for  the  purpose 
of  marking  the  era  in  which  a  connexion  was  formed  between  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  and  this  Asiatic  Dependency  of  the 
Russian  Imperial  Crown. 

A  third  step  in  this  progress  towards  a  connexion  with  the  Russian 
Empire,  was  of  a  more  decisive  character.  The  circumstance  which 
led  to  it,  arose  out  of  a  correspondence  with  some  intelligent  indivi- 
duals at  Sarepta,  near  Astrachan.  In  the  communications  from  that 
quarter,  elicited  by  queries  of  a  similar  import  to  those  which  had 
been  generally  circulated,  it  was  confidently  stated,  that  the  Scrip- 
tures were  so  extremely  scarce  in  Russia,  that,  to  use  a  strong  ex- 
pression employed  by  the  writer,  "  it  was  generally  known  a  hun- 
dred wersts  off,  when  the  treasure  of  a  Bible  was  to  be  met  with." 
To  this  account  it  was  added,  that,  in  the  German  colonies  establish- 
ed on  the  Wolga  since  1766,  and  which  contained  thirteen  Protestant 
parishes,  the  circumstances  of  the  pastors  were  too  low  to  enable 
them  to  pui'chase  a  stock  of  Bibles  for  the  purpose  of  selling  them 
to  the  poor  at  reduced  prices,  and  still  less  of  giving  them  away." 

For  the  want  described  in  this  last  statement  a  remedy  was  sug- 
gested, of  which  the  Committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety were  not  backward  to  avail  themselves.  The  Bible  Institution 
at  Halle  was  provided  with  a  stock,  from  wliich  a  supply  might  imme- 
diately be  derived.  An  order  was  therefore  given  upon  that  deposi- 
tory, for  400  German  Bibles,  and  200  Testaments  ;  and  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Knapp  undertook  to  have  them  forwarded  to  the  settlement  with  all 
practicable  despatch. 

It  appeared,  however,  from  the  whole  of  the  intelligence  above 
referred  to,  confirmed  as  it  was  by  information  from  other  respecta- 
ble sources,  that  the  population  of  Russia,  both  native  and  foreign, 
was  in  such  a  condition,  with  respect  to  the  want  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, and  the  deficiency  of  practical  resources  for  supplying  it,  as  to 
render  the  stimulating  exertions  of  the  Bible  Society  throughout  (hat 
vast  Emj)ire  peculiarly  desirable.  The  duty  of  proceeding  in  such 
a  manner  as  to  evince  a  proper  regard  to  the  constituted  authorities 
of  the  Empire,  was  felt  on  this  as  on  every  similar  occasion  ;  and  it 
was  therefore  resolved  to  address  the  Metropolitan  of  the  Greek 
Church,  Archbishojt  Plato  :  and  to  endeavouji-  to  interest  that  cmi- 


CHAP.  IV.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  233 

nent  and  learned  Prelate  in  measures  for  promoting  the  circulation  of 
the  Scriptures  in  Russia.  The  events  which  have  since  occurred  in 
the  establishment  of  the  Russian  Bible  Society  at  St.  Petersburg,  and 
of  an  affiliated  Institution  in  Moscow,  the  residence  of  the  Metropo- 
litan himself,  give  to  the  President's  letter  a  peculiar  interest,  and 
will  therefore  suggest  a  sufficient  reason  for  its  insertion. 

To  the  Most  Rev.  the  Archbishop  and  Metropolitan  Plato,  ^-c. 

"  Most  Rev.  Sir, 

"  The  importance  of  the  subject  of  this  Letter  will,  I  trust, 
apologize  for  an  address  from  a  person  who  has  not  the  honour  to  be 
known  to  you. 

"  Permit  me,  in  the  first  place,  to  inform  yoti,  Most  Reverend  Sir, 
that  I  am  President  of  a  Society  which  has  been  established  in  London 
more  than  two  years,  under  the  denomination  of  '  The  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society.'  This  Institution  (which  was  first  proposed 
by  d  few  individuals,  who  take  an  interest  in  the  eternal  welfare  of 
their  fellow-creatures,)  is  now  supported  by  numerous  Christians,  of 
all  classes  and  denominations ;  the  object  of  it  is  pure  and  simple, 
being  solely  and  expressly  to  encourage  and  promote  a  wider  circula- 
tion of  the  Holy  Scriptures  ;  and  it  embraces  in  its  operation  not  only 
the  Empire  of  Great  Britain,  but  all  countries  and  nations,  whether 
Christian,  Pagan,  or  Mahommedan,  as  far  as  the  means  and  opportu- 
nities of  the  Society  admit. 

"  The  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  has  had  the  satisfaction  to 
find  that  the  object  of  its  establishment  has  been  most  cordially  ap- 
proved in  Germany,  Switzerland,  and  other  parts  of  Europe  ;  that  its 
example  has  become  an  object  of  zealous  imitation  ;  and  that,  by  the 
blessing  of  God,  'it  has  proved,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  the  in- 
strument of  circulating  the  Holy  Scriptures  to  a  very  great  extent 
upon  the  Continent. 

"  I  am.  persuaded.  Most  Reverend  Sir,  that  this  information  will  not 
be  uninteresting  to  you,  who  are  so  well  qualified  to  feel  the  import- 
ance r^nd  appreciate  the  utility  of  the  Institution  which  I  have  de- 
scribed. 

"  It  is  equally  the  duty  and  desire  of  the  Members  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society  to  extend  the  benefits  of  their  Institution 
as  far  as  possible ;  and.  under  the  influence  of  these  motives,  they 
have  entered  into  correspondence  with  religious  and  well-disposed 
persons,  in  various  parts  of  Europe,  for  the  purpose  of  soliciting 
in 


234  History  of  the  British  Ipart  i. 

their  assistance  and  influence  in  promoting  the  object  of  the  Society, 
and  information  as  to  the  most  practicable  means  of  doing  it. 

"  In  many  instances,  the  information  obtained  by  those  means,  has 
led  to  the  most  pleasing  consequences  ;  it  has  afforded  to  the  Society 
the  gratification  of  aiding  with  their  funds  (which  are  derived  from 
voluntary  contributions)  the  printing  of  versions  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures in  foreign  languages,  and  of  conveying  this  invaluable  treasure 
to  numbers  who  were  destitute  of  it,  and  wanted  the  means  of  ob- 
taining it. 

"  The  same  motives  have  induced  me,  Most  Reverend  Sir,  to 
trouble  you  with  this  address,  under  an  assurance,  that  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society  will  consider  itself  highly  gratified  by  any 
notice  which  you  may  think  proper  to  take  of  it. 

"  Information  has  been  communicated  to  us,  that  copies  of  the  Rus- 
sian Bible  are  scarce,  and  difficult  to  be  procured ;  and  that  many  of 
our  Christian  brethren  of  the  Greek  Church,  on  this  account,  are  in 
want  of  them :  of  the  accuracy  of  this  information  you  are  best 
quahfied  to  judge,  as  well  as  whether  the  assistance  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society  towards  printing  a  cheap  edition  of  the  Russian 
Bible,  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  any  existing  wants,  would  be  ac- 
ceptable. It  is  on  these  points  that  I  venture  to  solicit  your  opinion, 
in  the  confidence  that  it  will  be  granted  ;  and  that,  if  the  object  of 
the  Society  should  meet  your  approbation,  your  influence  and  co- 
operation in  promoting  its  disinterested  views,  will  not  be  withheld. 
"  I  have  the  honour  to  be, 
"  Most  Reverend  Sir, 

"  With  great  respect, 

"  Your  most  Obedient, 
"  Humble  Servant, 

"  TEIGNMOUTH.' 

What  eff'ect  this  letter  produced  on  the  mind  of  Archbishop  Plato 
has  not  been  correctly  ascertained,  inasmuch  as  no  direct  reply  wa? 
received  from  him.  There  is,  however,  reason  to  believe,  by  intelli- 
gence conveyed  through  circuitous  channels,  that  the  Metropolitan 
did  not  overlook  an  object,  which,  to  an  enlightened*  mind  like  hi?. 


*  With  what  justice  this  epithet  is  applied  to  the  late  Archbishop  Plato,  may  be 
learned  from  a  perusal  of  that  Prelat<!'s  "  Summary  of  Christian  Doctrine,"  as  it 
appears  in  the  Ki'v.  Mr.  Pinkerton's  very  seasonable  and  intillicrent  work,  entitled. 
"The  Present  State  of  the  Greek  Church."    The  writer  of  these  pages  cannot 


CHAP.  IV.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  I35 

could  not  have  been  indifferent.  Certain  it  is,  that  this  overture  on 
the  part  of  the  President  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
excited  a  lively  interest  in  its  eventual  success  among  the  German 
Settlers  at  Sarepta,  whose  sentiments  may  be  considered  as  expressed 
by  Mr.  Hiemer,  one  of  their  Ministers,  when  thus  feelingly  express- 
ing his  own. 

"  May  the  Lord  give  his  blessing  to  the  design  of  the  honoured 
Society,  by  the  extended  diffusion  of  the  Scriptures  given  by  inspi- 
ration of  God,  to  oppose  a  barrier  to  the  overwhelming  torrent  of  in- 
fidelity, and  to  procure  for  poor  benighted  souls  access  to  the  life- 
giving  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ !  This  is  the  sincere  wish  of  my 
heart,  and  I  therefore  take  also  the  warmest  interest  in  the  negotia- 
tion which  the  Noble  President  of  the  Society  has  opened  with  the 
Archbishop  Plato." 

While  the  Society,  intent  upon  extending  and  perpetuating  the 
means  of  dispersing  the  Holy  Scriptures,  was  thus  preparing  the 
ground  on  which  the  foundations  were  in  due  time  to  be  laid  of  esta- 
blishments, similar  to  its  own,  for  the  northern  sovereignties  of  Eu- 
rope, it  was  not  less  actively  employed  in  disseminating  copies  for 
temporary  and  immediate  uses  in  other  parts  of  the  world,  where  cir- 
cumstances forbad,  for  the  present  at  least,  the  expectation  of  more 
general  and  permanent  operations.  Among  the  number  of  those 
who  participated  in  the  benefit  of  those  exertions,  were,  the  French 
at  St.  Domingo,  the  Spaniards  at  Buenos  Ayres,  and  the  British  Set- 
tlers, Soldiers,  and  Colonists,  in  North  America,  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,  New  South  Wales,  and  Van  Diemen's  Land.  It  may  elucidate 
what  has  been  generally  said  of  the  activity  and  vigilance  of  the 
Committee,  to  observe,  that  their  attention  to  the  Spaniards  of 
Buenos  Ayres,  was  excited  by  the  intelligence  of  that  place  having 
come  into  the  possession  of  the  British  arms  ;  and  that  the  investment 
of  Spanish  Testaments  for  the  benefit  of  its  inhabitants,  was  sent  out 
with  the  earliest  cargoes  which  were  shipped  in  the  Port  of  London 
upon  commercial  speculation.  With  what  effect  this  act  of  British 
philanthropy  was  attended,  will  be  hereafter  seen. 

refer  to  that  publication  without  concurring  with  its  excellent  author,  in  express- 
ing a  hope,  that,  "  by  atfording  a  more  accurate  idea  of  the  doctrines  and  present 
state  of  the  Russian  church  than  has  hitherto  been  given,  it  will  have  the  effect  of 
exciting  in  the  British  nation  a  lively  feeling  of  Christian  regard  for  the  inhabitants 
of  that  extensive  empire,  and  will  suggest  additional  motives  to  unwearied  exer- 
tion, and  fervent  prayer,  in  behalf  of  its  numerous  tribes,  that  the  fundamental  ob- 
ject of  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  Society  may  soon  be  obtained,  and  '  each  tribe  put 
in  possession  of  the  word  of  God,  in  its  own  language.' " 


136  UIJJTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  1. 

The  impression  made  by  the  donation  of  Bibles  and  Testaments  on 
the  Governor  of  Van  Diemen's  Land,  was  honourably  testified  by  an 
acknowledgment  on  his  part,  which  did  not  reach  England  till  after 
the  writer's  decease.  In  this  letter,  which  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  an- 
ticipate, the  reader  will  find  a  pleasing  testimony,  both  of  the  solici- 
tude of  Governor  Collins  for  the  religious  improvement  of  the  Colo- 
ny,  and  of  the  tendency  which  the  Society's  communication  had  to 
encourage  that  feeling,  and  to  afford  it  an  opportunity  of  immediate 
and  useful  employment. 


Government  House,  Hobart  Towny 
"  Sir,  Sept.  10,  1809. 

"  I  take  the  earhest  opportunity  in  my  power,  to  acknowledge  the 
receipt,  on  the  28th  ult.  of  your  letter  of  the  4th  of  June,  1807, 
communicating  to  me  the  benevolent  design  of  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society  in  favour  of  the  Settlement  under  my  command, 
by  furnishing  it  with  the  means  of  obtaining  a  knowledge  of  the  sa- 
cred writings. 

"  Although  we  were  not  destitute  of  those  means,  having  a  regu- 
lar clerical  establishment  in  the  place,  yet  it  gave  me  sincere  plea- 
sure to  find  we  were  noticed  by  your  Society ;  and  I  lost  no  time  in 
placing  the  distribution  of  the  Bibles  and  Testaments  in  the  hands  of 
our  clergymen. 

"  Our  Settlement  is  rather  large  and  increasing,  being  composed  of 
upwards  of  1,000  souls,  many  of  whom  are  extremely  young,  and 
upon  whose  minds,  you.  Sir,  know,  impressions  are,  perhaps,  more 
easily  made  of  wrong  than  of  right.  It  is,  however,  my  duty  to  en- 
deavour to  give  them  a  right  bias  ;  and  in  that  view,  and  encouraged 
by  your  request,  to  be  informed  in  which  way  the  intention  of  the 
Society  might  be  further  promoted  in  this  Settlement,  I  beg  leave  to 
suggest  the  benefit  that  may  resu^  from  the  distribution  of  small  re- 
ligious tracts,  and  a  church  catechism,  which  I  have  lately  seen,  and 
which  is  highly  spoken  of.  I  know  not  whether  a  donation  of  this 
nature  may  come  within  the  design  of  your  Society,  and  therefore 
only  hint  this  in  the  event  of  its  extending  so  far.* 

"  Allow  me,  Sir,  to  off'er  you  my  respectful  thanks,  and  sincere 
wishes  that  the  labours  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  may 


«  The  Comajittcc  were  precluded,  of  course,  from  attending  to  that  part  of  the 
Governor's  letter  which  adverts  to  Tracts  and  Catechisms. 


J 


CHAP.  IV.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  137 

be  crowned  with  that  success  and  honour  to  which  it  is  so  eminently 
entitled  in  this  world. 

*'  I  remain,  with  much  respect,  &c. 

"DAVID  COLLINS." 

liev.  J.  Owen. 

But  it  is  time  to  return  to  the  domestic  scene  of  operations  ;  and 
to  describe  the  state  of  progress  in  the  metropohs  of  Great  Britain, 
and  in  those  parts  of  the  United  Kingdom  with  which  the  Society 
stood  more  immediately  connected.  In  doing  this,  occasion  will  be 
taken  to  specify  the  different  objects  which  now  engaged  the  actual 
attention  of  the  Committee,  and  constituted  the  matter  of  their  own 
particular  employment. 

A  primary  object  of  this  description,  and  one  to  fhe  accomplish- 
ment of  which  much  care  and  perseverance  had  been  directed,  was, 
as  is  well  known.,  the  production  of  a  correct  and  copious  impression 
of  the  Welsh  Scriptures  for  the  accommodation  of  the  Principality. 
This  object,  after  having  been  retarded  by  various  causes  of  inter- 
ruption, some  of  which  have  been  pretty  fully  laid  open,  was  at  length, 
to  a  certain  degree,  attained.  In  the  month  of  July,  1806,  the  New 
Testament  having  been  completed,  copies  of  it  were  issued  from  the 
stereotype  press,  and  put  into  distribution.  It  was  a  gratifying  cir- 
cumstance to  find,  that  this  Testament  obtained  a  rapid  sale  :*  and 
this  gratification  was  heightened  by  the  assurance  given,  on  what, 
was  considered  to  be  good  authority,  that  "it  surpassed  in  correct- 
ness any  other  which  had  yet  been  printed  in  the  Welsh  language.'' 

Similar  exertions  to  produce  a  supply  of  English  Scriptures  from 
the  stereotype  press,  were  attended  with  correspondent  success.  To 
the  two  editions  of  the  Testament,  which  had  been  announced  as  com- 
pleted at  the  second  Anniversary,  was  added,  in  the  course  of  this 
year,  a  Testament  in  a  large  type,  and  of  great  beauty,  together  witJi 
two  editions  of  the  entire  Bible.     These  circumstances,  which  it 


*  The  following  account  of  the  manner  in  which  these  Testaments  were  receiv- 
ed, is  given  on  the  authority  of  "  an  eye-witness." 

"  When  tiie  arrival  of  the  cart  was  announced,  which  carried  the  first  t.acrcd 
load,  the  Welsh  peasants  went  out  in  crowds  to  meet  it  5  welcomed  it  as  the  Israel 
ites  did  the  ark  of  old ;  drew  it  into  the  town  ;  and  eagerly  bore  off  every  copy, 
as  rapidly  as  they  could  be  dispersed.  The  young  people  were  to  be  seen  consum- 
ing the  whole  night  in  reading  it.  Labourers  carried  it  with  them  to  the  field.*, 
that  they  might  enjoy  it  during  the  intervals  of  their  labour,  and  lose  no  opportu 
nity  of  becoming  acquainted  with  its  sacred  truths." 

Christian  Obserier  for  Jidi/,  1810. 


138  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

might  otherwise  appear  unimportant  to  specify,  are  thus  particularly 
stated,  in  order  to  show  the  fidelity  of  the  Society  to  the  domestic 
object  of  its  appointment.  It  will  thus  be  seen,  that  its  conductors 
were  not  so  attentive  to  strangers  as  to  forget  those  of  their  own 
household  ;  and  that  they  did  not  lose  sight  of  a  due  provision  for 
their  own  country,  amidst  their  various  and  captivating  engagements 
with  foreign  parts. 

There  is  also  an  additional  reason  for  this  specification  ;  inasmuch 
as  it  evinces  the  good  effect  of  the  encouragement  given  by  the  So- 
ciety to  that  useful  and  ingenious  art  of  stereotype,  which  has  proved 
so  serviceable  an  instrument  in  the  propagation  of  the  Scriptures, 
and  in  the  maintenance  of  their  purity  and  correctness.  The  editions 
which  have  been  mentioned,  were  severally  the  first  fruits  of  those 
stereotype  platfes,  which  had  been  cast  at  the  instance,  and  under  the 
special  encouragement,  of  the  Society  ;  and  the  appearance  of  each 
specimen  was  an  evidence,  that  plates  had  been  prepared,  from  which 
editions  to  the  amount  of  more  than  200,000  copies  might  he  taken 
off  with  economy  and  despatch,  as  thp  exigencies  of  the  country  might 
require.  In  all  these  cases,  it  should  be  observed,  the  authorized 
text,  without  note  or  comment,  was  exclusively  adopted.  When  this 
circumstance  is  duly  considered,  it  will  appear,  that  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society  has  promoted,  in  an  eminent  degree,  the  cause 
of  orthodox  Christianity,  by  pre-occupying  that  ground  with  the 
standard  translation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  which  might  otherwise 
have  been  seized  by  the  industrious  propagators  of  novel  and  date' 
riorated  versions. 

This  last  observation  will  be  strengthened  by  remarking,  that  the 
care  of  the  Committee  to  produce  these  impressions  of  the  Scrip- 
tures, was  not  greater  than  their  activity  in  promoting  the  circulation 
of  them  when  produced.  With  a  view  to  facilitate  the  attainment  of 
this  end,  the  prices  to  subscribers  were  reduced,  in  the  case  of  the 
English  copies,  twenty  per  cent,  from  the  original  cost ;  with  the 
privilege  of  purchasing  to  the  amount  of  five  guineas  for  every  gui- 
nea annually  subscribed  :  Hfe  members  being  considered  on  the  foot- 
ing of  annual  members,  and  life  governors,  of  annual  governors. 
And  in  the  case  of  the  Welsh,  the  reduction  was  undefined  and  dis- 
cretionary, affording,  for  the  most  part,  a  still  greater  accommodation 
to  the  circumstances  of  the  subscribers.  There  was  added,  besides, 
in  the  regulations  for  the  disposal  of  the  Welsh  Scriptures,  this  spe- 
cial indulgence,  that  Welsh  Ministers  in  general  might  be  supplied 
with  copies  at  the  regulated  prices,  whether  subscribers  or  not,  for  the 
use  of  their  respective  congregations.     This  gratuitous  extension  of 


CHAP.  IV.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  jgg 

privilege  to  ministers  of  every  religious  denomination  in  Wales,  was 
founded  on  a  conviction,  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  Principality  stood 
peculiarly  in  need  of  such  accommodation  ;  and  the  universality  with 
which  it  was  granted  to  Ministers  of  the  Establishment,*  and  to  those 
of  every  other  persuasion,  comported  with  the  catholic  principle  of 
the  Institution,  and  evinced  the  disinterested  wish  of  its  conductors  to 
effect  the  distribution  of  the  sacred  word  through  every  accessible 
channel. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  doors  were  liberally  thrown  open  for  the  ad- 
mission of  apphcations  from  societies   and   benevolent   individuals, 
whose  object  was  in  any  measure  identified  with  that  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  whose  exertions  were  directed  to  the 
dissemination  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  in  any  part  of  the  British  em- 
pire.    On  this  principle,  copies  were  furnished  at  cost  prices  to  the 
Dublin  "  Association,"  and  the  Dublin  "  Bible  Society,"  in  order  to 
assist  their  means  of  doing  good  in  their  several  departments  ;  while 
to  individuals  in  that  kingdom,  who  had  been  accredited  as  zealously 
and  disinterestedly  employed  in  promoting  the  education  of  children, 
and  the  moral  improvement  of  the  poor,  accommodation  was  afford- 
ed, according  to  the  circumstances  of  the  applicants,  and  the  nature 
and  extent  of  the  services  in  which  they  were  respectively  engaged. 
It  ought  also  to  be  added,  that  no  ordinary  pains  were  bestowed 
upon  the  examination  of  the  copies  ;  with  a  view  to  determine  the 
degree  of  correctness  with  which  they  were  printed,  and  particu-  " 
larly  to  ascertain  their  exact  conformity  to  the  authoritative  standard. 
In  this  work  of  laborious  and  minute  investigation,  several  members 
of  the  Committee  voluntarily  participated  ;  and  no  one  embarked  in 
it  with  more  promptitude,  or  executed  his  engagement  with  more 
acuteness  and  perseverance,  than  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Friends, 
the  late  Wilson  Birkbeck,  Esq.     This  able  and  truly  excellent  indi- 
vidual read  the  first  stereotyped  Testament  carefully  through,  colla- 
ted it  with  an  edition  of  established  reputation,  and  presented,  as  the 
result  of  his  researches,  a  string  of  passages,  (amounting  to  thirty^ 
six,)  in  which  he  had  found  the  stereotyped  edition  to  differ  from  those 
in  ordinary  use.     On  the  subject  of  this  report,  and  the  measures 
taken  in  consequence  of  it,  the  following  Minute  appears  upon  the 
Society's  Records,  under  date,  February  3,  1806. 

"  Mr.  Owen  stated,  that  having  received  from  Mr.  Birkbeck  a  list 
of  various  readings  in  the  New  Testament,  he  had  drawn  out  into 

*  The  reader  will  see  how  completely  this  refutes  the  insinuation,  that  the  So- 
ciety showed  particular  favour  to  the  Dissenters  in  the.  distribution  of  the  Welsl; 
Scriptures. 


140  HISTORT  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  !. 

separate  columns  such  variations  as  occurred  in  the  stereotype,  an 
Oxford  octavo,  a  copy  of  Blaney's  edition,  and  King  James's  Black- 
Letter  Bible  ;  which  sheet  he  had  laid  before  the  Syndics,  who  will 
exercise  their  judgment  upon  it.  Mr.  Owen  had,  however,  found, 
that  the  stereotype  reading  was  supported  by  that  of  King  James's 
Bible,  which  Mr.  Watts  had  been  instructed  to  make  his  ultimate 
standard,  with  the  exception  of  three  or  four  instances,  and  the^e  he 
apprehends  will  be  corrected." 

To  those  who  know  in  what  a  variety  of  ways  the  Society  has  been 
attacked,  and  that,  among  them,  one  was  the  imputation  of  a  design, 
and  even  more  than  a  design,  to  pervert  the  text  of  Scripture,  the 
mention  of  this  circumstance,  so  demonstrative  of  an  opposite  con- 
duct, will  not  appear  indifferent.  The  fact  which  it  contains  was  of 
material  service  to  the  author,  in  defending  the  Institution  against  the 
second  attempt  which  was  made  to  ruin  it  in  the  Spring  of  1806  ;  and 
in  the  Memorial*  presented  to  the  Bisljop  of  London  on  that  occasion, 
was  inserted  an  observation  in  reference  to  this  topic,  which,  as  it 
has  lost  no  part  of  its  truth  or  its  application  by  the  lapse  of  more 
than  nine  years,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  extract. 

"  It  should  be  observed"  (referring  to  the  Minute  befox-e  cited,) 
'•  that  these  variations  were  extremely  minute  :  and  this  shows  at 
once  the  correctness  of  the  Cambridge  Press,  and  the  jealousy  of  a 
Dissenting  Member  of  the  Bible  Society.  Indeed,  I  am  more  than 
ever  convinced,  by  the  experience  I  have  had  in  the  Society's  pro- 
ceedings, that  if  it  had  been  wished  to  provide  an  expedient  for 
securing  the  integrity  and  correctness  of  the  authorized  version,  such 
a  wish  could  not  have  been  better  accomplished  than  by  a  Committee 
constituted  as  that  js  which  sits  at  the  New  London  Tavern." 

With  the  measures  Avhich  have  been  described  for  effecting  the 
general  distribution  of  the  copies  thus  prepared,  was  combined  a  diU- 
gent  attention  to  the  supply  of  those  wants  which  existed,  in  prisons 
and  other  places,  removed  from  ordinary  observation  and  concern. 

Through  the  compassionate  exertions  of  Thomas  Furley  Foster, 
Esq.  who,  as  well  as  the  other  members  of  his  family,  is  seen  among 
the  foremost  in  every  public  enterprise  of  humanity  and  mercy,  the 
good  offices  of  the  Society  were  first  solicited  on  behalf  of  the  felons 
and  other  prisoners  in  Newgate  ;  and  200  Testaments  were  placed 
under  his  care,  to  be  distributed  at  his  discretion. 

The  case  of  criminals,  thus  incidently  brought  forward,  opened  to 
!he  view  of  the  Committee  new  scenes  of  spiritual  wretchedness,  and 

•  Chap.  iii.  p.  117. 


CHAP.  I  V.J  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  141 

suggested  to  their  minds  a  new  and  important  department  of  benevo- 
lent labour.  It  was  characteristic  of  the  whole  tenor  of  their  pro- 
ceedings, to  avail  themselves  of  every  opening  which  might  lead  to 
the  production  of  good ;  to  resolve  each  case  that  came  before  them 
into  the  class  to  which  it  might  be  considered  to  belong  ;  and  to  make 
the  supply  of  a  particular  want  the  ground-work  of  some  plan  of 
comprehensive  and  general  relief.  Such  was  the  course  pursued  in 
the  business  now  under  consideration. 

The  first  resolution  on  behalf  of  the  felons  and  other  prisoners, 
took  place  on  the  4th  of  August,  1806.  This  resolution  was,  on  a 
renewed  application,  four  months  after,  extended  to  all  the  prisons  in 
the  metropolis  ;  and  the  views  of  the  Committee  enlarging  with  the 
progress  of  the  information,  they  resolved  to  give  wider  scope  to  the 
exercise  of  their  sympathy.  For  this  end,  they  associated  with  the 
subjects  of  guilt  the  scarcely  less  pitiable  victims  of  poverty  and  sick- 
ness ;  and  appointed  a  Sub-Committee,  whose  office  it  should  be  to  as- 
certain and  supply  the  wants  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  in  the  several 
Workhouses,  Hospitals,  and  Gaols,  throughout  the  kingdom.  That 
Sub-Committee  entered  into  an  active  correspondence  with  the  high 
sheriffs,  chaplains,  gaolers,  and  superintendents  of  the  sick  and  the 
poor  ;  and  the  judgment  and  perseverance  with  which  they  discharged 
the  duties  of  their  appointment,  were  attended  with  the  best  effects.* 

In  this  department  of  service,  and  particularly  in  that  division  of  it 
which  afforded  the  least  promise  of  advantage,  the  supply  of  felons, 
the  Committee  experienced,  in  the  very  outset,  a  degree  of  en- 
couragement, which  stimulated  them  to  proceed  with  increased  libe- 
rality and  exertion.  It  appeared  that  the  first  donation  of  Testa- 
ments to  the  convicts  at  Woolwich-Reach,  amounting  at  that  time  to 
800,  found  a  very  cordial  reception  among  them.  The  officers  on 
board  the  several  ships  judiciously  allotted  a  Testament  to  each  mess, 
accompanied  with  an  order,  that  it  should  be  forthcoming  in  good 
condition,  whenever  it  might  be  called  for;  and  Lieutenant  Coxe, 
Commander  of  His  Majesty's  Brig  Woolwich,  on  whose  application 
the  Testaments  had  been  furnished,  declared,  "  that  he  never  was 
witness  to  books  given  or  received  with  more  apparent  satisfaction." 
This  testimony,  so  grateful  to  the  feelings  of  the  conductors  of  the 
Society,  and  affording  such  evidence  of  the  utility  of  their  proceed- 

•  It  is  pleasing  to  observe,  that  among:  the  evidences  of  augmented  exertion 
in  the  venerable  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  chiefly  through  the 
influence  of  its  newly-formed  Auxiliary  Societies,  is  specified  "  a  more  wakeful  at- 
/enijon  to  the  spiritual  necessities  of  the  indiyent  and  afflicted;  to  Schools  and 
Hospitals,  and  other  public  charitable  Institutions."  Annual  Report  for  1814. 
20 


142  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

ings,  was  afterwards  confirmpd  by  the  statement  of  an  officer  aboard 
the  largest  of  the  ships ;  who  asserted,  that  having  frequent  occasion 
to  go  below  deck,  he  seldom  went  down  at  the  time  when  the  con- 
victs were  at  leisure,  but  he  found  some  of  them  reading  in  the  Tes- 
taments with  which  they  had  been  supplied. 

It  will  doubtless  have  occurred  to  the  reader  to  remark,  while  pe- 
rusing this  account,  how  materially  the  designs  of  the  Society  were 
forwarded  by  the  ready  and  discreet  co-operation  of  the  officers  com- 
manding these  convict-ships,  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  say  too  much 
in  commendation  of  their  conduct.  They  assured  Lieutenant  Coxe, 
on  his  first  visit,  "  that  they  were  much  obliged  to  any  individual,  or 
an}*^  body  of  men,  that  felt  themselves  interested  on  behalf  of  those 
wretched  men ;  and  they  would  employ  their  influence  to  enforce  a 
proper  attention  to  any  books  which  might  be  sent  for  the  use  of  the 
convicts."  The  prudent  regulations  for  distributing  the  books,  and 
the  satisfactory  reports  of  their  reception  and  use,  sufficiently  demon- 
strate, that  this  assurance  was  not  given  without  a  sincere  intention 
to  carry  it  into  the  completest  effi^ct. 

The  fact  now  stated  affijrds  occasion  for  repeating  an  observation 
which  has  already  been  made,  in  reference  to  the  triumph  of  genu- 
ine principle  over  the  difficulties  attending  situations  of  particular 
trial.  It  is,  indeed,  a  delightful  task  to  notice  the  bright  traits  of  re- 
ligion and  humanity  in  the  conduct  of  those  who  have  been  enabled 
to  rise  above  the  temptations  connected  with  the  duties  of  their  pro- 
fessional employment.  The  peculiar  service  in  which  the  several 
commanders  of  the  convict-ships  were  engaged,  bad  not  so  famihar- 
ized  them  to  the  contemplation  of  dcpi-avity  and  suffering,  as  to  make 
them  indifferent  to  the  cure  of  the  one,  and  the  alleviation  of  the 
other.  On  the  contrary,  they  showed  themselves  alive  to  the  calls  of 
the  truest  compassion  ;  and  evinced,  by  the  encouragement  they  gave 
to  the  introduction  of  the  Scriptures  among  the  unhappy  subjects  of 
their  authority,  how  justly  they  appreciated  the  influence  of  religion, 
as  a  source  of  genuine  comfort,  and  a  mean  of  radical  and  effectual 
reformation. 

Nor  were  the  exertions,  of  which  the  commencement  has  been  re- 
corded, for  supplying  the  scriptural  wants  of  the  Prisoners  of  War, 
pursued  with  less  vigour,  or  attended  with  inferior  success.  Copies 
of  the  Spanish  Testament  having  been  largely  distributed  among  the 
prisoners  of  that  nation,  steps  were  taken  without  delay  for  preparing 
a  second  and  more  numerous  impression.  Inquiries  had  also  been 
promoted  into  the  state  of  the  Prisoners  of  War  generally ;  and  the 
leader  wiU  see,  with  what  discrimination  and  effect  these  inquiries 


CHAP.  IV.j  AIS^D  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  143 

were  prosecuted,  from  the  following  account  which  they  elicited,  of 
the  state  of  the  prison-ships,  and  Mill-Prison  at  Plymouth, 

"  Of  6178  French  Prisoners,"  (says  the  reporter,  the  late  Captain 
Wynter,  of  Stonehouse,)  "  about  2820  can  read,  of  whom  about  2410 
are  desirous  of  having  Testaments  :"  and  "  of  1700  Spanish  prison- 
ers, about  1200  can  read,  and  800  of  them  are  desirous  of  having 
Testaments." 

This  statistical  account  was  obtained  in  August,  1806  ;  and,  in  the 
month  of  November  following,  the  correspondent  who  furnished  it, 
having  been  put  in  possession  of  the  means  of  supplying  those  wants 
which  he  had  so  judiciously  contrived  to  ascertain,  transmitted  the 
following  animated  and  affecting  description  of  the  manner  in  which 
his  first  distribution  had  been  made,  and  the  impression  with  which  it 
was  attended. 

"  It  is  impossible  to  give  you  an  adequate  description  of  the  anxiety 
that  was  manifested  by  the  poor  Spaniards  to  get  possession  of  a 
Testament;  many  sought  them  with  tears  and  earnest  entreaties  ;  and, 
although  1  had  nearly  enough  for  them  all,  yet  it  was  with  difficulty 
that  they  were  pacified,  until  they  received  from  my  hand  the  word 
of  eternal  life.  Since  which  I  have  witnessed  the  most  pleasing  sight 
that  ever  my  eyes  beheld — nearly  a  thousand  poor  Spanish  prisoners, 
sitting  round  the  prison  walls,  reading  the  word  of  God  with  an  ap- 
parent eagerness  that  would  have  put  many  professing  Christians  to 
the  blush !" 

In  consequence  of  this  representation,  confirmed  by  others  of  a 
similar  tendency,  it  was  determined  to  multiply  copies  both  of  the 
French  and  Spanish  Scriptures,  so  as  to  have  an  adequate  number 
ready  for  any  emergency.  A  large  edition  of  the  Testament  in  the 
latter  of  these  languages  was,  as  has  been  already  mentioned,  imme- 
diately put  to  press  ;  and  as  those  in  the  former  were  likely,  from 
many  causes,  to  be  still  more  in  request,  proceedings  were  adopted, 
in  the  month  of  November,  1806,  for  printing  them  by  stereotype. 

While  these  measures  were  going  forward,  in  reference  to  the 
continent  of  Europe,  and  to  the  residents  in  the  United  Kingdom, 
both  natives  and  strangers,  the  attention  of  the  Society  was  forcibly 
solicited  to  the  case  of  Mahomedans  and  Heathens,  whose  spiritual 
instruction,  too  long  overlooked  by  the  bulk  of  European  Christians, 
had  begun  to  awaken,  in  the  breasts  of  a  few,  the  emotions  of  sym- 
pathy and  anxious  consideration. 

This  feeling  naturally  turned,  in  the  first  instance,  towards  the  nu- 
merous inhabitants  of  India  and  the  East,  who  answered  to  that  de- 
scription ;  and  it  will  be  proper  to  see  what  was   done,  or  medi- 


144  HISTORY  OF  THE  BR1T1:<H  [I'ART  1. 

tated,  in  reference  to  tlieir  spiritual  welfare.  Dr.  Carey  had  intro- 
duced to  the  Society  the  scheme  of  Oriental  Translations,  so  nobly 
projected  by  the  Baptist  Missionaries  at  Seranipore.  Dr.  Buchanan's 
Memoir  on  "  tlie  Expediency  of  an  Ecclesiastical  Establishment  for 
British  India,"  had  furnished  the  additional,  and  very  important  in- 
formation, that,  "  under  the  auspices  of  the  College  of  Fort  William, 
the  Scriptures  were  in  a  course  of  translation  into  almost  all  the  lan- 
guages of  Oriental  India."  And  both  authorities  agreed  in  stating, 
that  assistance  from  Europe  was  indispensably  necessary,  in  order  tor 
the  accomplishment  of  these  plans. 

On  these  general  grounds,  it  was  determined  to  appropriate  1,000/. 
to  an  object,  in  all  respects  so  deserving  of  encouragement  and  aid; 
and  a  grant  to  that  amount  was  accordingly  made,  to  be  placed  at  the 
disposal  of  the  Corrpsponding  Committee  at  Calcutta.  It  is  true, 
that  Committee,  though  formally  proposed,*  had  not  actually  been 
organized,  at  the  time  when  the  donation  was  voted.  From  many 
obstacles,  some  of  which  will  be  hereafter  explained,  the  parties  who 
were  to  constitute  it,  did  not,  and  could  not,  come  together  for  a  con- 
siderable period  after  the  proposition  for  associating  them  had  been 
made.  The  presumption,  however,  of  its  existence  had  its  use.  It 
formed  and  preserved  a  rallying  point  for  the  zeal  which  was  direct- 
ed to  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  in  India ;  gave  an  air  of  unity 
and  order  to  the  designs  of  the  Society  in  that  quarter;  and  kept 
alive  the  sentiment  of  concord  among  diflerent  Christians  in  this  work 
of  common  interest,  till  circumstances  afforded  a  favourable  opportu- 
nity for  bringing  the  parties  into  actual  communication,  and  incorpo- 
rating them  at  length  in  a  system  of  harmonious,  compact,  and  efficient 
co-operation. 

The  feeling  thus  kindled  on  behalf  of  the  natives  of  India,  was  not 
a  little  cherished  by  a  communication  received  from  Dr.  Buchanan  in 
August,  1806.  This  consisted  of  "  Proposals  for  translating  the 
Scriptures  into  the  Oriental  languages"  from  the  Missionaries  at  Se- 
rampore ;  and  a  letter  from  himself,  recommending,  that  a  sermon 
should  be  preached  before  the  Society  "  on  the  subject  of  Oriental 
Translations  :"  and  requesting,  "  that  the  Reverend  Preacher  would 
do  him  the  honour  to  accept  the  sum  of  50^  on  delivery  of  a  printed 
copy  of  the  sermon  to  his  agents  in  London,  for  the  College  of  Fort 
William  in  Bengal." 

In  the  proposals  for  translations,  the  Serampore  Missionaries  thu^ 
express  themselves : 

*  Cbap.  ii.  p.  b'3. 


CHAP.  IVl  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  145 

"The  design  of  translating  the  Scriptures  into  the  Oriental  lan- 
o-uages,  has  received  from  home  the  highest  sanction,  A  resolution  to 
that  effect  has  been  transmitted  to  us  by  the  Secretary  of  a  Society 
lately  instituted,  entitled  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society." 

Then  follows  an  account  of  the  Society,  and  a  copy  of  the  resolu- 
tion, proposing  the  formation  of  a  Corresponding  Committee  in  Ben- 
gal :  after  which  the  advertisers  thus  proceed : 

"  Our  hope  of  success  in  this  great  undertaking  depends  chiefly  on 
the  patronage  of  the  College  of  Fort  William.  To  that  Institution 
we  are  much  indebted  for  the  progress  we  have  already  made. 
Oriental  translation  has  become  comparatively  easy,  in  consequence 
of  our  having  the  aid  of  those  learned  men  from  distant  provinces  of 
Asia,  who  have  assembled,  during  the  period  of  the  last  six  years,  at 
that  great  emporium  of  Eastern  Letters.  These  intelligent  strangers 
voluntarily  engago  with  ns  in  Irauslating  the  Scriptures  into  their 
respective  languages  ;  and  they  do  not  conceal  their  admiration  of 
the  subhme  doctrine,  pure  precept,  and  divine  eloquence,  of  the 
word  of  God.  The  plan  of  these  translations  %vas  sanctioned,  at  an 
early  period,  by  the  Most  Noble  the  Marquis  VVellesley,  that  great 
Patron  of  useful  learning.  To  give  the  Christian  Scriptures  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Asia,  is  indeed  a  work  which  every  man  who  believes 
those  Scriptures  to  be  from  God,  will  approve.  In  Hindoostan  alone, 
there  is  a  great  variety  of  religions  ;  and  there  are  some  tribes 
which  have  no  certain  cast  or  religion  at  all.  To  render  the  reveal- 
ed religion  accessible  to  men  who  desire  it ;  to  open  its  eternal 
sanctions  and  display  its  pure  morals  to  those  who  seek  a  religion,  is 
to  fulfil  the  sacred  duty  of  a  Christian  people  ;  and  accords  well  with 
the  humane  and  generous  spirit  of  the  English  nation." 

The  statements  contained  in  this  printed  document  were  considered 
of  importance,  not  only  as  they  publicly  developed  a  plan  for  Oriental 
translations  ;  but  also  because  they  recognized-  the  fact  of  deriving 
aid  and  patronage  from  the  College  of  Fort  William,  and  announced 
the  formation  and  the  friendship  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, as  furnishing  material  encouragement  to  the  proposed  under- 
taliing. 

It  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  observe,  that  the  printed  document 
thus  transmitted  by  Dr.  Buchanan,  "  was  composed  by  himself,  partly 
from  materials  furnished  by  the  Missionaries."*  Copies  were  de- 
spatched to  almost  the  whole  of  the  principal  civil  oflicers,  and  to 

*  See  Apology  for  Christianity  ia  India,  p.  67. 


14t>  HI8TOKV  Ol'   THfcJ  BKlllbll  [PkKT  I. 

many  of  the  military  officers  in  the  Honourable  Company's  Service, 
throughout  Hindoostan,  from  Delhi  to  Travancore  :  and  Dr.  Bucha- 
nan obtained  permission,  at  the  same  time,  to  send  the  "  Proposals'' 
in  his  official  character,  as  the  Vice-Provost  of  the  College,  free  of 
expense ;  which  he  did,  accompanying  them  in  most  instances  with  a 
letter.  The  design  received  encouragement  tVom  every  quarter  :  a 
sum  of  1600/.  was  soon  raised  for  translations,  to  wliich  the  late  Rev. 
David  Brown  contributed  230/.*  These  circumstances,  so  honour- 
able to  Dr.  Buchanan,  were  not  made  publicly  known  till  the  year 
1813 ;  and  they  are  mentioned  in  connexion  with  his  communication 
of  1806,  to  show,  that  neither  on  the  part  of  Dr.  Buchanan,  nor  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  did  there  exist  any  disposition 
to  supersede  the  Serampore  Missionaries ;  and  to  confirm  what  has 
appeared  from  the  admission  of  the  latter,  that  the  Missionaries  were 
indebted  for  not  a  little  of  their  success  te  the.  couutenance  and  good 
offices  of  both. 

The  proposition  for  a  sermoti,  which  formed  the  other  part  of 
Dr.  Buchanan's  communication,  was  at  first  acceded  to  ;  and  the  au- 
thor of  this  History  was  requested  to  become  the  preacher.  It  was, 
however,  upon  re-consideration,  unanimously  agreed,  that,  as  the 
measure  did  not  fall  strictly  within  the  professed  object  of  the  Socie- 
ty, and  might  open  a  door  to  practical  irregularities,  it  would  not  be 
expedient  to  sanction  its  adoption.  The  generous  offer  of  Dr.  Bu- 
chanan was,  in  consequence  of  this  decision,  respectfully  declined. 

To  what  has  been  advanced  on  the  suliject  of  India,  it  may  be 
added,  that  shortly  before  the  close  of  the  third  year,  a  still  more  ex- 
press and  encouraging  communication  was  received  from  Calcutta. 
The  particulars  conveyed  through  it  will  be  hereafter  considered. 
It  may  be  sufficient,  therefore,  for  the  present,  to  say,  that  the  tenor 
of  it  was  deemed  so  satisfactory  as  to  justify  the  contribution  of  stilf 
further  assistance;  and  a  second  grant  of  1,000/.  was  accordingly 
voted,  on  the  terms  and  for  the  purposes  specified  in  the  record  of 
the  first. 

With  this  solicitude  for  the  encouragement  of  Oriental  translation." 
abroad,  was  co»mectcd  a  not  less  anxious  concern  for  attempting 
something  of  a  similar  description,  through  the  mean-  tvhicii  offered 
themselves  at  home.  The  Arabic  presented  a  medium  through 
which  the  Tight  of  divine  revelation  might  be  widely  dilTased  among 
the  inhabitants  of  Africa  and  the  East ;   and  a  resolution  was  formed 

*  Sec  Apology  for  Christiauity  in  Imlia,  p.  (if*. 


CHAP.  IV.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  |^.y 

to  take  the  propriety  and  practicability  of  printing  some  portion  at 
least  of  the  Scriptures  in  that  language,  into  immediate  and  serious 
consideration. 

It  is  due  to  the  memory  of  Bishop  Porteus  to  observe,  that  the  de- 
sign originated  in  a  proposition,  made  by  the  author  at  the  Bishop's 
express  recommendation.  The  proceedings  adopted  in  pursuit  of 
the  object  were  stimulated  by  his  Lordship's  earnest  appeals,  in  his 
own  name,  and  that  of  his  friend,  the  Bishop  of  Durham,  on  behalf 
of  "  Heathen  and  Mahomedan  nations."  "  It  is  a  measure"  (says 
the  Bishop)*  "  which  both  myself  and  the  Bishop  of  Durham  (with 
whom  I  have  lately  corresponded  on  the  subject)  have  exceedingly 
at  heart,  and  we  are  anxious  that  it  should  be  entered  upon  without 
delay.  It  would,  I  am  confident,  do  great  credit  to  the  Society,  and 
might  be  of  infinite  service  in  sowing  the  seeds  of  Christianity  over 
the  whole  continent  of  Africa." 

The  cordiality  with  which  his  Lordship's  recommendation  was  re- 
ceived, and  the  alacrity  manifested  in  the  arrangements  for  ascertain- 
ing the  best  mode  of  giving  it  efl'ect,  appear  (from  a  subsequent  let- 
ter,)! to  have  afforded  the  Bishop  very  high  satisfaction,  and  to  have 
warmed  his  bosom  with  a  prospect  which  the  course  of  events  en- 
courages us  to  hope,  will,  in  due  time,  be  literally  realized.  "  Hea- 
then and  Mahomedan  nations"  (exclaims  the  Bishop,  strildng  again  his 
favourite  chord)  "  ought  certainly  to  be  our  first  and  principal  ob- 
ject ;  and  I  cannot  help  flattering  myself  with  the  hope,  that,  by  the 
exertions  of  the  Bengal  Society  in  the  East,"  (meaning  the  Corres- 
ponding Committee,)  "  and  those  of  the  Bible  Society  in  the  West, 
the  seeds  of  the  Christian  religion  will,  in  less  than  half  a  century, 
be  sown  in  every  unenlightened  country  throughout  the  world — 
a  consummation  most  devoutly  to  be  wished." 

So  multifarious  and  important  were  the  occupations  and  engage- 
ments of  the  Society,  when  the  approach  of  the  third  Anniversary  ad- 
monished the  Committee  to  prepare  for  another  appearance  before 
their  constituents,  and,  through  them,  before  the  whole  Christian 
community.  The  extension  of  the  Society's  connexions  on  the  con- 
tinent of  Europe ;  the  actual  attainment  of  some  important  objects, 
and  the  reasonable  anticipation  of  others ;  the  steady  support  of  its 
annual,  and  the  encouraging  liberality  of  its  occasionall  contributors  ; 

*  In  a  private  letter  from  Sundridge,  dated  September  29,  1806. 
t  Oct.  11,  1806. 
X  The  late  Countess  of  Bath  had  presented  the  Institution  with  a  donation  ot' 
1,0007.     For  this  munificent  addition  to  its  funds,  the  Society  was  particularly  in- 


148  HfSlX)RY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

and  above  all,  the  approved  excellence  of  the  cause  itself,  the  evi- 
dence of  the  good  which  it  had  done,  and  the  prospect  of  that  which, 
in  its  advancement  to  maturity,  it  might  justly  be  expected  to  accom- 
plish : — these,  and  kindred  topics,  furnished  materials  for  another  lu- 
minous report,  to  that  distinguished  individual,  who,  though  de- 
bilitated by  sickness,  and  more  than  usually  occupied  at  this  crisis  by 
domestic  avocations,  would  not  refuse  to  employ  his  pen  again  in  the 
service  of  a  Society  which  his  Lordship  declared  he  "  conscientiously 
believed  to  be  no  less  useful  than  zealous  and  active." 

The  Anniversay  day  at  length  arrived :  the  chamber  was  crowded 
with  guests,  and  the  festival  was  celebrated  in  a  manner  becoming 
the  sacred  and  benevolent  object  to  which  it  was  dedicated.  The 
Noble  President  recounted,  from  the  chair,  the  great  things  which 
God  had  wrought  through  the  ministry  of  the  Society ;  and  en- 
couraged the  members,  while  rejoicing  in  these,  to  attempt  and  antici- 
pate the  achievement  of  still  greater. 

A  severe  indisposition  prevented  the  Kev.  Mr.  Stcinkopff  from 
taking  a  share  in  the  proceedings  of  the  day.  A  letter,  despatched 
from  his  sick  chamber,  compensated,  in  some  measure,  for  the  loss  of 
those  accents,  which,  as  the  organ  of  foreign  gratitude,  were  always 
listened  to  with  affectionate  admiration.  After  expressing  his  ac- 
knowledgments, in  the  name  of  his  countrymen,  for  what  had  been 
done  for  the  Bible  Societies  in  Germany,  and  enumerating  certain 
facts  illustrative  of  the  progress  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, Mr.  SteinkoplT  thus  proceeds  : 

"  Are  not  these  important  foreign  operations?  Is  ihere  not  abun- 
dant cause  to  congratulate  the  Society  on  the  success  already  ob- 
tained ?  And  may  we  not  reasonably  anticipate  a  still  more  glorious  and 
triumphant  progress  of  the  word  of  God  in  all  directions?  Permit  mc 
to  add,  that  I  feel  myself  so  great  a  debtor  to  the  Society,  and  to  the 
British  public  at  large,  for  their  handing  out  so  richly,  not  only  the 
bread  that  perisheth,  for  the  relief  of  my  distressed  German  counliy- 
men,  but  likewise  the  heavenly  manna,  that!  feel  myself  called  upon, 
jn  the  most  forcible  manner,  not  only  to  wish  them  in  return  the 
richest  blessings  of  heaven,  but  also  to  exert  the  small  share  of  talent 
that  God  has  given  me,  for  the  promotion  of  the  noble  purpose  of  the 
Society  ;  and  esteem  it  my  glory  and  happiness  tu  render  it  every  sor 
vice  in  my  power.     Finally  ;  may  that  (Jod,  under  whose  sujjreme  di- 

debted  to  the  /.<^alous  intoiveiition  of  Clirislophcr  Siiiuiiii>s,  Ksq.  and  the  (Joininit- 
tee  testified  tlicir  seiiee  of  that  gentleman's  services  cii  this,  and  on  other  occa- 
isions,  by  appoioting  him  za  honorary  Wi'c.  govciuor  of  Ihf  Iustilii*ion. 


CHAP.  IV]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV'.  J49 

rection,  I  trust,  this  Society  has  been  established,  and  its  labours 
evidently  owned  and  blessed,  crown  all  its  further  operations  with  a 
rich  measure  of  His  divine  wisdom,  energy,  and  success  :  so  that  His 
word  may  run  and  be  glorified,  to  the  praise  of  His  excellent  name, 
and  the  salvation  of  many  immortal  souls." 

A  temporary  gloom,  thrown  over  the  assembly  by  the  absence  of 
the  Bishop  of  Durham,  was  happily  removed  by  the  unexpected  ap- 
pearance of  another  Episcopal  Patron,  the  Bishop  of  Exeter,  (now 
Salisbury,)  whose  countenance,  at  that  time  new  to  the  members  of 
the  Society,  has  since  been  rendered  familiar,  by  the  regularity  of 
his  Lordship's  attendance  at  the  Anniversary  Meetings. 

Thus  consentaneously  did  the  Members  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society  rally,  for  the  third  time,  round  the  standard  of  the  In- 
stitution. Renewing  their  pledges  of  mutual  co-operation,  and  ga- 
thering encoui-agement  for  the  future  from  a  reflection  upon  the  past, 
they  seemed  to  breathe  one  common  resolution  ;  of  which  the  follow- 
ing language  might  perhaps  have  served  as  no  unfit  interpretation. 

"  If  it  has  pleased  Divine  Providence,  that  Great  Britain  should  be 
the  almoner  of  His  bounty  to  a  needy  world  ;  if  it  is  His  will  that  she 
should  hold  up  the  torch  of  revelation  to  the  bewildered  nations,  and 
guide  their  feet  to  truth  and  happiness ;  it  must  be  ours  to  obey  this 
high  dispensation,  to  rise  with  the  rising  exigencies  of  our  condition, 
and  to  proportion  our  zeal  and  our  exertions  to  the  vast  sphere  of 
duty  in  which  it  is  our  privilege  to  be  employed.  Let  us  then  pro- 
secute those  measures  on  which  we  have  entered,  with  increasing 
alacrity  and  steadfastness :  let  us  co-operate  with  each  other  in  up- 
holding that  Institution  which  projects  the  universal  melioration  of 
the  world  ;  nor  let  us  ever  desist  from  our  labour,  or  relax  in  our 
diligence,  till,  through  its  instrumentality,  the  Bible  shall  have  ac- 
complished its  office,  and  sealed  its  triumph,  in  the  union  of  Chris- 
tians, and  the  happiness  of  mankind."* 

*  Speech  of  the  author  at  the  formation  of  the  Kentish  Auxiliary  Bible  Society. 


dp^ 


150  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 


CHAPTER  V. 


1807—8. 


The  facts  and  observations  contained  in  the  Third  Report,  as 
recited  by  the  President  at  the  Anniversary  Meeting,  appeared  to 
the  Bishop  of  Exeter  to  carry  so  much  conviction  in  favour  of 
the  Society,  that,  with  a  laudable  anxiety  to  communicate  to  others 
an  impression  similar  to  that  which  he  had  himself  received,  his 
Lordship,  upon  retiring  from  the  assembly,  requested  to  be  fur- 
nished with  a  number  of  copies,  as  soon  as  they  should  be  ready 
for  delivery  from  the  press.  This  request  was  complied  with  ; 
and  the  Bishop  availed  himself  of  the  opportunity  afforded  by  a 
Visitation  which  he  performed,  as  the  representative  of  the  Bi- 
shop of  London,  at  that  time  indisposed,  to  circulate  the  Report, 
through  the  hands  of  the  Officiating  Chaplain,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Pot- 
chett,*  among  the  clergy  who  attended  on  that  public  occasion. 
With  what  effect  this  distribution  was  followed,  it  would  not  be 
easy  to  determine.  The  probability  is,  that  it  contributed  mate- 
rially to  pi'omotc  the  Society's  interests.  Had  it  failed  in  pro- 
ducing any  other  benefit,  it  would  have  been  highly  advantageous, 
as  evincing  the  sincerity  of  the  Bishop's  attachment  to  the  Insti- 
tution, and  giving  a  solemn  contradiction  to  the  charge  of  its  in- 
compatibility with  a  strict  regard  to  the  interest  and  the  honour 
of  the  Established  Church. 

The  termination  of  the  Society's  third  year  had  been  enliven- 
ed by  a  communication  from  Calcutta,!  expressly  directed  to  the 
object  for  which  a  Corresponding  Committee  had  been  proposed 
in  that  place.  The  writer  was  the  Rev.  D.  Brown,  Senior  Chap- 
Iain  at  Fort  William,  to  whom  the  proposition  for  a  Corresponding 
Committee  had  been  originally  directed,  and  in  whom  the  reader 

•  Now  Rector  of  Fairstead,  Essex  ;  at  that  time  Domestic  niajilain  to  Bishop 
Portcns. 

t  Chap.  iv.  p.  M6, 


CHAP,  v.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  l^j 

may  recognize  the  future  Secretary,  both  of  that  Committee,  and 
of  the  Calcutta  AuxiUary  Bible  Society. 

The  communication  from  this  zealous  agent  was  dated  Septem- 
ber 13,  1806,  and  it  was  valuable  not  more  on  account  of  its  fa- 
vourable representation  of  the  state  of  Oriental  translations,  than 
of  its  concurrence  with  the  letter  of  Dr.  Buchanan,  and  the  print- 
ed proposals  from  Serampore,  in  evincing  the  impression  made  at 
Calcutta,  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  the  good  eflfect 
of  the  encouragement  which  it  held  out,  on  the  spirits  and  the 
labours  of  the  translators.  "  I  believe"  (says  Mr.  Brown)  "  no 
plan  for  the  diffusion  of  true  religion  was  ever  formed,  from  the 
beginning  of  the  world,  that  embraced  so  wide  a  scope,  or  met 
with  such  general  approbation." 

A  regular  intercourse  now  commenced  between  the  conductors 
of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  the  leading  friends 
of  Christianity  in  the  heart  of  British  India ;  and  it  appeared  to 
the  former  in  a  high  degree  desirable  to  take  all  practicable  steps 
in  order  to  cherish  and  improve  the  connexion.  With  this  view, 
the  second  grant  of  1,000L  was  made  on  the  4th  of  May,  1807, 
as  has  been  before  observed;  and  on  the  15th  of  June,  it  was 
further  determined  to  send  500  English  Bibles  and  1,000  Testa- 
ments, from  the  London  Depository,  and  250  German  Bibles,  and 
600  Testaments,  from  the  Institution  at  Halle,  for  the  use  of  the 
army  and  navy,  and  other  poor  Europeans  in  India.  The  former 
were  despatched  to  the  Rev.  D.  Brown,  as  the  organ  of  the  presum- 
ed Corresponding  Committee  ;  the  latter  to  the  German  Missionaries, 
wherever  they  might  be  stationed  :  and  the  copies  were  directed  to 
be  disposed  of,  either  by  sale  or  gratuitous  distribution,  at  the  dis- 
cretion of  the  parties  to  whom  they  were  respectively  consigned. 

This  measure,  which  originated  in  the  spontaneous  attention  of  the 
Society  to  the  spiritual  improvement  of  India,  was  afterwards  proved 
to  have  been  peculiarly  seasonable,  and  to  have  furnished  in  some 
instances  the  means  of  supplying  those  wants,  which,  but  for  such  as- 
sistance, must  have  remained  altogether  without  remedy  or  relief. 
This  was  particularly  the  case  in  respect  to  the  English  Scriptures 
transmitted  to  Calcutta.  They  were  described,  in  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Brown,  dated  April  28,  1808,  (which  it  may  not  be  improper  here  to 
anticipate,)  as  constituting  "  a  most  needful  supply."  Several  Chap- 
lains had  expended  large  sums  from  their  private  incomes  to  meet 
the  exigencies  of  the  people  under  their  care.  "  The  Bibles  and 
Testaments"  (continues  this  correspondent)  "  will  be  distributed 
among  them ;  and  as  the  people  are  willing  to  pay  a  moderate  price, 


152  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  lI'ART  I. 

the  sums  received  shall  be  accounted  for  to  the  Society."  To  this 
statement,  Mr.  Brown,  in  the  fulness  of  his  heart,  annexes  the  follow- 
ing animated  prayer  for  the  success  of  the  Institution.  "  May  that 
God  whose  word  you  honour,  and  who  has  put  it  into  your  heart 
to  send  it  forth  into  all  lands,  bless  and  prosper  your  Society,  and 
make  it  the  joy  of  the  whole  earth  !" 

It  must  not,  however,  be  dissembled,  that,  with  the  pleasing  and 
auspicious  intelligence  respecting  the  progress  of  the  Society's  cause 
in  India,  was  mingled  information  of  a  very  painful  and  discouraging 
nature.  As  the  communication  was  altogether  confidential,  and  the 
particulars  were  of  a  description  to  involve  the  character  of  the  Bri- 
tish Government  in  Bengal,  their  publication  was  suppressed.  Thq 
improvement  which  has  taken  place  in  the  system  of  Oriental  Adminis- 
tration, renders  such  reserve  no  longer  necessary ;  and  as  the  Re- 
porter is  placed  beyond  the  reach  of  injury,  or  of  censure,  the  author 
will  extract  so  much  from  his  communication  as  may  be  sufficient  to 
acquaint  the  reader  with  this  critical  portion  of  the  Society's  History. 

In  the  letter  of  the  Rev.  D.  Brown,  dated  September  13,  1806,  a 
part  of  wliich,  as  furnishing  very  satisfactory  intelligence,  was  laid 
before  the  public,  an  explicit  account  was  given  of  the  causes  of  that 
delay  which  had  prevented  the  formation  of  the  Corresponding  Com- 
mittee, and  the  adoption  of  a  systematical  plan  for  translating  and 
printing  the  Sacred  Scriptures.  The  substance  of  this  account  will 
be  found  in  the  following  extract : 

"  You  will  justly  wonder  why  we  have  been  so  slow  in  replying  to 
your  letter,  inviting  us  to  co-operate  with  you.  I  answer  in  one 
word.  We  have  lost  Lord  Wcllesley,  the  friend  of  religion,  and  the 
patron  of  learning;  and  succeeding  governors  have  opposed  all  at- 
tempts to  evangelize  the  Hindoos  ;  have  opposed  the  translation  of 
the  Holy  Scriptures ;  have  opposed  the  formation  of  a  Society  for 
carrying  into  elToct,  here,  the  objects  of  your  invaluable  Institution. 
Persons  holding  official  situations  were  requested  not  to  act,  except 
in  their  private  capacity.  We  have,  therefore,  been  obliged  to  com- 
mit the  Avork,  for  the  present,  to  the  Society  of  Missionaries  at  Se- 
rampore,  and  afford  them  such  aid  and  protection  as  we  can  give 
without  offending  Government." 

The  tidings  contained  in  this  statement,  the  fidelity  of  which  has 
since  been  established  by  llie  late  Dr.  Buchanan,  in  his  Apology  for 
Christianity  in  India,  filled  the  hearts  of  those  to  whom  they  were, 
m  confidence,  communicated,  with  unfeigned  sorrow  and  dejection. 
They  could  not  look  upon  this  dark  cloud  which  intercepted  their 
prospects  of  usefulness  in  the  East,  without  dismay;  and,  though  de- 


CHAP,  v.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  jg^ 

termined  to  persevere,  they  were  almost  tempted  to  despair  of  seeing 
the  cause  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  espoused  by  the 
public  Authorities  in  India.  Nothing  remained  to  support  their  reso- 
lution under  this  depressing  intelligence,  but  the  testimony  of  that 
approbation  with  which  the  plan  of  the  Society  had  been  generally 
received,  and  the  exercise  of  that  faith  in  the  promised  universality 
of  Christian  truth,  which  to  every  believing  mind  gives  the  substance 
of  things  hoped  for,  and  the  evidence  of  things  not  seen. 

The  lively  interest  which  Bishop  Porteus  took  in  all  the  vicissi- 
tudes of  the  Institution,  appeared  to  require  that  he  should  not  remain 
uninformed  of  the  opposition  which  was  made  to  its  progress  in  that 
quarter  from  which  he  had  been  led  to  entertain  such  sanguine  ex- 
pectations. In  this  opinion  Mr.  Brown,  to  whom  his  Lordship's  cha- 
racter, and  particularly  his  solicitude  for  the  propagation  of  Chris- 
tianity in  the  East,  were  thoroughly  known,  perfectly  coincided.  Un- 
der these  circumstances,  the  author  considered  it  his  duty  to  lay  the 
whole  correspondence  before  the  Bishop  ;  and  the  following  commu- 
nication from  his  Lordship  will  show  what  were  his  sentiments  and 
feelings  on  this  trying  occasion. 

"  I  am  extremely  concerned  to  see  the  hostility  of  the  Bengal  Go- 
vernment, both  to  the  translation  and  dispersion  of  the  Sacred  Scrip- 
tures in  the  Oriental  languages,  and  to  the  exertions  of  the  Bible  So- 
ciety in  foreign  countries.  From  ^^lat  cause  does  this  sudden  change 
arise  ?  Whatever  be  the  cause,  I  hope  Lord  Teignmouth  and  Mr. 
Grant,  who  are  now  both  in  office  in  the  Indian  Department,  and 
have  considerable  influence  with  the  India  Directors,  the  Board  of 
Control,  and  the  Bengal  Government,  will  exert  themselves  speed- 
ily and  vigorously  to  remove  that  cause,  and  the  gross  misrepresen- 
tations which  must  have  operated  on  the  minds  of  the  governing 
powers  in  Bengal;  and  endeavour  to  render  them,  as  soon  as  possi- 
ble, friendly  and  favourable  to  the  Oriental  and  the  British  Bible  So- 
cieties :  as  I  think  the  future  conversion  and  salvation  of  the  native*^ 
of  that  vast  continent  do  in  a  great  degree  depend  on  the  successful 
progress  of  those  two  Societies." 

The  author  has  thus  exhibited  a  compendious  statement  of  thi 
real  causes  which  defeated,  for  a  season,  the  accomplishment  of  the 
Society's  favourite  design  in  British  India — the  incorporation  of 
Christians  throughout  the  Peninsula  in  one  common  scheme  for  dif- 
fusing the  light  of  Holy  Scripture  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  East. 
This  explanation  was  due  to  the  character  of  the  Society.  It  will 
account  to  the  reader  for  the  limited  and  dubious  nature  of  its  ope- 
ration's in  that  quarter  during  the  early  years  of  its  existence  ;  pre- 


154  JUSTORY  OF  THE  RttlTlSH  [PART  I 

pare  him  for  better  understanding  the  true  ground  of  that  conflict  in 
which  he  is  ere  long  to  find  it  involved  ;  and  enable  him  to  discern 
with  more  exactness  the  track  by  which  it  was  conducted,  through 
discouragement  and  opposition,  to  triumph  and  success. 

^mong  the  phms  connected  with  foreign  parts,  which  were  resu- 
med by  the  Committee,  upon  the  renovation  of  their  functions,  after 
the  third  anniversary,  may  be  enumerated,  as  deserving  particular 
attention,  those  which  regarded  the  printing  of  the  Scriptures  in  the 
Calmuc,  the  Tartar,  the  Arabic,  and  the  Icelandic  languages. 

Certain  queries  addressed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Steinkopflf  to  the  Head 
of  the  Moravian  Mission  at  Sarepta,  together  with  a  letter  from  the 
author  to  the  Head  of  the  Scotch  Mission  at  Karass,  succeeded  in 
eliciting  information  upon  the  number,  language,  and  general  habits 
of  the  Calmucs,  which  threw  considerable  light  on  the  first  of  those 
objects,  and  assisted  materially  the  conductors  of  the  Society  inform- 
ing their  judgment  upon  the  importance  and  the  practicability  of  its 
attainment. 

From  the  intelligence  thus  supplied,  it  appeared  that  the  number  of 
Calmucs  in  the  Steppe,  viz.  from  Sarepta  to  the  Caucasus,  amounted 
to  nearly  20,000  souls.  These  were  Pagans  :  besides  which,  in  a  se- 
parate district  upon  the  banks  of  the  Wolga,  were,  baptized  Calmucs, 
who,  for  more  than  100  years,  in  consequence  of  the  labours  of  the 
Russian  Clergy,  had  professed  Christianity,  and  had  regular  church- 
service  according  to  the  rites  of  the  National  Church.  The  mode  of 
life  adopted  by  the  Calmucs,  was  represented  to  be  vagrant  and  no- 
madic ;  and  their  customs  and  manners,  both  in  temporal  and  spiritual 
affairs,  with  scarcely  any  alteration,  surh  as  they  had  been  1000  years 
jago.  All  their  clergy,  and  the  higher  orders  of  the  community,  were 
able  to  read  and  write  ;  but  no  great  encouragement  could  be  offered 
to  hope  that  they  would  read  the  Bil)Ic.  Little  effect  had  yet  been 
produced  by  the  missionary  labours  of  the  Moravian  Brethren  among 
the  Calmucs.  A  few  had  given  a  cold  assent  to  the  doctrine  of  the 
Gospel ;  but  most  of  them,  especially  their  clergy,  who  form  a  par- 
ticular body,  were  found  to  reject,  or  even  deride,  this  doctrine,  as 
an  innovation  prejudicial  to  their  system.  Some  detached  portions 
both  of  the  Old  and  the  New  Testament  had  been  translated  by  per- 
sons, who,  without  possessing  the  advantages  "  of  a  literary  educa- 
tion, had  a  good  understanding  of  the  sense  of  the  Scriptures,  felt  an 
impulse  of  the  heart  to  the  task,  and  had  already  ac(}uircd  a  pretty 
complete  knowledge  of  the  Calmuc  language."  No  part,  however, 
of  the  translations  hitherto  made,  had  been  printed,  as  there  was  no 
printing-press   at  Sarepta,  or  indeed  in  the  whole  country:  but  if 


CHAP,  v.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  I55 

types  were  furnished  from  England,  or  from  St.  Petersburg,  the  work 
might  be  executed  correctly  at  the  latter  place.  To  these  particulars 
it  should  be  added,  that  the  number  of  Calmuc  characters,  written 
specimens  of  which  were  transmitted,  amounted  to  one  hundred  and 
fifty-two. 

Such  was  the  substance  of  the  information  derived  from  these  re- 
pectable  sources ;  and  although  the  general  effect  of  it  was  calcula- 
ted rather  to  discourage,  than  to  invite,  exertion,  yet  the  object  was 
considered  of  too  great  moment  to  be  hastily  relinquished :  it  was 
therefore  determined  to  pursue  it.  A  sum  of  money  was  accordingly 
granted  for  the  purchase  of  a  set  of  types  at  St.  Petersburg ;  (it 
being  understood  that  they  could  be  procured  in  that  capital,  at  a 
moderate  price;)  and  this  grant  was  accompanied  with  a  strong  re- 
commendation to  the  translators  to  proceed  in  their  labours,  and  to 
expect,  as  they  advanced,  a  proportionate  degree  of  aid  and  encour- 
agement. 

What  has  here  been  stated,  describes  the  humble  commencement 
of  a  work  which  has  since  acquired  a  very  interesting  character,  and 
promises  eventually  to  rank  with  the  most  creditable  and  important  of 
the  Society's  productions.  Subsequent  information  evinced,  that  the 
sphere  to  which  this  object  related,  is  of  surprising  extent ;  and 
numerous  particulars  of  a  very  interesting  nature  have  been  added  to 
those  which  first  determined  the  conductors  of  the  Society  to  the 
adoption  of  the  measure.  Among  other  things,  it  has  been  ascertained, 
that  the  Calmucs  in  the  Steppe,  instead  of  being,  as  before  computed, 
20,000  souls,  consist  of  at  least  20,000  tents,  and  of  a  population  ex- 
ceeding 60,000  souls.  Besides  these,  it  is  estimated  that  there  are 
10,000  without  these  limits,  who  have  embraced  Christianity.  The 
Calmucs  are  represented  as  constituting  only  one  division  of  the 
Mongols  ;  who  are  distributed  into  the  Mongols  proper,  the  Burgats. 
and  the  Calmucs.  The  language  of  the  last  is  a  dialect  of  the  Mon- 
golian :  but  the  written  language  is  nearly  the  same  in  all.  Add  to 
which,  that  65,000  families,  speaking  the  Calmuc  language,  migrated 
from  Russia  in  1771,  and  now  live  under  the  protection  of  China. 
In  this  view  of  the  subject,  a  translation  of  the  Scriptures  into  the 
Calmuc  dialect,  though  attended  with  many  obstacles,  both  as  to  its 
accomphshment,  and  its  distribution,  was  justly  regarded  as  an  object 
of  great  importance.* 

•  The  language  in  which  Mr.  Hiemer  expresses  himself  upon  hoarin?  (which 
he  did  "  with  much  interest")  of  the  resolution  in  regard  to  the  Calmuc  translation, 
may  be  considered  as  describing  pretty  accurately  the  views  of  the  London  Com 
niittee  in  reference  to  this  undertakinp. 


156  HISTORV  OF  THE  BRlTISfl  [PARTI 

On  the  version  encouraged  by  the  Society  there  will  be  occasion 
to  speak  more  particularly  hereafter.  It  may  be  proper,  however, 
to  add  to  what  has  been  stated,  that  the  obstacles  referred  to  were 
progressively  removed  :  and  that  there  appeared  at  length  a  strong 
probability,  that  the  translation  would  be  faithfully  executed  ;  and, 
when  completed,  would  circulate  among  a  population,  extending  from 
Ihe  banks  of  the  Wolga  to  the  regions  of  Thibet  and  China. 

The  preparation  of  types  for  the  Tartar  New  Testament  was  dili- 
gently followed  up  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Adam  Clarke,  to  whose  learned 
and  judicious  superintendence  this  concern  had  been  implicitly  con- 
fidedi.  A  scale  of  t3'pes  constructed  by  himself,  and  executed  with 
singular  beauty,  was  submitted  to  the  consideration  of  the  Commit- 
tee ;  and  a  fount  was  cast  agreeably  to  the  model  recommended  by 
Dr.  Clarke,  and  sanctioned  by  the  approbation  of  the  President  and 
other  competent  judges  of  Oriental  literature.  The  types  thus  pro- 
duced, together  with  paper  and  ink  for  5000  copies,  were  despatched 
early  in  this  year ;  and  though  conveyed  through  the  seat  of  war, 
arrived,  without  experiencing  either  injury  or  delay,  at  the  place  of 
their  destination. 

A  third  object  of  attention  was  the  consideration  of  printing  and 
publishing  the  Srriptures  in  the  Arabic  language.  This  business, 
which  had  been  commenced  in  the  preceding  year,  was,  in  this,  re- 
sumed and  prosecuted,  with  a  degree  of  earnest  and  careful  investi- 
gation, becoming  the  importance  of  the  undertaking,  and  the  many 
dithculties  of  a  literary  nature  in  which  the  execution  of  it  was  in- 
volved. In  order  to  explain  the  course  which  was  pursued,  and  the 
measures  in  which  it  terminated,  it  will  be  necessary  to  advert  to  the 
steps  taken  by  the  late  Professor  Carlylc,  with  a  view  to  the  attain- 
ment of  a  similar  object. 

In  the  year  1803,  the  Rev.  J.  D.  Carlyle,  B.  D.  Chancellor  of  the 
Diocese  of  Carlisle,  and  Professor  of  Arabic  in  the  University  of 
Cambridge,  desirous  of  exciting  the  public  attention  to  the  dispersion 
of  the  Scriptures  in  the  Arabic  language,  issued  a  prospectus  of  a 
plan  for  printing  by  subscription  an  edition  of  the  Arabic  Bible,  under 
the  patronage  of  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Durham ;  urging,  in  its  recom- 
mendation a  variety  of  encouraging  circumstances,  ar.d  particularly 


"  Great  as  the  ol)»(aclcs  are  to  tliepropapalion  of  the  Gospel  among;  this  hcftthcn- 
ish  tribe,  yet  I  think  attempts  made  in  reliance  on  the  command  and  promisi'  of  the 
Lord,  for  the  extension  of  Wis  kingdom,  will  never  remain  quite  without  a  bless- 
ing: ;  and,  exen  *huult{  tlni/  nut  succeed,  a  double  blessiug  will  return  on  those  who 
make  the  attempt  from  love  to  their  Divine  Master." 


CHAP,  v.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  J57 

the  prevalence  of  the  Arabic  language  in  Africa  ;  and  both  the  quali- 
fication and  the  fondness  of  the  Africans  for  reading  Arabic  books,  as  - 
attested  by  the  Sierra  Leone  Company,  the  celebrated  Mungo  Park, 
Browne,  and  other  respectable  authorities. 

The  following  extracts  from  the  Professor's  Prospectus,  will  show 
the  general  grounds  on  which  he  recommended  the  undertaking,  and 
the  zeal  and  disinterestedness  with  which  he  engaged  to  superintend 
its  execution. 

"  Mr.  Park  thinks  that,  in  the  western  part  of  the  Continent,  the 
knowledge  of  Arabic  reaches  to  the  11th  or  even  10th  degree  of 
North  latitude.  He  agrees  with  several  of  the  travellers  from  Sierra 
Leone,  in  representing  the  Negro  inhabitants  as  having  arrived  at  a 
very  considerable  degree  of  civilization.  They  can  almost  all  read 
and  write  the  Arabic  language,  in  which  they  are  regularly  instructed  ; 
the  poorer  sort,  by  public  masters  at  village  schools,  the  richer,  by 
private  tutors  at  their  parents'  houses.  The  native  under  whose 
hospitable  roof  he  I'esided  for  several  months,  maintained  a  master 
to  teach  Arabic  to  his  own  children,  and  permitted  sixteen  others,  the 
children  of  his  poorer  neighbours,  to  learn  at  the  same  time. 

"  According  to  Mr.  Park,  the  negroes  are  proud  of  their  literature^ 
and  seldom  travel  without  a  book  slung  by  their  side.  Amongst  their 
books  he  has  perceived  the  Pentateuch,  the  Book  of  Psalms,  and  the 
Prophet  Isaiah.  All  of  these  they  prize  very  highly  ;  and  such  is  the 
general  eagerness  to  obtain  them,  that  he  believes  no  articles  would 
be  more  saleable  in  Africa  than  copies  of  the  Scriptures  in  Arabic, 
He  has  seen  a  copy  of  the  Pentateuch  alone,  sold  at  the  price  of  one 
prime  slave,  i.  e.  about  20  guineas.* 

•  The  following  is  one  among  the  passages  to  which  the  Professor  alludes. — 
"On  interrogating  the  schoolmaster  at  Kamalia,  I  discovered  that  the  Negroes  are 
in  possession  (among  other  MSS.)ofan  Arabic  version  of  the  Pentateuch  of  Moses, 
which  they  call  Taureta  la  Moosa.  This  is  so  highly  esteemed,  that  it  is  often  sold 
for  the  value  of  one  prime  slave.  They  have  likewise  a  version  of  the  Psalms  of 
David;  {Zahm-a  David! ;)  and  lastly,  the  book  of  Isaiah,  which  they  call  Lingeeli 
la  fsa,  and  it  is  in  very  high  esteem. 

"  By  these  means  many  of  the  Negroes  that  are  converted  from  being  Kafirs 
(Pagans)  to  the  religion  of  Mahomed,  have  acquired  an  acquaintance  with  some  of 
the  remarkable  events  recorded  in  the  Old  Testament — the  account  of  our  First 
Parents;  the  Death  of  Abel ;  the  Deluge;  the  Lives  of  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Ja- 
cob; the  Story  of  Joseph  and  his  Brethren  ;  the  History  of  Moses,  David,  Solomon, 
&c.  All  these  have  been  related  to  me,  in  the  Mandimio  language,  with  tolerable 
exactaess  by  ditferent  (.eoplc :  and  my  surprise  was  not  greater,  on  hearing  these 
accounts  from  the  lips  of  the  Negroes,  than  theirs  was  on  finding  that  I  was  already 
acquainted  with  them.     For,  although  the  Negroes  in  general  have  a  viy  great 


JI5S  HI!>TORV  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  1. 

"  Their  MSS,  however,  were  not  elegantly  written  ;  and  they 
greatly  preferred  the  printed  characters  which  he  showed  them  in 
Richardson's  Grammar,  to  any  writinj^  of  their  own.  This  grammar 
many  of  them  were  extremely  solicitous  to  purchase,  and  he  was  of- 
fered for  it  above  three  pounds  sterling :  he  was  at  last  obliged  to 
leave  the  book  behind  him,  as  too  valuable  a  treasure  to  be  taken  out 
of  the  country. 

"  Such  is  the  present  situation  of  the  most  populous  part  of  Africa. 
The  inhabitants  have  acquired  some  knowledge  of  Scripture — they 
seem  desirous  of  acquiring  more  ;  and  surely  it  is  a  consideration 
well  worthy  attention,  that  the  religious  knowledge  already  imparted 
has  been  owing,  not  to  Christian,  but  to  fllahomedan  exertions.  The 
light,  however,  which  they  have  kindled,  we  may  cherish  and  in- 
crease :  the  Koran,  we  see,  has  led  on  to  the  reception  of  the  histo- 
rical parts  of  Scripture,  with  which,  indeed,  it  is  in  various  places  in- 
timately connected.  The  historical  books  have  introduced  some  of 
the  most  essential  of  the  prophetic — Why  then  should  we  despair, 
that  these,  when  united  in  the  same  volume  with  the  Gospel,  refer- 
ring to  the  same  objects  as  it  does,  interwoven  with  every  part  of  its 
texture,  may  not  be  a  means  of  inducing  the  Africans  to  consider  the 
foundation  of  Christianity,  and  to  embrace  its  doctrines  ?" 

"  The  work,"  (adds  the  Professor,)  "  it  is  conceived,  can  scarcely 
be  completed  in  less  than  a  year  and  a  half,  or  two  years ;  but  such 
is  the  high  sense  the  writer  entertains  of  the  benefits  likely  to  result 
from  it,  that  he  will  gladly  allot  to  it  whatever  time  and  labour  it  may 
require.  At  the  same  time,  he  wishej  it  to  be  explicitly  understood, 
that  he  has  no  view  whatever  to  personal  emolument ;  and  he  suggests 
it  as  the  most  satisfactory  mode  of  conducting  the  business,  that  a  Com- 
mittee be  appointed,  to  which  he  should  be  at  liberty  to  state  the  ac- 
counts, and  which  should  tinallv  settle  the  price  necessary  to  be  put 
upon  the  work,  in  order  to  reimburse  the  actual  expenditure." 

The  unexpected  death  of  Professor  Carlyle,  while  engaged  in  pre- 
paring the  copy  for  the  press,  and  some  difliculties  arising  out  of  the 

idea  of  the  wealth  and  power  of  the  Europeans,  I  am  afraid  (hat  the  Mahomcilan 
converts  among  thoni,  tliink  but  very  litrhtly  of  our  relifjious  knowledge.  The 
white  traders,  in  tlie  maritime  districts,  take  no  pains  to  counteract  this  unhappy 
prejudice  'I"o  nie,  therefore,  it  was  not  so  n)iicli  the  subject  of  wonder  as  of  re, 
gret,  to  obstrve,  thai,  wliile  the  superstition  of  Mahomed  has  in  this  niauner  scat- 
tered a  few  beams  of  icaruincr  among  tliese  |>oor  people,  the  precious  iifjht  of 
Christianity  is  allou^elher  wiiliheld.  I  could  not  but  lament,  ihat,  although  the 
coast  of  Africa  lias  now  been  known  and  frc(|uented  by  the  Iliiropeans  for  more 
than  200  ycar>,  yel  the  Nc;,'roes  still  remain  entire  strangers  to  the  doctrines  of 
our  holy  religion."— '/"raic/*  in  1799. 


CHAP.  V.|  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  I59 

contract  for  the  types,  occasioned  a  considerable  embarrassment,  and 
put  a  stop,  for  a  period,  to  the  projected  undertaking. 

It  was  during  this  interval  that  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety conceived  the  design,*  of  promoting  a  correct  and  acceptable 
impression  of  the  Arabic  Scriptures.  The  subject  underwent  very 
serious  and  repeated  examination  ;  and  an  extended  correspondence 
was  carried  on  with  tlie  Bishops  of  London  and  Durham,  the  Profes- 
sors of  Arabic  in  both  our  Universities,  and  otlier  persons  of  compe- 
tent information,  with  a  view  to  the  ascertainment  of  a  standard  text, 
and  such  other  points  as  required  to  be  accurately  known  previously 
to  a  formal  and  conclusive  determination. 

In  the  course  of  this  inquiry,  the  Committee  derived  very  material 
assistance  both  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Usko,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Adam 
Clarke. t  These  Gentlemen  severally  delivered  their  respective 
opinions  on  the  quality  of  the  existing  versions,  the  peculiarities  of 
Oriental  typography,  and  other  matters  of  learned  detail.  Each  re- 
garded the  text  of  the  Polyglott  as  requiring  correction  :  and  both 
agreed  in  the  absolute  expediency  of  printing  the  Scriptures  in  the 
Arabic  language  :  as  "  the  very  great  importance  of  an  Arabic  Bible" 
(said  Mr.  Usko)  "  must  strike  every  unprejudiced  mind ;  considering 
that  the  Arabic  language  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  that  exists  per- 
haps on  the  surface  of  our  globe."  Dr.  Clarke  expressed  himself  to 
the  same  effect,  with  great  earnestness  and  decision,  at  the  close  of 
one  of  his  communications  to  the  President  of  the  Society. 

"  A  pure  edition  of  the  Arabic  Scriptures  is  still  a  desideratum  in 
Biblical  literature.  The  time,  I  hope,  is  at  hand,  in  which  it  shall 
cease  to  be  so.  Under  the  auspices  and  direction  of  your  Lordship, 
and  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  I  am  led  confidently  to  ex- 
pect an  edition  of  the  Arabic  Bible,  which  shall  be  worthy  of  the 
subject,  a  credit  to  your  Lordship  and  the  Society,  and  an  honour  to 
the  British  Nation." 

The  caution  with  which  the  conductors  of  the  Society  felt  it  their 
duty  to  proceed,  in  a  case  wherein  so  little  appeared  to  have  been 
correctly  done,  and  such  a  diversity  of  opinions  continued  to  prevail 
on  the  best  mode  of  doing  any  thing,  protracted  the  investigation  till 

»  Chap.  iv.  p.  14C. 

t  Among  those  who  offered  to  co-operate  in  producing:  a  new  edition  of  the 
Arabic  Bible,  was  the  Rev.  George  Reiiouard,  Fellow  of  Sidney  Collef^c,  Cam- 
bridge, successively  Chaplain  at  Constantinople  and  at  Smyrna.  This  Gentleman 
very  kindly  tendered  his  services  to  correct  the  press,  if  it  were  determined  that  the 
edition  should  be  printed  at  Cambridge. 


160  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

the  obstacles  which  impeded  the  late  Professor  Carl^-le's  undertaking 
had  been  comjdctely  removed,  and  that  work  was  announced  as  in 
train  for  immediate  execution.  The  Committee  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  finding  their  own  plans  altogether  immature, 
and  unwilUng  to  sacrifice  any  further  to  delay,  determined  to  sub- 
scribe for  300  copies,  as  a  temporary  expedient,  and  accompanied 
that  determination  with  an  express  resolution  to  defer  printing  an 
edition  on  their  own  account,  till  by  an  extension  of  their  inquiries 
they  should  have  obtained  more  exact  and  satisfactory  information. 

It  has  since  appeared,  that  the  hesitation  of  the  Committee  to  em- 
bark in  an  impression,  with  the  limited  and  insufficient  materials 
which  they  af  that  time  possessed,  was  not  greater  than  the  occasion 
demanded.  The  text  of  the  Polyglott,  adopted  in  Professor  Carlyle's 
edition,  which  (as  it  has  appeared)  both  Mr.  Usko  and  Dr.  A.  Clarke 
had  pronounced  to  be  incorrect,  has  been  declared  by  the  late  learn- 
ed, pious,  and  enterprising  Martyn,  to  be  defective  in  printing  and 
elegance :  and  the  new  Arabic  version  of  Sabat,  by  which  it  is  to  be 
superseded  in  India,  promises,  upon  the  same  high  authority,  corro- 
borated by  many  other  testimonies,  to  supply,  most  effectually,  this 
great  desideratum  in  Biblical  hterature.* 

While,  however,  so  much  is  said  in  depreciation  of  the  current  text, 
it  ought  in  justice  to  be  observed,  that  the  strictures  are  founded 
chiefly  upon  a  critical  reference  to  the  language  as  vernacular  in 
Arabia  ;  and  do  not  invalidate  the  claims  of  that  text  to  respect,  as, 
upon  the  whole,  a  faithful  vehicle  of  the  divine  word,  and  an  instru- 

•  In  a  letter  of  the  Rev.  H.  Martyn's  from  Shiraz,  dated  June  -1,  1811,  there  itt 
the  follow in-^  passage: 

"  Of  the  Arabic  version  of  the  Polyglott,  the  late  Professor  Carlylc,  iii  his  copy 
of  proposals  for  printing  a  new  edition  of  it,  speaks  in  the  highest  terms  ;  and  ob- 
serves, that  it  was  used  both  by  Jews  and  Christians  as  a  faithful  and  elegant  re- 
presentation of  their  respective  books  of  faith.  But  even  supposing  that  both  Jews 
and  Christians  are  satisfied  with  the  translation,  no  one  who  has  had  an  opportunity 
of  observing  the  degraded  state  of  these  people  in  the  East,  would  admit  them  as 
competent  Judges  of  the  Arabic.  The  Professor  has  adduced,  in  favour  of  the  ver- 
sion in  question,  the  opinions  of  Erpenius,  Gabriel  Sionita,  and  Pocock,  names  of 
high  consideration  in  Arabic  learning,  particularly  the  last,  who,  from  his  long  re- 
sidence at  Aleppo  and  Constantinople,  had  great  opportunities  of  judging.  It  is 
certain,  however,  that  such  of  the  .Mahomcdaus  as  have  seen  this  version,  think  very 
differently  of  it." 

Mr.  Martyn  further  states,  that  he  had  shown  to  a  learned  Arab  at  Bushire, 
Erpenius's  .\rabic  Testament,  the  Bartlett's  Buildings'  edition,  .Sabat's,  and  the 
Polyglott.  "After  rejecting  all  but  Sabat's,"  (observes  Mr.  Martyn,)  "  he  said  ; 
'This  is  pood,  very  good:'  and  then  read  otT  the  5th  chapter  of  St.  Matthew  in  a 
fine  style,  giving  it  unqualified  commendation  as  he  went  along." 


CHAP,  v.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  Igj 

ment  of  approved  usefulness  in  the  propagation  of  Christianity  among 
Heathen  nations. 

Before  dismissing  this  topic  altogether,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  re- 
late a  circumstance,  which,  though  considerably  posterior  in  date,  will 
be  found  to  connect  very  properly  with  the  decision  of  the  Com- 
mittee, as  already  recorded. 

Of  the  300  copies  of  the  Arabic  Bible,  obtained  through  the  me- 
dium of  the  above-mentioned  subscription,  twelve  were  put  into  cir- 
culation by  an  occurrence  which  deserves  to  be  particularly  noticed. 
A  missionary,  in  the  service  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society,  to 
whose  care  these  copies  had  been  assigned,  was  unfortunately  wrecked 
on  the  coast  of  Africa.  A  portion  of  the  cargo  redeemed  from  the 
waves,  was  sold  to  the  natives,  and  of  it  these  Arabic  Bibles  formed 
a  part.  The  missionary  made  every  effort  in  his  power  to  re-pur- 
chase them  :  but  without  success.  As  much  as  8/.  was  offered  for  a 
copy,  but  refused  :  the  Mahomedan  natives  persisting  in  their  resolu- 
tion not  to  part  with  them  on  any  terms. 

This  event,  which  took  place  in  the  Spring  of  1813,  is  introduced 
in  this  place  as  affording  a  confirmation  of  the  intelligence  upon 
which  the  proceedings  of  the  Committee  in  this  instance  were  founded 
— that  Arabic  Bibles  would  obtain  a  ready  circulation  among  the  Ma- 
homedan natives  of  Africa. 

As  the  assistance  of  Dr.  Adam  Clarke,  in  the  Arabic  business,  ha? 
been  referred  to,  it  appears  proper  to  state,  that,  with  the  expres- 
sion of  their  thanks  for  this  and  other  eminent  services,  which  had 
cost  him  no  ordinary  sacrifice  both  of  time  and  of  labour,  the  Com- 
mittee requested  permission  to  present  the  Doctor  with  50^  an  offer- 
ing which  that  learned  and  public-spirited  individual  respectfully  but 
peremptorily  decUned  to  accept.  Gratuitous  exertions  in  the  cause 
of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  refusals  to  accept  pe- 
cuniary returns,  have  abounded  so  greatly  in  every  period  of  its  his- 
tory, that  it  is  not  intended,  nor  would  it  indeed  be  practicable,  to 
specify  the  occasions  on  which  they  have  been  made.  Dr.  Clarke 
is,  however,  not  to  be  classed  with  ordinary  benefactors ;  and  the 
circumstance  has  been  mentioned  principally  with  a  view  of  introdu- 
cing his  reply  to  the  Committee's  address — a  document,  which  the 
author  of  this  History  considers  as  too  important  to  be  sacrificed  to 
the  modesty  of  living  merit. 


162  mSTORV  Ol- THE  BRITISH  ; PART  I, 


To  Messrs.  Reyncr  and  Mills. 

"  Gentlemen, 
"  With  great  respect  and  gratitude  I  return  the  Fijitj  Pounds  which 
Iiave  been  kindly  sent  me  by  the  Committee  of  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society.  To  no  principle  whence  my  services  proceeded, 
and  to  no  feeling  of  my  heart,  can  I  reconcile  the  acceptance  of  the 
Society's  bounty.  What  I  have  done,  was  for  the  sake  of  God  and 
his  truth  ;  and  I  feel  myself  greatly  honoured  in  having  a  part  in  this 
blessed  work,  and  ordy  regret,  that  I  have,  probably,  but  a  short  time 
to  devote  to  so  useful  an  employment.  To  have,  in  any  measure, 
deserved  the  respectful  attention  with  which  my  feeble  services  have 
been  honoured  by  the  Committee,  is  a  subject  of  sufficient  gratifica- 
tion to  my  mind,  and  brings  with  it  the  amplest  remuneration. 

"  God  forbid  that  I  should  receive  any  part  of  the  Society's  funds  : 
— let  this  money  therefore  return  to  its  source ;  and  if  it  be  the  in- 
strument of  carrying  but  one  additional  Bible  to  any  place  or  family, 
previously  destitute  of  the  words  of  eternal  life,  how  much  reason 
shall  I  have  to  thank  God  that  it  never  became  part  of  my  property! 
"  Have  the  goodness  to  assure  the  Committee  of  my  perfect  readi- 
ness, whether  present  or  absent,  to  promote,  as  far  as  my  time  and 
abilities   may  permit,  the  great  objects  of  this  most  benevolent  As- 
:iociation  ;  which,  like  the  Apocalyptic   angel,  is  flying  through  the 
midst  of  heaven,  having  the  everlasting  Gospel  to  preach  to  every 
nation,  and  kindred,  and  tongue,  and  people. 
"  1  am.  Gentlemen, 
"  With  best  respects  to  tlie  Committee, 

"  Your  very  affectionate  fellow-labourer, 
'In  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
"A.  CLARKE." 
(  iiy  lioadyJune  20,  1807. 

It  remains  now  to  state  what  was  done  in  furtherance  of  the  last 
foreign  object  mentioned  in  the  general  enumeration — the  printing  of 
the  Icelandic  Scripttires. 

The  reader  has  been  informed,  that  it  was  determined,  on  the  Gth 
of  October,  1806,  to  co-operate  with  the  Danish  Society  in  Fiihnen, 
by  bearing  the  expense  of  3,000  copies  of  the  Icelandic  Testament, 
in  addition  to  2,000  which  that  Society  had  engaged  to  print  at  Co- 
penhagen, on  its  own  account.  Of  this  resolution  a  communication 
was  speedily  made,  both  to  the  Fiihnen  Society,  and  to  Mr.  Paterson, 


CHAP.  V.l  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


6J3 


who,  by  desire  of  that  Society,  had  consented  to  charge  himself  with 
the  executive  conduct  of  the  business.  The  work  having  been  finish- 
ed, and  the  copies  bound,  1,500  were  despatched  to  different  parts  of 
Iceland  by  the  ships  which  sailed  for  that  island  in  the  Spring  of 
J 807.  The  war  between  England  and  Denmark  prevented  the 
transmission  of  the  remaining  copies  ;  and  the  bombardment  of  Copen- 
hagen, which  followed  shortly  after,  threatened  them  with  seemingly 
inevitable  destruction.  That  destruction  was,  however,  averted ; 
and  this  inflammable  treasure  preserved  in  the  midst  of  a  conflagration 
which  laid  almost  every  thing  around  it  in  ashes.  Two  bombs  are 
stated  to  have  entered  the  house  where  the  unbound  copies  were 
lying :  and  the  warehouse  which  contained  the  500  bound  copies,  de- 
signed as  a  present  to  the  Bishop  of  Iceland,  was  nearly  burnt  to  the 
ground,  that  part  only  having  escaped  the  flames  in  "which  these  copies 
were  deposited. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  copies  despatched  to  Iceland  reached  in  safe- 
ty the  places  to  which  they  had  been  consigned.  The  Fiihnen  So- 
ciety, which  had  undertaken  to  transmit  them,  used  the  precaution 
to  have  them  so  judiciously  distributed,  that  the  benefit  imparted 
through  them  might  be  extended  to  various  parts  of  the  island.  From 
the  disposition  of  the  people,  and  the  want  to  which  they  were  re- 
duced, it  could  not  but  be  regretted,  that  a  larger  number  had  not 
been  despatched  before  the  commencement  of  hostiUties  ;  yet  it  was 
matter  of  consolation  to  be  assured,  on  the  authority  before  quoted, 
that  from  the  prudent  disposition  of  the  supply  already  furnished, 
every  poor  family,  attached  to  the  divine  word,  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
places  where  the  distribution  was  made,  would  be  able  to  get  pos- 
session of  a  copy.  What  feeling  mind,  when  reflecting  on  this  most 
seasonable  provision  for  a  pious,  but  indigent,  and  almost  forgotten 
portion  of  the  Christian  community,  will  not  sympathize  with  the 
Fiihnen  Society  in  the  following  devout  and  benevolent  prayer  ? 
"  May  our  blessed  Lord  grant  that  this  distribution  of  the  divine  word 
may  be  salutary  to  many,  and  that  multitudes  may  be  guided  by  thi? 
divine  light,  to  life  eternal !" 

The  acceptance  with  which  the  Testament  was  greeted  by  the  in- 
habitants of  Iceland,  suggested  the  importance  of  taking  a  further 
step  on  behalf  of  these  interesting  people,  and  gratifying  their  eager 
desire  for  the  word  of  God,  by  giving  them  the  v/hole  Bible.  With 
this  view,  the  sum  of  300/.  was  appropriated  to  the  purpose  of  print- 
ing the  Old  Testament,  and  steps  were  taken  to  prepare  the  requi- 
site materials,  when  it  became  necessary  for  Mr.  Pat-irson,  on  whom 
the  superintendence  of  the  work  devolved,  to  quit  his  po.-t  of  labour 


164  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  jPART  I 

in  the  Danish  capital,  and  seek  a  temporary  asylum  in  some  friendly 
or  neutral  territory.  The  removal,  however,  of  Mr.  Paterson  did 
not  take  place,  till  he  had  put  matters  into  as  good  a  train  at  Copen- 
hagen, as  circumstances  would  allow  ;  and  it  will  hereafter  appear, 
that  to  this  change  of  place,  dictated  by  a  seemingly  harsh  necessity, 
may  be  traced  the  origin  of  those  measures,  which,  cherished  by  the 
respective  countries  in  which  they  were  proposed,  have  terminated 
in  the  establishment  of  active,  useful,  and  flourishing  Bible  Societies 
in  the  north,  and  north-eastern  sovereignties  of  Europe. 

While  these  proceedings  were  going  on,  and  the  wants  of  foreign 
nations  were  receiving  their  due  measure  of  attention,  no  less  dili- 
gence was  employed  in  diffusing,  or  in  preparing  to  diffuse,  the  bene- 
fits of  the  Institution  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  British  dominions. 
Already  the  mountains  of  Wales  had  been  partially  illumined  with 
the  heavenly  light;  and  the  time  was  drawing  near  when  the  rocks 
of  Scotland  should  be  visited  with  the  benefit  of  a  similar  illumina- 
tion. 

The  course  pursued  in  providing  an  impression  of  the  Gaelic  Bi- 
ble, for  the  Scotch  Highlanders,  has  been  particularly  described. 
The  work  was  now  considerably  advanced,  and  in  the  prospect  of  its 
approaching  completion,  a  printed  circular,  signed  by  the  President, 
was,  in  the  Summer  of  1807,  despatched  to  the  parochial  ministers 
generally,  throughout  the  Highlands,  announcing  the  edition  as  ex- 
pected to  be  ready  for  delivery  by  the  end  of  the  ensuing  October, 
and  offering  it  for  sale  to  subscribers,  at  3s.  3d.  for  the  Bible,  and 
lOd.  for  the  Testament ;  and  on  the  same  advantageous  terms  to  mi- 
nisters, whether  they  were  subscribers  or  not. 

The  information  of  a  Bible  printed  in  their  vernacular  dialect,  from 
a  copy  accredited  by  the  first  authorities  in  their  church,  and  tender- 
ed to  them  at  a  price  considerabl}'  below  the  standard  at  which  they 
had  been  accustomed  to  procure  it,  whenever  they  were  able  to  pro- 
cure it  at  all,  was  an  article  of  very  acceptable  intelligence  to  the  in- 
habitants of  the  Highlands,  and  excited  the  liveliest  emotions  of  joy 
and  gratitude,  both  in  ministers  and  people.  The  former  proclaimed 
from  their  pulpits  the  agreeable  tidings,  and  the  latter  emulated  the 
zeal  of  their  pastors,  by  eagerly  subscribing  for  copies,  accordmg  to 
their  respective  wants  and  means  of  pecuniary  contribution. 

Numerous  letters  were  received,  in  consequence  of  the  circular 
notice,  and  the  measures  adopted  to  give  it  ])ublicity,  all  which  cor- 
roborated what  h:ul  been  reported  and  believed,  with  regard  to  the 
scarcity  of  Gaehc  Bibles,  and  the  great  anxiety  of  the  HigWanders  to 
possess  them. 


CHAP,  v.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  2g5 

"  I  gladly  embraced"  (saj'S  one  correspondent)*  '<  the  earliest  op- 
portunity of  acquainting  my  people  with  the  important  contents  ;  and 
they  have,  with  heartfelt  gratitude  to  the  worthy  Society,  and  I  trust 
with  unfeigned  thanks  to  the  God  of  all  grace,  subscribed,  &c."  "  I 
do  not  suppose,"  (adds  this  correspondent)  "  that,  among  4,000  souls 
under  my  pastoral  care,  there  were  a  dozen  Gaehc  Bibles."  "  I  re- 
quest," (saj's  another  correspondent)!  "if  possible,  that  the  honour- 
able Society  will  not  disappoint  us  of  any  of  the  number  subscribed 
for :  as  all  the  people  are  most  anxious  to  get  the  books  ;  and  exceed- 
ingly grateful  for  the  kind  dispensation  of  Pi-ovidence  towards  them, 
in  affording  them,  at  last,  an  opportunity  of  providing  themselves  with 
the  Holy  Scriptures  in  their  native  mother-language — a  thing  long 
wished  for  over  all  the  Highlands  of  Scotland." 

"  Many  of  the  poor  Highlanders  of  Glasgow,"  (writes  a  third)J 
*'  upon  hearing  of  the  Scriptures  in  our  native  language,  expressed 
their  heartfelt  gratitude  with  tears  of  joy  in  their  eyes,  considering, 
that  hitherto  they  could  not  be  purchased  under  25s.  sterling  at 
least." 

The  consequence  6f  a  feeling  at  once  so  warm  and  so  generally 
diffused,  was,  a  speedy  application  for  nearly  half  the  entire  impres- 
s'ion  ;  and  both  the  Bibles  and  Testaments,  when  delivered  from  the 
press,  obtained  a  rapid  and  extensive  circulation. 

Such  was  the  event  of  this  effort  to  furnish  a  cheap  and  abundant 
supply  of  the  Gaelic  Scriptures.  Few  undertakings  in  which  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  have  embarked  with  a  view  to  be- 
nefit their  British  fellow-subjects,  have  been  attended  throughout,  and 
recompensed  at  last,  with  more  pure  and  unclouded  satisfaction.  The 
interesting  nature  of  the  service,  the  liberal  co-operation  of  the  So- 
ciety in  Scotland  for  Propagating  Christian  Knowledge,  and  the  warm 
and  overflowing  gratitude  of  the  ingenuous  receivers  themselves, 
made  the  task  of  the  Society  a  source  of  unqualified  pleasure,  and  ul- 
timately ensured  to  their  labours  and  their  cares  a  full  and  an  ho- 
nourable reward.  Though  much  has  already  been  cited  from  the 
documents  transmitted  by  the  Highland  ministers,  the  author  cannot 
forbear  adding  another  extract  to  the  number  ;  and  with  that  will  con- 
clude his  account  of  the  subject. 

"  The  Bible  Society's  letter,  offering  a  supply  of  Gaelic  copies  of 
the  Sacred  Scriptures,  I  have  had  the  great  satisfaction  of  receiving-. 


•  Rev.  James  Macintosh,  Mansefield,  Ise  of  Islay. 

t  Rev.  John  Mac  Keith,  Southend  in  Campbeltown,  Argyleshirp. 

X  Rev.  John  Maclaurin,  Gaelic  Chape),  Glasg^ow. 


166 


lll.STOKY  OF  THE  BRI'I'ISH  [PART  I. 


I  have  endeavoured  to  impress  the  minds  of  my  people  with  a  just 
sense  of  the  benevolence  of  the  Society,  and  of  the  inestimable  be- 
nefit of  having  the  Scriptures,  it  may  be  said,  without  money  and 
without  price,  in  their  native  tongue  ;  and  I  have  the  pleasure  to  of- 
fer the  Society  their  warmest  thanks  for  the  truly  Christian  donation 
intended  for  them.  While  war  is  spreading  desolation  and  misery 
over  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  unrelenting  ambition  wades  through 
blood  and  carnage  to  attain  its  object ;  let  charity,  which  rejoiceth 
not  in  iniquity,  but  rejoiceth  in  the  truth,  apply  the  balm  of  consola- 
tion, hold  up  to  human  folly  and  wickedness  the  mirror  of  truth,  and, 
through  the  medium  of  the  Scriptures,  convince  the  world  that  god- 
liness has  the  promise  of  this  life,  and  of  that  which  is  to  come. 
Does  history  stain  her  page  with  the  sanguinary  achievements  of  the 
enemies  of  mankind,  and  will  she  forget  to  record  the  name  of  that 
wise  and  benevolent  Christian,  who  projected  the  plan  of  the  Bible 
Society,  and  contributed  his  labour  of  love  towards  promoting  its  ex- 
cellent tiesign  ?  While  the  voice  of  prophecy  is  silent,  and  the  poAver 
of  miracles  has  ceased  among^men,  let  the  amiable  exertions  of  cha- 
rity attract  the  attention,  and  excite  the  admiration  of  the  world. 
And  let  this  prove  an  era  in  which  truth  shall  prevail  over  error, 
and  in  which  the  Holy  Oracles  of  God  shall  carry  light  and  saving 
health  into  these  remote  and  far-extended  regions,  which  have  been 
long  under  the  power  of  darkness  and  the  delusion  of  error." 

Amidst  these  operations,  in  which,  regardless  of  every  thing  but 
the  simple  prosecution  of  its  object,  the  Society  continued  to  evince 
extraordinary  diligence  and  growing  activity,  exertions  were  not 
wanting  on  the  part  of  its  friends  to  obtain  for  it  an  increase  of  that 
patronage  which  might  augment  its  influence,  and  thereby  eidarge  its 
means  of  doing  good.  Foremost  in  the  rank  of  these  zealous  bene- 
factors, was  the  venerable  Bishop  Porteus,  By  his  Lordship's  de- 
sire, the  author  drew  up  an  Abstract  of  the  Society's  Constitution  and 
Proceedings  ;  printed  copies  of  which  the  Bishop  distributed  through 
many  respectable  channels. 

But  the  reader  will  form  a  still  better  idea  of  the  Bishop's  vigil- 
ance, and  anxiety  to  acquire  for  the  Institution  the  esteem  it  de- 
served, from  his  Lordship's  conduct  on  a  great  public  occasion. 

On  the  anniversary  of  the  King's  birth-day,  it  is  customary  for  the 
Archbishops  and  Bishops,  or  of  so  many  of  them  as  may  happen  to  be 
in  the  mctroi)olis  and  its  vicinity,  to  be  entertained  at  tlie  palace  of 
the  Bishop  of  London.  In  the  contemplation  of  this  festival,  (which 
was  to  take  place  on  the  4(h  of  June,  1V,06  )  the  liishop  desired  to 
he  furnished  with  copies  of  the  Third  Report,  that  he  might  have  an 


CJIAP.  v.]  &ND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  j(57 

opportunity  of  recommending  the  Society  to  his  Episcopal  Brethren, 
particularly  to  those  who  were  on  the  Irish  Bench.  His  Lordship's 
request  was  duly  complied  with ;  and  to  copies  of  the  Report  were 
added  some  specimens  of  Oriental  Translations,  and  Abstracts  of  the 
Society's  Proceedings.  The  following  extract  from  a  note  written 
the  day  after  the  meeting  of  the  Prelates,  will  show  how  attentively 
the  Bishop  had  studied  to  improve  this  opportunity  to  the  Society's 
advantage, 

"  I  return  your  specimens  with  many  thanks,  and  am  obliged  to 
you  for  the  other  pamphlets  ;  which  I  shall  endeavour  to  dispose  of 
properly.  I  gave  copies  of  the  complete  Reports  to  tlie  four  Irish 
Bishops,  and  recommended  them  strongly  to  their  notice.  Your 
short  statement  of  facts  will  be  very  useful," 

Shortly  after  this  period,  the  declining  health  of  the  Bishop  having 
induced  the  Faculty  to  prescribe  a  removal  to  Clifton,  his  Lordship, 
while  residing  there  as  a  valetudinarian,  found  an  agreeable  employ- 
ment for  the  energies  of  his  active  and  benevolent  mind,  in  distributing 
papers  recommendatory  of  the  Society,  and  m  doing  his  utmost  to 
introduce  it  to  tbe  favour  and  the  patronage  of  his  friends  of  every 
condition. 

Among  the  communications  transmitted  by  the  Bishop  while  se- 
questered at  Clifton,  was  a  printed  paper,  entitled,  "  Literary  Intel- 
ligence from  India."  This  inteUigence  respected  the  journey  of  the 
late  Rev.  Dr.  Buchanan  from  Calcutta  to  Travancore,  and  those 
interesting  discoveries  respecting  the  Syrian  Christians  which  were 
afterwards  incorporated  by  the  Doctor  himself  with  other  accounts, 
and  pubhshed  under  the  general  title  of  "  Christian  Researches  in 
India." 

To  the  information  contained  in  this  printed  paper  the  Bishop  at- 
tached considerable  importance  ;  and  the  reader  who  retlects  upon 
the  Bishop's  anxiety  to  have  the  Scriptures  translated  and  circulated 
in  India,  will  not  be  surprised  at  his  Lordship's  zealous  distribution 
of  a  sheet,  in  which,  among  other  interesting  articles,  the  following 
information  was  contained. 

"  It  ought  to  be  mentioned  to  the  praise  of  the  present  Bishop  of 
the  Romish  church  on  the  coast  of  Malabar,  that  he  has  consented  to 
the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  throughout  his  diocese.  The  Malay- 
ahm  Translation  acquires  from  this  circumstance  an  increased  impor- 
tance :  since  there  will  be  now  upwards  of  200,000  Christians  in  Ma- 
layala,  who  are  ready  to  receive  it.  The  translation  of  the  New 
Testament  (which  it  is  proposed  to  print  first)  has  already  commenced, 
under  the  superintendence  of  the  Syrian  Bishop.     The  true  cause  of 


it53  HISTORY  OP  THE  BRITISH  fPART  I, 

the  low  fctale  of  religion  among  the  Romish  churches  on  the  sea-coast, 
and  in  Ceylon,  is  their  want  of  the  Bible.  It  is  doubtful  whether 
gome  of  the  priests  know  that  such  a  book  exists.  It  is  injurious  to 
Christianity  in  India,  to  call  men  Christians,  who  know  not  the  Scrip- 
tures of  their  religion  ;  they  might  as  well  be  called  by  any  other 
name.  Oral  instruction  they  have  none,  even  from  their  European 
priests.  The  best  effects  may,  therefore,  be  expected  from  the  sim- 
ple means  of  putting  the  Bible  into  their  hands.  All  who  are  well 
acquainted  with  the  natives  know,  that  instruction  by  books  is  best  suit- 
ed to  them.  They  are  in  general  a  contemplative  people,  and  pa- 
tient in  their  inquiries  ;  anxious  also  to  know  what  it  can  be,  that  is 
of  importance  enough  to  be  tn'ritten;  at  the  same  time  that  they  re- 
gard written  precepts  with  respect.  If  they  possess  a  book  in  a  lan- 
guage which  they  understand,  it  will  not  be  left  long  unread.  In 
Tanjore,  and  other  places  where  the  Bible  is  freely  given,  the  Pro- 
testant religion  flourishes  ;  and  produces  the  happiest  effects  on  the 
character  of  the  people.  In  Tanjore,  the  Christian  virtues  will  be 
found  in  exercise  by  the  feeble-minded  Hindoo,  in  a  vigour  and 
purit}-^  which  will  surprise  those  who  have  never  known  the  native 
character,  but  under  the  greatest  disadvantages.  On  the  Sunday, 
the  people,  habited  in  their  best  apparel,  repair  to  the  parish  church, 
when  tlie  solemnity  of  their  devotion  in  accompanying  the  public 
prayers,  is  truly  impressive.  They  sing  the  old  psalm  tunes  well ; 
and  the  voice  of  the  full  congregation  may  be  heard  at  a  distance. 
Prayers  being  ended,  they  listen  to  the  sermon,  evidently,  with  deep 
attention  ;  nor  have  they  any  difliculty  in  understanding  it,  for  they 
almost  all,  both  men  and  women,  can  read  their  Bible.  Many  of  them 
take  down  the  discourse  on  alias,  that  they  may  read  it  afterwards  to 
their  families  at  home.*  As  soon  as  the  minister  has  pronounced  his 
text,  the  sound  of  the  iron  style  on  the  palm-leaf,  is  heard  throughout 
the  congregation.  Even  the  boys  of  the  schools  have  their  ollas  in 
their  hands,  and  may  be  seen,  after  divine  service,  reading  them  to 
their  mothers,  as  they  pass  over  their  fields  homewards.  This  apti- 
tude of  the  people  to  receive  and  record  the  words  of  the  preacher, 
renders  it  peculiarly  necessary  that  '  the  priests'  lips  should  keep 
knowledge.'  Upon  the  whole,  the  moral  conduct,  upright  dealing, 
decorous  manners,  and  decent  dress,  of  the  native  Protestants  of  Tan- 
jore, demonstrate  the  powerful  influence  and  pecuhar  excellence  of 


*  It  is  well  known  that  natives  of  Tanjore,  and  Travancore,  can  write  down  what 
is  spoken  deliberately,  without  losinir  one  word.  They  seldom  lopk  at  their  oUas 
while  writing  \  and  can  write  in  the  dark  with  fluency. 


THAP.  v.]  AMD  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  jgg 

the  Christian  religion.  It  ought,  however,  to  be  observed,  that  the 
Bible,  when  the  reading  of  it  becomes  general,  has  nearly  the  same 
effect  on  the  poor  of  every  place." 

To  these  particulars  it  may  be  sufficient  to  add,  that,  during  a  pe- 
riod of  several  months,  the  Bishop's  letters  from  Clifton,  which  were 
both  frequent  and  animated,  turned  for  the  most  part  on  his  favourite 
topic,  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  ;  and  either  recounted  the 
efforts  he  had  made  to  promote  its  interests,  by  conversation,  or  re- 
commendatory publications  ;  or  suggested  useful  hints  for  the  direc- 
tion of  its  affairs,  the  extension  of  its  operations,  or  the  adv^ancement 
of  its  success. 

The  author  has  dwelt  longer  on  the  personal  exertions  of  Bishop 
Porteus  in  favour  of  the  Society,  than  to  some  readers  may  perhaps 
appear  expedient:  but  when  it  is  considered,  against  how  many  ditfi- 
cultics  the  Society  had  to  struggle  during  the  few  first  years  of  its  esta- 
blishment, it  seems  but  just  to  make  known,  how  much  it  was  indebted, 
under  God,  for  its  progress,  to  the  fostering  care,  and  persevering 
friendship,  of  a  Prelate,  whose  other  honours  will  suffer  no  dispa- 
ragement by  an  association  with  those  which  he  has  derived  from  the 
patronage  of  an  Institution  for  disseminating  the  Christian  Scriptures 
through  every  part  of  the  world. 

Things  were  proceeding  in  this  prosperous  manner,  when  on  a 
sudden  the  horizon  of  the  Society  was  darkened,  and  a  storm  arose, 
which  frowned  defiance  upon  its  Eastern  labours,  and  seemed  to  por- 
tend the  annihilation  of  its  plans  for  disseminating  the  invaluable 
blessings  of  divine  revelation  through  the  regions  of  Hindoostan.  Of 
this  formidable  trial,  and  the  issue  to  which  it  was  brought,  the  au- 
thor will  la)'  before  the  reader  an  authentic  and  circumstantial  nar- 
ration. 

In  the  month  of  October,  1807,  a  pamphlet  appeared,  under  the 
title  of  "  A  Letter  to  the  Chairman  of  the  East  India  Company,  on 
the  danger  of  interfering  in  the  Religious  Opinions  of  the  Natives  of 
India,  and  on  the  Views  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  as 
directed  to  India."  The  letter  was  signed,  "  A  Proprietor  ;"  and  was 
generally  ascribed  fo  Thomas  Twining,  Esq.  a  gentleman  of  great 
respectability,  who  had  recently  returned  from  Bengal.  To  a  second 
edition  of  the  letter,  Mr.  Twining  affixed  his  name,  with  the  desig- 
nation of"  Late  Senior  Merchant  on  the  Bengal  Establishment ;"  and 
added  an  advertisement,  purporting,  that,  having  been  encouraged  by 
many  of  his  friends  to  proceed,  he  should  bring  the  subject  of  his  let- 
ter before  the  Court  of  Proprietors  at  their  next  quarterly  meeting. 


170  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PARTI, 

In  order  to  put  the  reader  in  possession  of  the  ground  upon  which 
the  Society  was  attacked,  and  the  extent  of  the  danger  with  which  it 
was  threatened,  it  will  be  proper  to  extract  a  i'ew  passages  from  that 
portion  of  the  letter  which  referred  expressly  to  the  views  and  con- 
duct of  the  British  and  Foreign  Pible  Society,  as  directed  to  India. 

"  With  infinite  concern  and  alarm"  (says  Mr.  Twining)  "  I  have 
lately  heard  of  proceedings  which  convey  to  my  humble  apprehen- 
sion evidence  of  a  strong  disposition,  in  a  quarter  too,  where,  above 
all  others,  its  existence  is  most  to  be  dreaded,  to  interfere  in  the  reli- 
gious opinions  of  the  native  inhabitants  oflndia^ 

"  I  must  then,  Sir,  observe,  that  my  fears  of  attempts  to  disturb  the 
religious  systems  of  India,  have  been  especiiilly  excited  by  my  hearing 
that  a  Society  exists  in  this  country,  the  chief  object  of  which  is  the 
?/ftirersaZ  dissemination  of  the  Christian  faith;  particularly  among  those 
nations  of  the  East  to  whom  we  possess  a  safe  facility  of  access,  and 
whose  minds  and  doctrines  are  known  to  be  most  obscured  by  the 
darkness  of  infidelity.  Upon  this  topic,  so  delicate  and  solemn,  I 
shall,  for  the  present,  make  but  oile  observation.  I  shall  only  ob- 
serve, that  if  a  Society,  having  such  objects  in  view,  does  exist ;  and 
if  the  leading  Members  of  that  Society  are  also  leading  Members  of 
the  East  India  Company ;  and  not  only  of  the  East  India  Company, 
but  of  the  Court  of  Directors  ;  nay,  Sir,  not  only  of  the  Court  of  Di- 
rectors, but  of  the  Board  of  Control ;  if,  I  say,  these  alarming  hy-. 
potheses  are  true  ;  then,  Sir,  are  our  possessions  in  the  East  already  in 
a  situation  of  most  imminent  and  unprecedented  peril ;  and  no  less  a 
danger  than  the  threatened  extermination  of  our  Eastern  Sovereignty, 
commands  us  to  step  forth,  and  arrest  the  progress  of  such  rash  and  wn- 
Tjoarrantahle  proceedings ^ 

The  writer  then  states  ''  the  principal  grounds  of  his  suspicion  and 
anxiety,"  by  exhibiting  a  series  of"  Extracts  from  the  Reports,  and 
from  letters  therein  contained  of  the  Committee  of  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society,"  and  also  from  "  Dr.  Buchanan's  Memoir,"  re- 
ferred to  in  the  Society's  Report.  It  is  proper  to  observe,  that  these 
Extracts  are  exhibited  in  a  detached  and  insulated  form  :  and  they  con- 
clude with  the  following  passage  from  Dr.  Buchanan's  Memoir. 

"  No  Christian  nation  ever  possessed  such  an  extensive  field  for 
the  propagation  of  the  Christian  faith,  as  that  afforded  to  us  by  our  in- 
fluence over  the  hundred  million  natives  of  Hindoostan.  No  other 
nation  ever  possessed  such  facilities  for  the  extension  of  its  faith,  as 
we  now  have  in  the  government  of  a  passive  people,  who  yield  sub- 
missively to  our  mild  sway,  reverence  our  principles,  and  acknow- 


GHAP.  V.l  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


171 


ledge  our  dominion  to  be  a  blessing.  Why  should  it  be  thought  in- 
credible that  Providence  hath  been  pleased,  in  a  course  of  years,  to 
subjugate  this  Eastern  empire  to  the  most  civilized  nation  in  the 
world,  for  this  very  purpose  ? 

"  The  progressive  civilization  of  the  Hindoos  will  never  injure  the 
interests  of  the  East  India  Company.  But  shall  a  Christian  people, 
acknowledging  a  Providence  in  the  rise  and  fall  of  empires,  regulate 
the  feeling  of  future  times,  and  neglect  a  present  duty  ;  a  solemn  and 
imperious  duty  ;  exacted  by  their  religion,  by  their  pubhc  principles, 
and  by  the  opinions  of  the  Christian  nations  around  them !  Or  can 
it  be  gratifying  to  the  English  nation  to  reflect,  that  they  receive  the 
riches  of  the  East  on  the  terms  of  chartering  immoral  superstition  ! 

"  No  truth  has  been  more  clearly  demonstrated  than  this,  that  the 
communication  of  Christian  instruction  to  the  natives  of  India,  is  easy  • 
and  that  the  benefits  of  that  instruction,  civil  as  well  as  moral,  will  be 
inestimable.  Whether  we  consider  the  happiness  diffused  amono-  so 
many  millions,  or  their  consequent  attachment  to  our  government,  or 
the  advantages  resulting  from  the  introduction  of  the  civilized  arts. 
Every  thing  that  can  brighten  the  hope,  or  animate  the  feeling  of  a 
virtuous  people,  organizing  a  new  empire,  and  seeking  the  most  ra- 
tional means,  under  the  favour  of  heaven,  to  ensure  its  perpetuity  • 
every  consideration  we  aver,  would  persuade  us  to   diffuse  the 

BLESSINGS  OF    CHRISTIAN  KNOWLEDGE    AMONG    OUR    InDIAN    SUBJECTS." 

"  Having  placed"  (says  Mr.  Twining)  "  the  foregoing  circum- 
stances— the  grounds,  as  they  appear  to  me,  of  seasonable  suspicion, 
and  just  alarm — before  you,  Sir,  the  Chairman  of  the  East  India  Com- 
pany, I  have,  I  beheve,  done  all  that  a  mere  proprietor  of  stock  has 
it  in  his  power  to  do.  With  you.  Sir,  and  the  Gentlemen  who  are 
appointed,  with  you,  to  watch  over  and  direct  the  affairs  of  the  Com- 
pany, rests  the  power  of  further  inquiry  into  these  serious  matters, 
and  the  application  of  such  measures  as  the  issue  of  further  inquiry 
may  appear  to  demand. 

"  From  a  very  early  period  of  my  life,  my  time  has  been  spent 
among  the  natives  of  India ;  and  I  believe,  I  may  say,  it  has  in  some 
degree  been  spent  in  promoting  their  happiness.  I  have  been  in  va- 
rious situations  with  theui,  and  over  them,  from  the  Presidency  of  Fort 
William  to  the  most  distant  parts  of  Hindoostan  :  and  this  intercourse 
has  led  to  an  attachment,  which  will  not  permit  me  to  remain  a  silent 
spectator  of  attempts  to  disturb  their  dearest  rights  and  wound  their  ten- 
derest  feelings.  I  should,  indeed,  feel  myself  entitled  to  the  reproach 
of  numerous  and  most  respectable  inhabitants  of  India,  my  personal 


272  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  IPART  1, 

acquaintances  and  friends,  if  I  could  forget  or  forsake  them  on  such 


an  occasion. 


Mr.  rwining's  conclusion  is  in  the  following  words  : 

"  As  long  as  we  continue  to  govern  India  in  the  mild  and  tolerant 
spirit  of  Christianity,  we  may  govern  it  with  ease  :  but  if  ever  the 
fa-al  day  shall  arrive,  'when  religious  innovation  shall  set  her  foot  in  that 
country,  indignation  will  spread  from  one  end  of  Hindoostan  to  the  other  ; 
and  the  arms  of  fifty  millions  of  people  will  drive  vs  from  that  portion 
of  the  globe,  xvith  as  much  ease  as  the  sand  of  the  desert  is  scattered  by 
the  wind.  But  I  still  hope,  Sir,  that  a  perseverance  in  the  indiscreet 
measures  I  have  described,  will  not  be  allowed  to  expose  our  coun- 
trymen in  India  to  the  horrors  of  that  dreadful  day :  but  that  our  na- 
tive subjects  in  every  part  of  the  East,  zcill  be  permitted  to  follow  their 
own  religious  opinions,  their  own  religious  prejudices  and  absurdities, 
until  it  shall  please  the  Omnipotent  power  of  Heaven  to  lead  them  into 
the  paths  0/ 'Light  and  Truth." 

The  changes  which  have  taken  place  since  the  date  of  this  publi- 
cation, both  in  the  religious  state  of  Indiaj  and  in  the  opinion  enter- 
tained about  the  propagation  of  Christianity  in  the  East,  give  to  much 
of  what  has  been  cited  from  Mr.  Twining's  pages  the  air  of  irony 
and  satire,  rather  than  of  grave  complaint  and  serious  expostulation. 
The  reader  may,  however,  be  assured,  that  the  writer  was  sincere  in 
the  expression  of  his  alarm,  and  of  his  determination  to  use  his  ut- 
most efforts  to  arrest  the  progress  of  that  Institution  by  which  it  had 
been  occasioned. 

Scarcely  had  this  pamphlet  met  the  public  eye,  when  a  sensation 
was  excited  by  its  perusal,  which  promised  to  assist  the  designs  of  its 
author  ;  and  to  strengthen  that  party  on  which  he  relied  for  bringing 
about  a  peremptory  interdiction  of  the  Society's  operations  within  the 
limits  of  British  India.  Many  causes  contributed  to  the  production 
of  this  impression  in  favour  of  Mr.  Twining's  appeal.  Among  them 
may  be  enumerated,  the  topics  of  alarm,  so  gravely  and  plausibly 
exhibited  ;  the  character  of  the  author,  ^his  long  residence  in  India, 
and  recent  return  from  that  country  ;  and  above  all,  an  extreme  ig- 
norance and  misconception  of  the  subject,  united  with  a  slavish  attach- 
ment to  worldly  policy,  and  a  morbid  apprk  Llension  of  every  thing 
which  was  represented  as  likely  to  disturb  the  security  of  our  Asiatic 
possessions. 

It  will  naturally  be  concluded,  that  so  serious  an  attack,  conducted 
by  a  leader  of  su«  h  authority  and  iniluence,  aiii  supported  by  allies 
who  seemed  to  consider  their  interest,  their  honour,  and  almost  their 


CHAP,  v.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  I73 

very  existence,  to  depend  upon  its  success,  would  neither  escape  the 
observation  of  the  Officers  of  the  Society,  nor  be  regarded  by  them 
with  inactivity  or  unconcern.  The  Noble  President,  ever  watchful 
to  discern  the  approach  of  danger,  and  prompt  to  devise  the  means  of 
repelhng  it,  among  other  steps  which  he  judged  it  expedient  to  take, 
suggested  to  the  author  the  propriety  of  giving  the  hostile  letter  a  se- 
rious examination.  In  consequence  of  this  suggestion,  strengthened 
by  the  observation  of  the  unfavourable  effect  produced  by  Mr. 
Twining's  letter  on  the  public  mind,  the  author,  though  not  a  little 
embarrassed  by  his  numerous  avocations,  both  domestic  and  parochial, 
determined  to  prepare  a  reply. 

This  reply,  which  was  published  early  in  December,  under  the 
title  of  "  An  Address  to  the  Chairman  of  the  East  India  Company, 
occasioned  by  Mr.  Twining's  Letter  to  that  Gentleman,  &c."  confined 
itself  strictly  to  the  defence  of  the  Briti.^h  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
and  chose  the  narrowest  ground  on  which  it  appeared  to  admit  of  be- 
ing defended.  The  "  Address"  undertook  to  prove,  that,  neither  in 
the  object,  the  patronage,  nor  the  proceedings  of  the  Society,  was  there 
any  thing  to  justify  the  charge  of  culpable  interference  with  the  re- 
ligious systems  of  India,  or  to  authorize  the  apprehension  of  those 
alarming  consequences  to  our  sovereignty  in  the  East,  which  had  been 
so  confidently  predicted." 

It  is  denied  in  the  "  Address,"  that  the  object  o£  the  Society  is  cort 
rectly  defined,  when  that  object  is  stated  to  be  "  the  dissemination  oi 
the  Christian  faith."  On  tliis  part  of  the  defence,  the  following  re- 
marks, as  showing  the  distinct  and  insulated  character  of  the  Institu- 
tion, may  be  not  wholly  unwortliy  of  the  reader's  attention. 

"  Whatever  may  be  the  end  which  the  Society  contemplates,  that 
only  can  be  considered  as  its  object,  towards  which  its  means  are  di- 
rected, and  in  which  they  all  converge  and  terminate.  That  central, 
that  ultimate  point,  in  the  case  of  the  Society  under  consideration,  is, 
as  we  have  seen,  Sir, — not  '  the  Dissemination  of  the  Christian 
Faith, — but  THE  Circulation  of  the  Scriptures.'  In  this  respect, 
the  Society  possesses  a  characteristic  feature,  which  discriminates  it 
from  every  voluntary  association  on  an  extensive  scale  for  religious 
purposes  now  in  existence,  and  brings  the  question  of  its  merits  or 
demerits  within  very  narrow  and  convenient  bounds. 

"  There  exists.  Sir,  in  this  country,  as  you  very  well  know,  a  most 
venerable  and  useful  Institution,  '  The  Society  for  Promoting  Chris- 
tian Knowledge.'     This  Society  may  be  accurately  enough  represent- 
e.i  within  the  limits  prescribed  by  its  charter,  (and  happy  should  I  be 
24 


174 


HIStORY  OF  THE  BRmSlI  [PART  I 


to  see  British  India  within  those  Hmits,)*  as  having  for  its  object,  the 
Dissemination  of  the  Christiim  Faith.  The  latitude  of  its  designation, 
and  the  g^erahty  with  which  its  object  is  expressed,  allow  to  this 
Society  an  unlimited  choice  of  means.  It  may  define,  and  systematize, 
and  classify,  the  several  points  of  Christian  Theology :  it  may  issue 
Tracts  on  all  and  any  matters  of  doctrine  and  discipline,  at  its  discre- 
tion :  it  may  employ  Missionaries  and  Catechists,  erect  Churches  and 
Schools,  and  proceed  ad  libitum,  for  the  accomplishment  of  its  pur- 
poses. And  why  ? — For  the  reason  above  given  :  because  its  desig- 
nation is  general,  and  its  object  undefined.  Not  so  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society.  It  can  do  but  07ie  act  for  the  propagation  of 
Christianity  ;  it  can  distribute  buto?8e  Book  ;  and  that  Book — the  Bi- 
ble. It  can  support  no  Missionaries,  erect  no  Churches,  endow  no 
Schools,  disseminate  no  Tracts  ;  it  cannot  issue  even  a  Dissertation  to 
recommend  the  Bible,  nor  annex  a  single  Note  to  explain  it.  Its  de- 
signation and  its  object  confine  it  to  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures: 
it  can  do  nothing  out  of  these  hmits  ;  it  can  do  nothing  beyond  them. 

"  Such  being  the  case,  I  am  really  at  a  loss  to  imagine,  on  what 
grounds  of  even  remote  plausibility,  any  man  can  have  reasoned  him- 
self into  a  belief,  that  a  Society,  whose  line  of  operation  is  so  pre- 
cisely defined,  whose- measures  of  proceeding  are  drawn  from  vague 
and  indefinite  generalities  to  one  sole,  exclusive,  and  cognizable  ob- 
ject, can  be  chargeable  with  the  design  of  culpable  interference  in 
the  religious  opinions  of  those,  to  whose  voluntary  improvement  its 
services  are  devoted. 

"  Does  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures  into  the  native  languages 
of  India  imply  such  culpable  interference  ?  Putting  out  of  the  ques- 
tion in  what  degree  literature,  and  arts,  and  polity,  are  concerned  to 
cultivate  those  ancient  and  venerable  languages ;  it  cannot,  I  think, 
admit  of  a  question,  that  we  are  bound,  both  injustice  and  gratitude, 
to  impart  to  those  nations  over  which  Providence  has  given  us  a  be- 
neficial dominion,  some  portion  at  least  of  the  light  we  enjoy,  through 
the  only  channels  by  which  they  can  receive  It.     Besides,  if  we  de- 

»  This  wish  is  now  likely  to  be  accomplisticd.  The  great  object  so  early,  zeal 
ftusly,  and  perseverinfily  recommended  by  the  late  Dr.  Buchanan,  that  of  establish 
ing  Episcopacy  in  India,  having  been  attained,  the  venerable  Society  for  Promoting 
Christian  Knowledge  granted  to  the  Bishop  of  Calcutta,  when  proceeding  to  his 
station,  "  a  vote  of  credit,  to  the  extent  of  1000/.  to  enable  his  Lordship  to  promote 
the  objects  of  the  Society  in  India,  in  such  a  way  as  he  should  deem  most  conso 
nant  to  the  Society's  designs." 

Beport  of  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  for  1814. 


CHAP.  V.j  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  jiy5 

rive  into  our  own  language  the  spurious  morality  of  India,*  it  is  but 
just  that  we  should  pour  back  into  theirs  the  genuine  morality 
of  Christendom.  If  we  acquaint  ourselves,  through  the  medium  of 
translation,  with  their  mythological  absurdities  and  amatory  trifles,  it 
is  but  fair  that  we  should  afford  them  an  opportunity  of  becoming  ac- 
quainted, through  the  same  innocent  medium,  with  the  august  myste- 
ries of  human  redemption,  and  the  solid  realities  of  the  Gospel. 
There  is,  at  all  events,  nothing  rude,  or  offensive,  or  unjust,  in  such 
a  commerce.  It  is,  to  say  the  least,  giving  gold  for  brass.  Heathens 
have,  certainly,  no  reason  to  complain  of  the  exchange. 

"  But  if  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures  be  mnocent,  the  circula- 
tion of  them  may  possibly  be  construed  into  an  act  of  aggression  upon 
the  systems  of  India.  I  cannot  pretend  to  say  what  answer  a  Brah- 
min might  give,  if  consulted,  whether  the  Sooder  might  receive  a 
copy  of  that  Shastpr  in  whir.h  God  is  rpprpsented  to  be  no  respecter  of 
persons.  But,  whatever  way  his  answer  might  incline,  it  would,  in 
my  judgment,  determine  nothing.  The  Scriptures,  as  a  revelation 
from  heaven,  have  at  least  as  good  a  claim  to  a  free  circulation,  in 
whatever  language  they  may  happen  to  appear,  as  any  treatises  upon 
law,  or  morals,  or  poHte  literature.  For  the  mode  of  distribution  the 
Society  makes  no  specific  provision.  That  must  depend  upon  local 
wants  and  facilities ;  and  will  be  naturally  regulated,  and  restrained, 
so  far  as  restraint  may  be  necessary,  by  the  laws  and  usages  of  the 
several  countries  in  which  distribution  is  made.  Persons  in  a  situa- 
tion te  know  the  necessities  and  disposition  of  the  people,  will,  it  is 
presumed,  either  sell  them  as  an  article  of  commerce  to  purchasers, 
or  gratuitously  bestow  them  as  a  dole  of  charity  upon  petitioners. 
There  is  no  room  for  apprehending  that  they  will  be  forced  upon 
any.  They  are  messengers  that  speak  not  to  the  ear,  but  to  the  eye  • 
they  are  oracles  that  remain  silent,  till  they  are  consulted.  In  short, 
as  they  can  do  no  one  good  who  is  not  willing  to  search  them,  it  is  ut- 
terly impossible  that  they  should  be  forced  upon  any  one  who  is  un- 
wiUing  to  receive  them. 

"  Since  therefore  the  object  of  the  Society  is  not,  as  has  been 
stated,  "  The  dissemination  of  the  Christian  Faith,"  but  the  circula- 
tion of  the  Holy  Scriptures;  an  object,  simple  and  determinate  ;  and, 
at  the  same  time,  beneficial  and  inoffensive  ; — it  follows,  that  the 
views  of  the  Society,  so  far  as  their  object  is  concerned,  are  not  of 
a  description  to  justify  the  charge  of  interference;  nor,  consequently, 

*  See  the  Code  of  Gentoo  Laws,  translated  into  English  by  Mr.  Halhed 


176  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRlTlSil  [PART  I. 

to  occasion  in  the  Governors  of  Indi;i,  either  at  home  or  abroad,  any 
reasonal)le  ground  of  alarm." 

The  Patronage — against  which  so  much  is  insinuated,  as  contain- 
ing the  names  of  "Mr.  Thornton,  the  Director;  Mr.  Grant,  the 
Deputy  Chairman  ;  and  Lord  Teignmouth,  (late  Governor-General 
of  India,  and  now  a  Member  of  the  Board  of  Control,") — is  shown 
to  be  in  no  peculiar  sense  East  Indian ;  and  to  contain  within  it,  so 
far  as  it  is  such,  nothing  that  could  authorize  the  remotest  suspicion 
of  a  design  "  to  disturb"  (by  violent  interference)  "  the  religious 
systems  of  India." 

The  Proceedings  of  the  Society  were  contended  to  have  displayed, 
by  the  adversary's  own  showing,  an  undeflecting  adherence  to  the 
fundamental  principle  of  its  constitution,  and  the  professed  object  of 
all  its  operations — the  circulation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

On  these  genera!  grounds  of  defence,  the  Chairman  is  appealed  to 
in  the  following  terms  : 

"  Let  me  now.  Sir,  be  allowed  to  make  my  appeal  to  you,  whether 
there  bo  anj'  thing  in  the  Object,  the  Patronage,  or  the  Proceedings, 
of  the  Society  against  which  judgment  is  demanded,  that  can  be  con- 
strued into  matter  of  offence  to  the  native  inhabitants  of  India.  Could 
any  object  have  been  selected  with  more  judgment  ?  Any  Patronage 
have  been  employed  with  more  mildness  ?  Any  Proceedings  have 
been  conducted  with  more  correctness  ?  Has  Mr.  Twining  showed,  is 
he  prepared  to  show,  that  the  Society  has  aimed  at  any  object  but 
that  which  it  professes  ;  that  the  Patronage  which  it  enjoys  has  been 
used  for  any  purposes  of  intimidation  or  officious  interference  ;  that, 
in  any  one  instance,  it  has  been  guilty  of  even  an  accidental  aberra- 
tion from  the  line  of  its  profession?  What  then  has  Mr.  Twining 
proved?  I  repeat,  Sir,  with  confidence,  what  I  have  before  de- 
clared,— He  has  proved  Nothing." 

As  the  conclusion  glances  at  topics,  which,  though  they  did  not 
come  necessarily  witliin  the  line  of  defence,  were  too  important  to 
be  wholly  overlooked,  the  author  trusts  he  shall  be  excused  for  giv- 
ing it  insertion. 

"  And  now,  Sir,  having  done  what  I  conceived  to  be  my  duty,  I 
have  only  to  apologize  to  you  for  the  length  of  this  address.  I  mighl 
have  saved  much  both  of  your  limo  and  my  own,  if  I  could  have  pre- 
vailed upon  niyself  to  throw  the  burden  of  proof,  where  in  truth  it 
ought  to  rest,  on  the  shoulders  of  the  accuser.  I  might  have  reason- 
ably demurred  to  his  gratuitous  charges,  and  claimed  an  acquittal  for 
the  Society,  from  the  defect  of  evidence  to  coDvict  it ;  but  I  wished 


CHAP,  v.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  j-^ 

to  see  it  put  fairly  upon  its  trial :  convinced  that  it  would  appear, 
upon  a  strict  investigation,  not  merely  innocent,  but  laudable  ;  not 
only  undeserving  of  blame,  but  entitled  to  commendation  and  support. 
"  But  while  I  have  entered  into  detail  where  detail  appeared  ne- 
cessary, I  have  scrupulously  avoided  it  wherever  it  could  be  spared. 
With  this  view.  Sir,  I  have  not  justified  the  Society  for  adopting  it  as 
their  opinion,  that  Christ  will  "  hringfrom  all  nations  andreligions,  lan- 
guages and  kingdoms*  of  this  world,  some,  as  trophies  of  his  triumph 
on  the  cross  :"  because  I  supposed,  that  they  who  know  the  Scriptures, 
never  doubted  this  position ;  and  they  who  do  not,  would  never  be 
persuaded  to  believe  it.  In  like  manner,  I  have  not  apologized  for 
the  Society's  calling  Mahomedanism  "  a  bloody  and  degrading  super- 
stition," because  1  did  not  conceive  it  deserved  a  better  character ; 
nor  for  its  anticipating  "  tlie  downfal"  of  that  system  of  imposture, 
because  I  considered  such  an  event  to  be  a  consummation  which 
Christians  of  every  description  both  expected  and  desired.  For  simi- 
lar, reasons  Sir,  I  have  declined  affirmatively  proving,  whatever  did 
not  seem  absolutely  to  require  it.  I  have  not  proved  that  it  is  the 
duty  of  the  British  Government,  and  therefore  of  the  East  India 
Company,  to  encourage  Christianity  among  their  Eastern  subjects ; 
because  I  thought  a  community  of  religion  (so  far  as  it  could  be  ef- 
fected) between  the  governors  and  governed,  was  recognized  as  a 
principle  both  of  justice  and  of  policy  by  all  the  states  of  Christen- 
dom :  and  because  I  found  in  Mr.  Twining's  letter  nothing  which 
tended  to  prove  the  contrary.!  I  have  not  shown  that  the  diffusion 
of  Christianity  among  our  Eastern  fellow-subjects  is  desirable,  because 
1  thought  such  a  position  was  distinctly  comprehended  in  Mr.  Twin- 
ing's  own  admission  ;|  nor  have  I  argued,  that  it  is  practicable,  be- 
cause, if  the  opposite  opinions  of  Dr.  Buchanan  and  Mr.  Twining  be 
considered  as  destroying  one  another,  there  still  remains  the  recent, 
decided,  and  official  testimony  of  Dr.  Ker§  in  favour  of  such  a  con- 
clusion. 

*  This  passage  (extracted  from  the  Letter  of  a  Roman  Catholic  Priest  ia  Swabia, 
to  the  Secretary  of  the  Society)  is  italicisedhy  Mr.  Twiuiiig,  which  is  his  typogra- 
phical way  of  displaying  the  grounds  of  his  "  suspicion  and  anxiety." 

fThe  Portuguese,  the  Spaniards,  and  the  French,  have  propagated  the  Rcinish 
faith  in  all  their  foreign  settlements;  and  the  Danes  have  not  been  indifferent  to 
the  promotion  of  the  Protestant  faith  in  theirs.  How  have  the  English  acted  in 
this  respect  ? 

X  "  Whose  minds  and  doctrines  are  known  to  be  obscured  by  the  darknessof  iu 
fidelity."     Letter,  p.  4. 

§  Dr.  Ker,  one  of  the  Company's  Chaplains  at  Madras,  in  a  Report  made  to  tb* 
Governor  and  Council,  by  their  Order,  speaks  to  this  point  as  follows : 


178  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

"  I  have  not  pointed  out  the  comparative  indifference,  upon  Mr. 
Twining's  principle*,  between  one  reUgion  and  another,  to  the  wel- 
fare of  a  people  ;  nor  the  impossibility,  oa  those  principles,  of  India 
being  christianized  by  any  human  means,  so  long  as  it  shall  remain 
under  the  dominion  of  the  Company  ;  nor  the  alternative  to  which 
Providence  is  by  consequence  reduced,  of  either  giving  up  that 
country  to  everlasting  superstition,  or  of  working  some  miracle*  in 
order  to  accomplish  its  conversion  ; — because  I  considered  such  in- 
ferences as  too  obvious  to  be  overlooked,  and  too  shocking  to  be  en- 
dured. Finally,  Sir,  I  have  ventured  to  take  for  granted,  consider- 
ing who  %vould  be  my  judges,  and  in  what  an  awful  crisis  I  write,  that 
the  Bible  is  the  only  book  which  contains  the  revealed  will  of  God  ; 
that  the  sooner  it  supersedes  the  Shaster  and  the  Koran,  the  sooner 
will  the  happiness  of  India  be  consummated  ;  and  that  the  more  we 
contribute,  as  a  nation  and  as  individuals,  to  promote  this  end  by 
lawful  means, — the  greater  blessings  we  shall  draw  down  upon  our 
commerce  and  our  arms,  upon  ourselves  and  our  posterity.'' 

To  this  defence  were  appended  the  following  letters,  addressed  by 
His  Majesty,  George  the  First,  to  the  Danish  Missionaries  at  Tran- 
quebar:  documents  which  reflect  the  greatest  honour  on  the  charac- 
ter of  their  royal  author,  and  must  endear  his  memory  to  every 
friend  to  the  propagation  of  Christianity  in  the  East. 


LETTER  I.     Dated  1717. 

"GEORGE,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  King,  kc 

"  Reverend  and  Beloved, 
•^  Your  letters,  dated  the  20th  of  January  of  the  present  year, 
were  most  welcome  to  us  ;  not  only  because  the  work  undertaken  by 
you,  of  converting  the  heathen  to  the  Christian  faith,  doth,  by  the 


**  Pure  Christianity  is  far  from  beinga  religion  for  which  the  highest  cast  of  Hiu- 
doos  have  any  diHiesppc<,"  and  again,  "  I  do  not  mention  this  as  an  experiment, 
the  result  of  which  might  be  considered  as  problematical :  the  experiment  has  been 
already  made,  and  the  consequences  have  proved  commensurate  with  the  highest 
expectation  wiru-h  reasonable  men  could  entertain." 

»  "  1  shall  hope.  Sir,  that  our  native  subjects  in  every  part  of  the  East  will  be 
permitted  quietly  to  follow  their  own  religious  prejudices  and  absurdities,  until  it 
ehall  please  the  Omnipotent  Power  of  Heaven  to  lead  tbeiu  iiito  the  paths  of 
Light  and  Truth."    Lktteb,  p  31. 


CHAP,  v.]  A5D  foreign  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  J79 

grace  of  God,  prosper,  but  also  because  that  in  this,  our  kingdom, 
such  a  laudable  zeal  for  the  promotion  of  the  Gospel  prevails. 

"  We  pray  you  may  be  endued  with  health  and  strength  of  body, 
that  you  may  long  continue  to  fulfil  your  ministry  with  good  success  ; 
of  which,  as  we  shall  be  rejoiced  to  hear,  so  you  will  always  find  us 
ready  to  succour  you,  in  whatever  may  tend  to  promote  your  work, 
and  to  excite  your  zeal.  We  assure  you  of  the  continuance  of  our 
royal  favour. 

"GEORGE,  R. 

"Hattorf.'' 


LETTER  II.     Dated  1727. 

*'  Reverend  and  Beloved, 

"From  your  letters,  dated  Tranquebar,  the  12th  of  September, 
1725,  which  some  time  since  came  to  hand,  we  received  much  plea- 
sure ;  since  by  them  we  are  informed,  not  only  of  your  zealous  ex- 
ertions in  the  prosecution  of  the  work  committed  to  you,  but  also  of 
the  happy  success  which  hath  hitherto  attended  it,  and  which  hath 
been  graciously  given  ojj;,  God. 

*'  We  return  you  thanks  for  these  accounts,  and  it  will  be  accepta- 
ble to  us,  if  you  continue  to  communicate  whatever  shall  occur  in  the 
progress  of  your  mission. 

"  In  the  mean  time,  we  pray  you  may  enjoy  strength  of  body  and 
mind  for  the  long  continuance  of  your  labours  in  this  good  work,  to 
the  glory  of  God,  and  the  promotion  of  Christianity  among  the  hea- 
then, that  its  perpetuity  may  not  fail  in  generations  to  come. 

"GEORGE,  R.» 

Among  the  writers  who  appeared  on  the  side  of  Mr,  Twining,  the 
most  distinguished  for  zeal,  activity,  and  influence,  was  Major  Scott 
Waring.  Of  this  Gentleman,  whose  friendship  the  author  has  ex- 
perienced, subsequently  to  the  controversy  in  which  they  were  mu- 
tually engaged,  he  desires  to  speak  with  becoming  respect.  The 
cause  of  truth  requires  some  sacrifice  of  personal  feeling :  but  the 
author  hopes,  in  this,  and  every  similar  case,  to  do  justice  to  the 
claims  of  the  one,  without  forgetting  what  is  due  to  those  of  the 
other. 

The  publication  in  which  Major  Scott  Waring  delivered  his  senti- 
liments,  was  a  pamphlet  of  considerable  bulk,  entitled,  "  Obserra- 
lions  on  the  Present  State  of  the  East  India  Company,  &c."  and  the 


180  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITlSil  [PART  I 

remarks  directed  against  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  ancJ' 
the  propagation  of  Christianity  in  India,  were  contained  in  a  preface 
of  nearly  seventy  pages.  The  pamphlet  was  anonymous  ;  but  Ma- 
jor Scott  Waring  having  in  the  course  of  the  controversy  acknow- 
ledged himself  to  be  the  author  of  it,  there  can  be  neither  error  nor 
impropriety  in  speaking  of  it  as  his  production. 

It  vTOuld  be  trifling  with  the  reader  to  lay  before  him  the  charges 
and  forebodings  accumulated  in  this  publication:  they  were  of  the 
same  family  with  those  which  have  been  already  referred  to  in  con- 
sidering the  letter  of  Mr.  Twining.  With  him,  this  writer,  viewing 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  through  the  medium  of  confu- 
sed information  and  political  alarm,  saw  in  its  tendency  nothing  but 
danger  to  the  British  empire  in  India  ;  and  prognosticated,  as  the  di- 
rect and  inevitable  result  of  its  operations  in  that  quarter,  the  almost 
immediate  and  utter  downfal  of  our  sovereignty  in  the  East. 

Thus  far  the  two  writers  were  agreed  :  but  while  the  former  con- 
tented himself  with  recommending  an  authoritative  interference  in 
general  terms,  the  latter  went  considerably  farther,  and  prescribed 
both  the  way  and  the  extent  in  which  that  interference  should  be  ex- 
ercised. The  author  of  the  "  Observations"  "  humbly  s+jbraitted  a 
plan"  for  arresting  the  evil,  "  to  the  consideration  of  His  Majesty's 
Ministers,  the  East  India  Compan}^  and  the  Legislature :"  and  the 
substance  of  that  plan  was  contained  in  the  following  explicit  and 
sweeping  proposition. 

"  The  most,  and  indeed  the  only  efficacious  measures,  are  the 
immediate  recall  of  every  English  Missionary,  and  a  prohibition  to  all 
persons  dependent  on  the  Company,  from  giving  assistance  to  the 
translation  or  circulation  of  our  Holy  Scriptures." 

The  crisis  in  which  this  publication  made  its  appearance,  and  the 
countenance  which  it  gave  to  the  letter  of  Mr.  Twining,*  added  not  a 
little  to  the  apprehensions  entertained  by  the  friends  to  Christianity 
and  to  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  in  the  East ;  and  stimulated 
them  to  provide  more  vigorous  and  effective  measures  of  counterac- 
tion and  defence. 

The  subject  of  Missions  was  ably  taken  up  by  the  late  Rev.  Andrew 
Fuller,  who  canvassed  particularly  the  charges  brought  by  3Iajor 
Scott  Waring  against  the  Baptist  Missionaries  in  India  ;  and  justified 
both  the  principle  of  Missions,  and  the  conduct  of  the  parties  impugn- 
ed, in  a  very  complete  and  satisfactory  vindication.     To  so  much  of 


*  11  have  just  read  the  Second  edition  of  Mr.  Twining's  most  cxcdlent  Letter." 

P.  K  to  Ptrface  to  Ohsaratiomt.  Src. 


€HAP.  v.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  jgj 

Major  Scott  Waring's  Observations  as  applied  to  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society,  a  brief  reply  was  furnished  in  a  postscript  to  the 
third  edition  of  "  The  Address  to  the  Chairman,"  and  issued  in  suffi- 
cient time  to  get  into  circulation  before  the  day  appointed  by  Mr. 
Twining  for  bringing  his  motion  under  the  consideration  of  the  Court. 
The  postscript  (which  from  the  pressure  of  the  occasion  was  written 
and  printed  within  a  few  hours)  animadverted  cursorily  on  the 
groundless  charges  with  which  the  Society  had  been  assailed  ;  pointed 
out  the  injustice,  severity,  and  impolicy  of  the  proposed  interdiction  of 
it ;  and  concluded  with  the  following  appeal : 

"  Will  there  then,  Sir,  be  found  a  man  bold  enough  to  propose 
to  your  assembly  a  measure  so  repugnant  to  justice  and  to  policy  :  a 
measure  exemphfying  with  such  fatal  severity  that  coercion  against 
which  the  parties  who  recommend  it,  so  loudly  and  insidiously  ex- 
claim ;  a  measure  which  may  brand  our  Government  with  impiety, 
and  seal  up  our  Indian  subjects  under  everlasting  superstition  and  im- 
posture : — if  there  should,  will  there  be  found  a  majority  in  your  as- 
sembly to  sanction  such  a  measure  ?  I  trust  there  will  be  found  neither 
the  one  nor  the  other.  The  eyes  of  Christians  will  be  fixed  upon 
your  ensuing  deliberations,  and  much  will  be  inferred  to  our  prejudice 
or  advantage  in  this  eventful  crisis,  from  the  conclusions  at  which  you 
arrive.  We  are  engaged  in  a  doubtful  conflict,  and  our  human  re- 
sources are  few  and  low.  I  hope  we  shall  not  make  our  little  less, 
by  disunion  in  matters  of  eternal  moment ;  nor  aggravate  the  dangers 
of  our  warfare,  by  making  God  our  enemy." 

On  the  23d  of  December,  the  Court  of  Proprietors  met  at  the  In- 
dia House ;  but  the  subject  having  excited  extraordinary  attention 
among  religious  persons  of  different  persuasions,  Mr.  Twining  found 
so  little  encouragement  to  expect  a  favourable  issue  to  his  motion, 
that  he  dechned  proposing  it ;  and  the  Court  accordingly  adjourned.*- 

♦  The  followiug  is  the  account  given  of  the  Meeting,  and  its  event,  as  it  appear- 
ed in  the  Christian  Observer  for  December,  1807. 

"  At  the  Court  of  Proprietors  of  the  East  India  Company,  held  on  the  23d  instant, 
Mr.  Thomas  Twining,  the  author  of  a  pamphlet  reviewed  in  our  present  number, 
rose  to  say,  that,  being  aware  of  the  disadvantages  which  would  attend  the  public 
agitation  of  the  question  discussed  in  that  pamphlet,  relative  to  the  attempts  now 
making  to  propagate  Christianity  in  Hindoostan,  he  should  be  willing  to  withdraw 
the  notice  he  had  given  of  a  motion  upon  it,  provided  be  received  satisfactory  as- 
surances from  the  Chairman,  that  the  attention  of  the  Directors  had  been  turned  to 
the  subject,  and  that  it  was  their  purpose  to  prevent  the  evils  which  would  neces- 
sarily be  produced  by  an  interference  with  the  religious  prejudices  of  the  natives. 
The  Chairman  stated,  that  the  subject  had  certainly  occupied  the  attention  of  the 
Board  of  Directors.  They  were  anxious  to  discharge  their  duty  in  this  and  every 
25 


182  HrSTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  IPART  I. 

Thus  terminatcil  this  formidable  attempt  to  exclude  the  Society 
from  the  whole  of  British  India,  and  to  extinguish,  in  its  very  dawn, 
that  light,  which  has  since  diffused  its  rays  over  so  large  a  portion  of 
the  East ;  and  which  appears  designed  by  its  Heavenly  Author  to 
shine  more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day. 

It  is  due  to  Major  Scott  Waring  to  say,  that,  upon  becoming  better 
acquainted  with  the  plan  and  proceedings  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  his  sentiments  respecting  its  operations  in  India  expe- 
rienced a  considerable  change ;  and  there  is  reason  for  presuming, 
that  a  similar  effect  from  the  same  cause  may  have  been  produced  in 
the  minds  of  other  gentlemen,  who  had  been  led,  by  a  misapprehen- 
sion of  its  nature  and  its  tendency,  to  give  it  their  determined  oppo- 
sition. Tn  fact,  the  obligation  to  propagate  Christianity  is  so  palpable, 
and  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  is  so  obviously  adapted  to  ac- 
complish that  end,  that  nothing  more  seems  required  than  time  and 
retiectiou  to  render  such  a  conviction  universal. 

Even  those  to  whom  other  modes  of  propagating  Christianity 
among  the  natives  of  India  appear  liable  to  objection,  have,  in  many 
instances,  expressed  their  concurrence  in  the  dissemination  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures  to  the  widest  extent.  An  example  has  just  been 
produced  in  the  case  of  Major  Scott  Waring.  To  this  may  be  added 
another,  in  that  of  Warren  Hastings,  Esq.  formerly  Governor-Gene- 
ral of  Bengal ;  who,  though  differing  from  many  whom  he  respects, 
and  by  whom  he  is  equally  respected,  on  the  general  question  of 
Missions,  is  a  pecuniary  contributor,  and  a  warm  friend,  to  the  Bri- 
tish and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  AVith  respect  to  the  fitness  and  effi- 
ciency of  the  Scriptures  as  an  instrument  for  enlightening  India  and 
the  East,  there  seems  room  but  for  one  opinion.  "  If"  (to  use 
the  language  of  the  late  Rev.  D.  Brown)  "  you  would  give  the 
Gentiles  light,  give  them  the  word  of  God  in  their  own  language. 
When  the  word  is  once  given,  great  will  be  the  multitude  of  the 
preachers.     Let  them  read,   and  they  will  begin  to  preach." 

But  it  will  now  be  proper  to  introduce  two  personages,  who, 
at  different  stages  of  this  controversy,  took  a  decided  part  in  re- 
pelling the  attack,  both  upon  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures,  and  the 
general  propagation  of  Christianity,  in  India.     These  were  tlie  Bi- 

other  respect,  and  tiie  worthy  member  hod  no  rifjht  to  assume  that  they  had  rcg;- 
lected  it  in  this  particular  instance.  He  trusted  tlie  Court  would  not  witiihold  from 
the  Directors  on  this  occasion  the  confidence  which  they  had  Ijern  accustomed  to 
repose  in  them.  Mr.  Prinwcp  was  proceeding  to  expri-ss  his  dissatisfaction  with  this 
reply,  when  the  CImirniau  stopped  him,  by  observ  ini;,  that  there  was  no  question 
befor£  the  Court ;  the  question  of  adjourumeut  was  then  put  and  carried.'' 


CHAP.  V.j  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


183 


shop  of  London  and  Lord  Teignmouth.  Their  pamphlets  were 
ap.onymous;  but  worthy,  in  every  respect,  of  the  talents  which 
produced  them,  and  of  the  cause  in  support  of  which  they  were 
written. 

Bishop  Porteus's  production,  with  the  publication  of  which  the 
author  of  this  History  was  confidentially  entrusted,  appeared  under 
the  title  of  "  A  few  Cursory  remarks  on  Mr.  Twining's  Letter  to 
the  Chairman  of  the  East  India  Company,  by  a  Member  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society ;"  and  exhibited  a  happy  speci- 
men of  lively,  pertinent,  and  well-applied  irony.  The  following 
passages  will  enable  the  reader  to  form  some  judgment  of  this 
spirited  performance  ;  the  writer  of  which,  it  should  be  remember- 
ed, was  at  that  time  in  his  seventy-seventh  year. 

"  Mr.  Twining  has  struck  out  a  very  ingenious  way  of  becoming 
an  author.  It  is  by  transcribing  from  the  publication  of  those  whom 
he  attacks,  one  half  of  what  they  have  written,  and  tacking  to  it 
two  or  three  pages  of  his  own  truly  original  remarks.  This,  it 
must  be  owned,  is  a  very  easy  and  compendious  method  of  mak- 
ing a  book.  I  congratulate  him  on  the  discovery,  and,  for  one 
rejoice  that  he  has  adopted  it.  The  large  and  copious  extracts 
he  has  made  from  the  Reports  of  the  Committee  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  Dr.  Buchanan's  invaluable  Me- 
moir on  an  Ecclesiastical  Establishment  in  India,  are  highly  gra- 
tifying to  me.  As  a  Member  of  that  most  respectable  and  truly 
Christian  Society,  I  return  Mr.  Twining  my  most  cordial  thanks, 
for  thus  producing  the  records  of  their  proceedings  to  the  world.' 
His  intention,  evidently,  was  to  excite  the  indignation  of  the  public 
against  that  Society,  for  daring  to  commit  the  unpardonable  crime 
(for  that  is  their  sole  offence)  of  sending  2000/.  to  India,  to  as- 
sist the  great  work  going  on  there,  of  translating  the  Scriptures 
into  the  various  languages  of  that  vast  country.  But  I  am  incli- 
ned to  think  that  he  will  be  disappointed  in  his  aim,  and  that  the 
indignation  he  meant  to  excite,  will  recoil  upon  himself.  The 
truth  is,  that  the  extracts  he  has  made  from  the  Society's  Re- 
ports, do  them  infinite  honour.  They  show  that  they  have  but 
one  great  object  in  view,  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  info- 
reign  languages  and  foreign  countries;  that  they  have  adhered  in- 
variably to  this  main  purpose  of  their  Institution;  and  that  they 
have  pursued  it  with  a  degree  of  activity,  vigour,  indefatigable 
perseverance,  and  proportionable  success,  of  which  there  are  (ew, 
if  any  instances  to  be  found. 


1S4-  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

<*  Mr.  Twining  speaks  with  so  much  feeling  and  so  much  tender- 
ness of  the  dearest  rights  and  privileges  of  the  Hindoos,  and  is  so  ex- 
tremely anxious  that  they  should  not  be  disturbed  in  the  enjoyment 
of  them,  but  sliould  be  permitted  quietly  to  follow  their  orvri  religiout 
prejudices,  that  the  reader  maj  possibly  be  a  little  curious  to  know, 
what  these  said  rights  and  privileges,  and  religious  opinions  and  pre- 
judices, are,  for  which  J\Ir.  Twining  entertains  so  strong  a  predilec- 
tion, and  so  earnest  a  desire  to  preserve  them  inviolate,  for  the  com- 
fort and  happiness  of  the  poor  natives  of  India. 

"  1  will  therefore  recite  a  few  of  them  as  stated  in  Dr.  Buchanan's 
Memoir ;  but  my  nerves  will  not  suffer  me  to  ctU  open  the  leaves*  to 
transcribe  the  whole. 

"  It  is  then,  (as  Dr.  Buchanan,  who  has  resided  many  years  at 
Calcutta,  and  travelled  over  a  large  part  of  India,  informs  us,)  one  of 
the  religious  opinions  and  religious  prejudices  of  the  Hindoos,  that  it  is 
their  duty  to  show  their  reverence  for  their  gods  by  immolating  human 
victims  on  the  banks  of  the  Ganges  ;  by  drowning  them  in  that  river, 
or  exposing  them  to  be  devoured  by  shaiks ;  by  hanging  up  female 
infants  in  baskets  in  the  open  air,  and  leaving  them  to  starve  ;  by  de- 
voting themselves  to  death,  by  falhng  designedly  under  the  wheels  of 
the  machines  which  carry  their  gods  ;  and  by  encouraging  widows  to 
burn  themselves  on  the  funeral  pile  of  their  deceased  husbands, 
This  last  most  horrible  custom  is  still  so  prevalent  even  in  the  most 
populous  and  civilized  part  of  India,  that,  in  the  year  1803,  the  num- 
ber of  women  thus  sacrificed,  -within  30  miles  round  Calcutta^ 
amounted  to  275.  The  average  number  is  about  20  per  month  ;  and 
the  late  learned  Mr.  William  Chambers  calculated,  that  the  number 
of  women  who  perish  by  a  sclf-devotcment  in  the  northern  provinces 
of  Hindoostan,  is  not  less  than  10,000  annually. 

"  These  are  a  few  of  the  religious  opinions,  prejudices,  and  absurd- 
ities, (as  Mr.  Twining  calls  them.)  which  he  cherishes  with  so  much 
tenderness,  and  for  the  sake  of  which  he  wishes  to  interdict  the  in- 
troduction of  Christianity  or  the  Scriptures  into  India.  He  knows 
that  such  introduction  would  be  a  death-blow  to  these  rights  and  privi- 
leges of  the  Hindoos,  and  therefore  is  exerting  all  his  power  to  avert 
the  horrorx  of  thai  dreadful  day  when  any  such  attempt  shall  be  made. 

♦'  Mr.  Twining  seems  to  be  possessed  of  a  very  amiable  disposition, 
great  sensibility  of  mind,  and  great  tenderness  of  nerves  ;  but  these 

•  Mr.Twininij,  Apeaking'  of  Dr.  Buchanan's  Memoir,  says:  "  Hcrf,  Sir,  my  ex- 
tracts from  his  work  must  terminate,  for  /  reully  cannot  cut  open  the  haves  whicli 
contain  the  sequel  of  such  sanguinary  doctrine." 


CHAP,  v.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  jg^ 

excellent  qualities  of  his  display  themselves  rather  in  a  peculiar  way. 
Of  the  chances  of  war,  of  any  partial  disaffection  to  our  Government, 
of  a  civil  or  political  nature,  he  says  he  has  no  very  serious  dread. 
The  usual  objects  of  alarm  in  these  tremendous  times,  the  overwhelm- 
ing power  of  France,  the  probable  loss  of  our  commerce,  our  total 
separation  from  the  Continent,  and  the  menaces  of  invasion  ; — all 
these  seem  to  inspire  him  with  no  terror  or  apprehension.  But  when 
any  mention  is  made  of  that  shocking  and  unpardonable  crime  of  in- 
troducing Qiristianity,  or  even  circulating  the  Scriptures,  over  India,  all 
his  feelings  are  up  in  arms  against  so  wicked  a  measure  ;  his  mind, 
he  tells  us,  is  oppressed  mith  dread  and  astonishment ;  and  he  depre- 
cates, in  the  most  moving  terms,  the  horrors  of  that  dreadful  day. 
Dreadful,  however,  as  that  day  appears  to  Mr.  Twining,  it  will,  I 
trust,  be  viewed  by  a  very  large  majority  of  India  Proprietors  in  a 
very  different  light ;  as  a  day  of  joy  and  gladness  and  exultation  ;  a 
day  that  will  confer  on  the  natives  of  India  the  greatest  blessing  that 
Heaven  in  its  bounty  ever  conferred  upon  mankind. 

"  In  a  word,  the  question  now  to  be  discussed  at  the  India  House  is 
one  of  the  most  important  that  ever  came  under  consideration,  either 
there,  or  even  in  the  Legislature  of  this  kingdom.  It  is  nothing  less 
than  this  ;  Whether  fifty  millions  of  people  shall  have  the  words  of 
Eternal  Life  laid  open  to  them,  all  the  blessings  and  all  the  virtues  of 
Christianity  diffused  among  them,  and  all  the  glories  of  Heaven 
brought  within  their  reach, — or  whether  they  shall  be  for  ever 
doomed  to  drown  themselves  in  the  Ganges,  to  throw  themselves  to 
the  sharks,  or  under  the  carriages  of  their  gods,  to  hang  their  children 
up  in  baskets  to  be  starved,  and  suffer  10,000  widows  to  be  burnt  to 
death  every  year.  Whoever  votes  for  Mr.  Twining's  question,  vote." 
for  the  continuance  of  those  diaboUcal  practices  to  the  end  of  time, 
by  interdicting  the  only  possible  remedy  there  is  for  them;  and  after 
giving  such  a  vote,  let  him  lay  his  head  quietly  down  on  his  pillow  at 
night  if  he  can." 

The  publication  of  Lord  Teignmouth,  was  entitled,  "  Considera- 
tions on  the  Practicabihty,  Pohcy,  and  Obligation  of  communicating 
to  the  Natives  of  India  the  Knowledge  of  Christianity  :  with  Observa- 
tions on  the  Prefatory  Remarks  to  a  Pamphlet  pubHshed  by  Majoi 
Scott  Waring.  By  a  late  Resident  in  Bengal."  Of  this  production 
it  would  be  difficult  to  speak  in  terms  proportioned  to  its  merits,  with 
out  incurring  the  suspicion  of  a  design  to  write  its  panegyric.  The 
unanswerable  manner  in  which,  both  from  argument  and  fact,  it  re- 
futed the  objections  by  which  the  measures  of  the  Bible  Society  and 
Ihe  propagation  of  Christianity  in  India  had  been  assailed,  constituted 


jgg  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  tl'ART  I. 

its  lowest  praise.  It  was,  in  fact,  a  temperate  and  enlightened  apo- 
logy for  Christian  principles,  as  affording  the  only  security  for  sound 
legislation  and  permanent  obedience  ;  and  it  united  most  happily  the 
wisdom  of  the  Statesman  with  the  piety  of  the  Christian.  Had  this 
pamphlet  appeared  in  an  earher  stage  of  the  controversy,  it  would 
undoubtedl}'  have  superseded  every  other.  But  it  did  not  come  be- 
fore the  public,  till  the  question  had  been  agitated  almost  to  satiety, 
and  the  professed  objects  of  the  opponents  had  been  avowedly  re- 
nounced. 

The  subject,  however,  as  taken  up  by  Lord  Teignmouth,  was  more 
than  temporary  ;  and  the  "  Considerations,"  suggested  by  his  Lord- 
ship, were  adapted  to  throw  light  upon  the  question,  whenever  it 
should  again  be  brought  into  discussion.  The  recent  agitation  of  it, 
both  in  the  Parliament  and  the  country,  redeemed  this  pamphlet  from 
the  comparative  oblivion  into  which  it  had  Allien  ;  and  it  seems  im- 
possible that  it  should  ever  be  read  in  a  spirit  of  candour,  without 
imparting  fresh  conviction  upon  a  subject  of  the  deepest  interest  to 
the  civil  and  religious  welfare  of  mankind. 

The  following  extract,  which  forms  the  conclusion  of  the  pamphlet, 
will  amply  justify  what  has  been  said  in  its  commendation. 

"  Happily,  however,  these  are  truths  not  to  be  found  only  in  the 
writings  of  Prelates,  or  in  the  speculations  of  the  closet :  we  may 
appeal  to  the  records  of  Parliament  for  the  sense  of  one  branch  of 
the  Legislature  on  this  head.  For  when  the  East  India  Company's 
charter  was  last  renewed,  it  was  formally  resolved,  in  a  Committee 
of  the  whole  house,  '  That  it  is  the  peculiar  and  boundcn  duty  of 
the  Legislature  to  promote,  by  all  just  and  prudent  means,  the  inter- 
ests and  happiness  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  British  dominions  in  In- 
dia ;  and  that  for  these  ends,  such  measures  ought  to  be  adopted  as 
may  gradually  tend  to  their  advancement  in  useful  knowledge,  and  to 
their  religious  and  moral  improvement.' 

"  The  above  resolution  plainly  declares,  that  it  is  our  duty  to  en- 
deavour to  promote  the  happiness  of  our  Eastern  fellow-subjects  ; 
while  it  clearly  implies,  that,  in  acquitting  ourselves  of  this  obhga- 
tion,  it  ought  to  be  one  of  the  primary  objects  of  our  care,  to  impart 
to  them  the  blessings  of  our  superior  attainments  in  religion  and 
morality.  It  would  be  strange  indeed,  if  so  enlightened  an  assembly 
as  the  House  of  Commons,  could  have  entertained  a  different  opinion. 
In  what  new  school  of  morals  are  we  to  be  taught,  thnt  the  ordinary 
principles  which  enforce  on  us  the  duty  of  lessening  to  tlie  utmost  of 
our  power  the  misery,  and  of  promoting  the  happiness,  of  our  fel- 


CHAP,  v.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  I37 

low-creatures,  do  not  comprehend  that  branch  of  services  which 
must  be  acknowledged  by  every  considerate  mind  to  be  bej-ond  all 
others  effectual  for  remedying  the  one  and  increasing  the  other? 
Such  an  exception,  if  it  exist  at  all,  ought  at  least  to  be  established  by 
an  undisputed  authority.  But  we  are  not  called  upon  at  present  to 
argue  this  question. 

"  In  opposition  to  this  resolution  of  the  House  of  Commons,  a 
most  extraordinary  proposition  has  been  advanced,  not  only  denying 
that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Government  of  the  parent  state  to  endea- 
vour, by  safe  and  prudent  and  gradual  means,  such  as  sound  discre- 
tion would  suggest,  and  experience  warrant,  to  communicate  to  our 
East  Indian  Empire  the  blessings  of  our  superior  light  and  knowledge  ; 
but  even  maintaining  that  Government  ought  to  interpose  its  au- 
thority, professedly  and  expressly  for  the  purpose  of  obstructing  and 
putting  a  stop  to  all  such  attempts,  whether  made  by  the  missions  of 
our  venerable  chartered  Societies  for  the  promotion  of  Christian 
knowledge,  or  by  any  others  :  and  more  particularly  for  preventing 
the  circulation,  or  even  translation,  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  into  the 
Oriental  languages. 

"Thus,  while  every  other  religion  in  India  is  left  undisturbed; 
while  the  doctrines  of  the  Koran  are  freely  circulated,  and  those  of 
the  Vedas  and  Shasters,  left  unmolested  ;  the  Government  of  a  coun- 
try, professing  the  Christian  religion,  is  called  upon  to  exert  its 
power  for  barring  out  every  scattered  ray  of  that  religious  and  mo- 
ral light,  which,  through  the  endeavours  of  any  charitable  individuals 
among  us,  might  otherwise  shine  upon  the  inhabitants  of  that  be- 
nighted land.  It  goes,  in  effect,  to  annihilate  all  that  has  been  done 
for  more  than  a  hundred  years,  by  the  exertions  of  Missionaries,  and 
the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  ;  and  to  cast  back  into  the  darkness 
of  paganism  those  who  had  emerged  from  it :  for  such  must  unavoid- 
ably be  the  consequences  of  banishing  Missionaries  from  India,  and 
prohibiting  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  among  the  natives. 

"  Professing,  with  my  countrymen  in  general,  my  belief  in  the  di- 
vine authority  of  the  Scriptures,  and  in  the  doctrine  of  a  superin- 
tending Providence,  so  explicitly  inculcated,  and  so  fully  illustrated 
by  innumerable  examples  in  the  word  of  God  ;  and  still  more  that  the 
decline  and  fall  of  states  are  the  judicial  inflictions  of  a  divine  hand, 
the  punishments  of  guilty  nations ;  I  see,  with  the  deepest  concern, 
recommended,  for  the  first  time,  the  adoption  of  a  system  of  conduct, 
by  which  we  should  take  idolatry,  with  all  its  guilt,  under  our  special 
patronage,  and  endeavour  to  shut  out  all  knowledge  of.  I  had  almost 
said,  all  access  to,  the  Almighty. 


jgg  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

"  I  am  far  from  meaning  to  impute  to  those  who  have  recom- 
mended such  measures,  any  views  or  motives  which  they  do  not  pro- 
fess, or  which  they  have  disavowed ;  but  the  recommendation  itself 
is  fairly  chargeable  with  all  the  consequences  which  I  have  assigned 
to  it,  although  they  may  not  have  been  considered  by  the  authors  or 
supporters  of  it. 

"  But  I  think  it  my  duty  to  make  a  solemn  appeal  to  all  who  still 
retain  the  fear  of  God,  and  who  admit  that  religion,  and  the  course 
of  conduct  which  it  prescribes,  are  not  to  be  banished  from  the 
affairs  of  nations,  now  when  the  political  sky,  so  long  overcast,  ha» 
become  more  lowering  and  black  tlian  ever ;-— whether  this  is  a  pe- 
riod for  angmpnting  the  weight  of  our  national  sins  and  provocations, 
by  an  exclusive  toleration  of  idolatry :  a  crime  which,  unless  the 
Bible  be  a  forgery,  has  actually  drawn  forth  the  heaviest  denuncia- 
tions of  vengeance,  and  the  most  fearful  inflictions  of  the  divine 
displeasure. 

"  Anxious  as  I  am  that  the  natives  of  India  should  become  Chris- 
tians, from  a  regard  for  their  temporal  happiness,  and  eternal  wel- 
fare, I  know  that  this  is  not  to  be  effected  by  violence,  nor  by  undue 
influence  :  and  although  I  consider  this  country  bound  by  the  strong- 
est obligations  of  duty  and  interest,  (which  will  ever  be  found  insepa- 
rable,) to  afford  them  the  means  of  moral  and  religious  instruction,  I 
have  no  wish  to  limit  that  toleration  which  has  been  hitherto  ob- 
served with  respect  to  their  religion,  laws,  and  customs.  On  the 
contrary,  I  hold  a  perseverance  in  the  system  of  toleration,  not  only 
as  just  in  itself,  but  as  essentially  necessary  to  facilitate  the  means 
used  for  their  conversion  ;  and  those  means  should  be  conciliatory, 
under  the  guidance  of  prudence  and  discretion.  But  I  should  con- 
sider a  prohibition  of  the  translation  and  circulation  of  our  Holy 
Scriptures,  and  the  recall  of  the  Missionaries,  most  fatal  prognostics 
with  respect  to  the  permanency  of  the  British  dominion  in  India." 

It  deserves  attention,  that  while  the  friends  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society  in  England,  were  thus  exerting  themselves  to 
protect  it  against  an  edict  of  expulsion  from  British  India,  its  friends 
in  that  country,  harassed  by  an  equally  vexatious  opposition,  were 
recurring  to  siniilar  measures  of  remonstrance  and  defence.  The 
discouragement  and  restraint  to  which  the  translation  and  distribu- 
tion of  the  Scriptures  had  been  subjected,  after  the  removal  of  Mar- 
quis Wellesley  from  the  Government  of  Bengal,  were  deservedly 
condemned  both  by  iMr.  Brown  and  Dr.  Buchanan;  and,  upon  Lord 
Minto's  arrivaJ,  and  assumption  of  the  supreme  authority,  Dr.  Bu- 


CHAP,  v.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIM.E  SOCIETY.  .go 

chanan  addressed  a  memorial  to  his  Lordship,  founded  on  certain 
pubUc  acts  of  the  Bengal  Government,  antecedent  to  the  period  of  his 
Lordship's  administration,  which  Dr.  Buchanan  "  considered  to  be 
dishonourable  and  injurious  to  Christianity."  Among  these  acts 
were  distinctly  specified, 

First,  "  The  withdrawing  of  the  patronage  of  Government  from 
tlie  translation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  into  the  Oriental  tongues :" 
second,  "  attempting  to  suppress  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures 
entirely." 

This  Memorial  is  dated  at  Calcutta,  November  7,  1807;  and  i( 
evinces  the  temperate  firmness  of  a  man,  who,  knowing  that  the 
Gospel  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation,  is  neither  ashamed 
to  profess,  nor  afraid  to  defend  it. 

Thus  does  it  appear,  that  in  Calcutta,  and  in  London,  were 
attempts  simultaneously  made  to  arrest  the  stream  of  divine  truth, 
just  as  it  was  issuing  from  its  hallowed  source  to  fertilize  the  moral 
deserts  of  Hindoostan.  But  He  who  gave  the  spring,  had  graciously 
decreed  that  the  channels  should  not  be  obstructed.  In  pity  to  mil- 
lions in  existence,  and  to  generations  yet  unborn.  He  raised  up  advo- 
cates in  either  hemisphere  to  bear  their  testimony  against  this  anti- 
chrislian  policy,  and  to  prepare  the  way  for  those  triumphs  which 
the  Bible  was  destined  to  obtain,  in  the  fulness  of  time,  among  the 
nations  of  the  East. 

But  it  will  now  be  proper  to  resume  our  narrative  of  the  practi- 
cal business  of  the  Institution.  The  Society  itself,  in  its  collective 
capacity,  took  no  share  whatever  in  the  controversy  which  engaged 
so  much  of  the  public  attention.  In  that  spirit  of  dignified  modera- 
tion which  has  ever  marked  its  character,  it  pursued  its  course  with 
unruffled  calmness  through  all  the  vicissitudes  of  this  painful  trial ; 
manifesting  neither  disquietude  during  the  conflict,  nor  exultation  in 
the  event. 

Among  the  objects  of  a  miscellaneous  nature  which  occupied  the 
Committee  towards  the  close  of  the  fourth  year,  were,  grants  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures  in  diflerent  languages,  to  a  variety  of  stations,  both 
foreign  and  domestic.  In  this  manner,  Goree,  Sierra  Leone,  New 
South  Wales,  Gibraltar,  Nova  Scotia,  New  Brunswick,  and  Canada, 
were  supplied  with  copies  in  English,  Spanish,  and  Gaelic,  according 
to  their  respective  necessities,  and  their  presumed  disposition  to  pro- 
fit by  the  bounty  of  the  InstituUon.  In  some  of  the  cases  here  ?pe 
cihcd,  the  gift  was  improved  in  a  manner  greatly  surpassing  the  warm- 
est expectation,  and  the  kindness  which  conferred  it,  has  ^inro  bp^i, 
repaid  by  liberal  and  successive  contribution?. 
26 


jgQ  Hi^TORV  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

Similar  grants  were  also  made  to  schools  of  gratuitous  education, 
to  charitable  Institutions,  and  to  such  other  petitioners  as  could  pre- 
fer reasonable  claims  to  consideration  and  relief  These  issues  drew 
largely  upon  the  Society's  resources  :  the  supply  of  the  French  pri- 
soners alone,  absorbed  7,000  copies  of  the  Testament  in  that  lan- 
guage ;  and  not  a  little  was  expended  in  accommodating  the  schools 
in  Ireland,  as  well  Roman  Catholic  as  Protestant,  with  the  privilege 
of  purchasing  the  English  Scriptures  at  very  reduced  prices. 

The  last  was  a  case  in  which  the  feelings  of  the  Committee  very 
warmly  accompanied  every  grant  which  emanated  from  their  Board. 
Ireland  was  at  all  times  a  subject  of  atfectionate  solicitude  ;  and 
every  opportunity  was  eagerly  seized  to  draw  forth  the  native  ener- 
gies of  its  inhabitants,  and  assist  them  in  their  progress  towards  the 
acquisition  of  Scriptural  knowledge.  In  the  autumn  of  1807,  a  Bi- 
ble Committee  was  instituted  by  the  Synod  of  Ulster  ;  and,  in  the  en- 
suing December,  a  Bible  Society  was  established  for  the  city  and 
county  of  Cork,  under  the  patronage  of  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese. 
Connecting  these  events  with  the  recent  accession  of  the  highly  re- 
spectable Archbishop  of  Cashel  to  the  number  of  their  V'ice-Presi- 
dents,  the  conductors  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  felt 
encouraged  to  hope  that  the  period  was  not  distant,  when  Ireland 
would  be  seen  arrayed  in  all  her  national  strength,  under  the  ban- 
ners of  tlie  Bible,  and  taking  her  fall  share  in  the  great  work  of 
promoting  the  dissemination  of  its  sacred  contents  in  every  portion 
of  the  world. 

The  cares  and  fatigues  incidental  to  the  business  of  the  Society, 
were  much  less  relieved  this  yearlhan  they  had  been  in  the  prece- 
ding stages  of  its  history,  by  interesting  accounts  from  foreign  parts. 
The  war  which  raged  through  so  large  a  portion  of  Europe  had  seal- 
ed up  most  of  the  channels  through  which  such  accounts  must  regu- 
larly pass  ;  and  the  edict  which  forbade  the  countries  in  alliance  with 
France  (and  which,  by  the  success  of  its  arms  or  its  intrigues,  consti- 
tuted the  principal  nations  on  the  Continent)  to  maintain  a  corres- 
pondence with  England,  not  only  restrained  the  friends  of  the  So- 
ciety from  all  direct  intercourse  with  its  conductoi*s  in  London,  but 
discouraged  iheni  from  transnulting  intelligence,  with  any  degree  of 
frequency,  througli  channels  of  circuitous  and  indirect  communica- 
tion. 

Scanty,  however,  as  was  the  stock  of  information  thus  obtained,  it 
was  still  sufficient  to  counteract  the  depressing  inlluence  of  present 
interruption  ;  and  to  afl'ord  a  satisfactory  assurance,  that,  amidst  all 
the  dilhculties  with  which  it  was  beset,  on  every  hand,  the  cause  of 


CHAP,  v.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  jgj 

the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  was  neither  retrograde  nor  sta- 
tionary. Its  conductors  reflected,  that  they  were  engaged  in  pro- 
moting the  distribution  of  a  book  which  "  has  God  for  its  author,  sal- 
vation for  its  end,  and  truth  without  any  mixture  of  error  for  its  mat- 
ter."* In  such  an  undertaking,  they  felt  emboldened  to  expect  a 
prosperous  issue ;  and  when  they  saw  how  steadily  it  advanced 
against  a  current  of  almost  unexampled  discouragement,  their  faith 
in  the  event  was  greatly  strengthened,  and  they  seemed  already  to 
experience  the  fuliilment  of  the  divine  declaration :  I  will  work, 

AND  WHO  SHALL  LET  IT.t 

The  German  Society  at  Basle  contrived  to  transmit  a  compen- 
dious report,  from  which  it  appeared,  that  they  continued  *to  labour 
with  undiminished  assiduity  ;  the  printing  of  the  New  Testament 
had  actually  commenced,  and  the  Old  Testament  was  on  the  point 
of  being  committed  to  the  press. 

Even  the  Berlin  Bible  Society  were  enabled,  by  some  unsuspected 
medium  of  correspondence,  to  give  expression  to  their  feelings,  both 
of  gratitude  and  of  sorrow.  Embarrassed,  but  not  discouraged,  by 
the  circumstances  of  their  condition,  they  present  "  the  fifty-sixth 
sheet  of  their  Bohemian  Bible,"  with  an  aflecting  mixture  of  anguish 
and  exultation.  While  they  acknowledge  that  their  "  distress  is  very 
great,"  and  that  "  thousands  groan  under  the  pressure  of  extreme 
poverty ;"  and  "  recommend  themselves  to  the  continued  sympathy 
and  intercession"  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  they  glo- 
rify the  Lord  in  the  fires,  and  exclaim,  through  their  Secretary ; 
"  Hallelujah!  Ble.ssed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  !  In  the  midst  of  the 
convulsions  of  worldly  kingdoms,  His  kingdom  will  increasingly 
prosper." 

Such  a  stram  as  this,  uttered  amidst  the  lamentations  of  a  de- 
spoiled and  a  subjugated  people,  illustrates  the  power  of  real  reli- 
gion, and  evinces  how  little  "  the  man  of  the  earth"  can  effect  in  dis- 
ijuieting  the  subjects,  or  impeding  the  operations,  of  that  kingdom 
which  is  not  of  this  woi'ld. 

The  intelligence  received  from  other  parts  of  the  world,  though, 
like  that  from  Europe,  containing  but  little  matter,  was  yet  by  no 
means  destitute  of  interest  and  encouragement.  Of  this  the  reader 
may  judge  by  the  two  following  articles  from  two  opposite  points  of 
the  American  continent,  with  which  the  facts  of  this  year  shall  bo 
''onchided, 

*  LoclsP.  t  Isa.  xliii.  12. 


192  HISTORV  OF  TIIE  BRITISH  jPART  I. 

The  Spanish  Testaments  which  had  been  despatched  to  Monte  Vi- 
deo, in  the  preceding  year,  were  stated  to  have  proved  highly  ac- 
ceptable, and  even  to  have  obtained  a  rapid  and  extensive  circula- 
tion. It  was  asserted  by  the  correspondent  to  whom  they  had  been 
consigned,  that  this  was  the  first  instance  in  which  Testaments  in  the 
Spanish  language  had  found  their  way  to  South  America.  Applica- 
tions for  purchasing  them  were  numerous  ;  and  among  those  who  ap- 
plied, were  Roman  Catholic  priests,  who  not  only  received  them 
themselves,  but  also  "  recommended  them  to  others,  as  good  and  fair 
copies." 

It  is  not,  however,  to  be  dissembled,  that,  upon  the  expulsion  of 
the  British  from  that  possession  ;  an  event  which  speedily  followed, 
this  act  of  kindness  was  superseded  by  measures  of  a  very  different 
description.  Scarcely  had  the  Spanish  colours  waved  over  this  re- 
covered settlement,  when  the  Roman  Catholic  Bishop  of  Buenos 
Ayres,  called  in,  under  the  severest  ecclesiastical  penalties,  all  co- 
pies of  the  New  Testament,  as  well  as  of  other  religious  publications 
distributed  by  the  British  during  the  period  it  remained  in  their  oc- 
cupation. Had  this  Prelate  replaced  the  Testaments  which  he  sup- 
pressed, by  others  more  congenial  with  the  version  accredited  by  his 
church,  there  could  have  been  no  just  ground  for  complaining  of  his 
conduct.  As  it  was,  the  people  were  forcibly  deprived  of  the  light 
which  had  been  furnished  them  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety ;  and  nothing  was  given  them  as  a  substitute  for  its  guidance,  or 
an  atonement  for  its  loss.  However,  the  act  of  the  Society  was  good  ; 
and  many  of  its  efiects  were  doubtless  beyond  the  reach  of  inquisito- 
rial exaction.  To  have  propagated,  under  whatever  disadvantages, 
the  word  of  God,  is  always  to  have  done  something.  That  word,  at 
one  period  or  other,  will  have  its  operation.  It  shall  not  (says  its 
Author)  return  unto  me  void  ;  but  it  shall  accomplish  that  zi'hich  I  please, 
and  it  shall  prosper  in  the  thing  whereto  I  sent  it. 

With  the  intelligence  just  referred  to  from  the  South,  was  connected 
some  pleasing  information  from  the  North  ;  particularly  from  the  In- 
dian settlements  on  the  lakes  of  Upper  Canada.  Here  it  was  ascer- 
tained, that  the  Mohawk  Gospel  of  St.  John,  printed  by  the  Society, 
was  considered  an  acceptable  treasure.  What  added  to  the  satisfac- 
tion imparted  by  this  intelligence,  was,  that,  to  the  thanks  of  the  In- 
dians who  had  received  it,  as  transmitted  by  their  Chief,  Captain 
Norton,  the  translator,  was  annexed  a  petition  for  a  farther  sup])ly  of 
copies,  "for  the  use  of  the  Romaii  Catholic  and  other  Indians  in- 
habiting lower  down  the  St.  Lawrence." 


CHAP.  VI.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIFnT.  jg- 

The  fourth  Anniversary  now  brought  the  proceedings  of  the  So- 
ciety during  another  year,  under  the  review  of  its  assembled  sub- 
scribers and  friends.  The  meeting  was  held  at  the  same  time  and 
place  as  the  preceding  anniversary  had  been  ;  and,  while  the  Pre- 
sident reported,  as  usual,  the  transactions  of  the  year,  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Cashel,  (who  had  recently  accepted  the  office  of  Vice- 
President,)  and  the  Bishop  of  Durham,  united,  with  many  other 
distinguished  personages,  in  supporting  his  Lordship,  and  counte- 
nancing the  proceedings  of  the  Institution,  by  their  presence  and 
their  approbation.  The  business  of  the  day  renewed  those  emo- 
tions of  concord  and  transport  which  have  been  described  as  cha- 
racteristic of  the  former  anniversaries.  The  scene  was  full  of  anima- 
tion and  interest.  The  conflicts  and  trials  through  which  the  In- 
stitution had  passed,  were  all  forgotten  in  the  celebration  of  its 
successes  ;  or  only  remembered,  to  swell  the  predominant  feelinirs 
of  wonder,  and  gratitude,  and  joy. 


CHAPTER  VI. 


1808—9. 


J.  HE  year  upon  which  we  are  now  to  enter,  presented,  at  it? 
opening,  a  gloomy  and  repulsive  aspect.  Clouds  of  unusual  dark- 
ness overspread  the  political  horizon.  The  distress  and  perplexity 
of  the  European  nations  were  extreme  :  the  powers  of  heaven  ap- 
peared literally  to  be  shaken  ;  and  "  the  hearts  of  men"  were  ever} 
where  "  failing  them  for  fear,  and  for  looking  after  those  tiling? 
which  seemed  to  be  coming  upon  the  earth." 

A  state  of  aflairs  so  apparently  unpropitious,  might  have  been  ex- 
pected to  check  the  ardour,  and  discourage  the  exertions,  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  But  its  conductors  felt  that  they 
had  a  duty  to  discharge,  which  allowed  no  place  for  despondency  or 
dejection.  Animated,  therefore,  by  the  spirit  of  their  cause,  they 
resumed  with  alacrity  their  intermitted  services ;  and  "  went  forth  tt» 


194  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  f. 

their  work  and  to  their  labour"  in  the  assured  persuasion,  that  in  due 
time  they  should  map,  if  they  fainted  not. 

At  home,  it  is  truo,  partly  from  the  defeat  of  its  East  Indian  oppo- 
nents, and  partly  from  its  own  increasing  reputation,  the  Institution 
was  encouraged  to  bear  up  against  the  counteraction  of  the  times, 
by  the  prospect  of  an  effectual,  though,  perhaps,  a  silent  and  gra- 
dual extension.  But  abroad,  particularly  on  the  continent  of  Europe, 
(by  much  the  largest  section  of  its  field  of  operations,)  the  scene  ex- 
hibited, was  such  as  to  inspire  very  faint  hopes  of  the  Society's  pro- 
gress in  any  direction,  and  to  threaten  it,  in  some,  with  serious  em- 
barrassment, if  not  with  absolute  and  remediless  exclusion. 

It  must,  indeed,  be  admitted,  that  neither  the  proceedings  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  nor  of  its  allied  associations,  had 
in  any  case,  been  subjected  to  direct  and  specific  prohibition.  But 
the  systematic  rigour  with  which  English  influence  was  opposed  by 
the  wide-spreading  domination  of  France,  rendered  it  increasingly 
difficult  and  dangerous  for  the  inhabitants  of  the  continent,  those  of 
Sweden  alone  excepted,  to  maintain  any  sort  of  intercourse,  however 
innocent  or  honourable,  with  Great  Britain,  or  any  of  its  dependen- 
cies. In  those  countries,  therefore,  in  which  the  councils  or  the 
arms  of  the  common  enemy  prevailed,  the  utmost  to  wliich  the  So- 
ciety, under  present  circumstances,  could  look,  was,  a  silent  and  cau- 
tious advancement  on  the  part  of  their  continental  correspondents  ; 
and  a  prosecution  of  the  works  already  commenced,  by  that  aid 
which  might  be  occasionally  administered  to  them,  through  channels 
of  accidental  and  unobserved  communication. 

Such  was  the  fact  with  respect  to  the  Societies  at  Berlin,  and  at 
Basle:  accompanied,  however,  in  each  case,  with  indications  of  con- 
tidence,  and  efforts  towards  progress,  which  reflected  the  highest 
credit  upon  their  zeal  and  perseverance.  The  truth  of  this  state- 
ment will  more  particularly  appear  from  what  is  now  to  be  briefly 
narrated,  as  carrying  on  the  history  of  both  these  Institutions. 

At  Berlin,  the  printing  of  the  Bohemian  Bible,  which  had  been 
completed  in  September,  10O7,  was  followed  by  so  rapid  a  distribu- 
tion of  the  copies,  chiefly  among  tiie  Protestant  congregations  using 
that  language  in  Bolicmia  and  Silesia,  as  to  occasion  regret  that  the 
impression  had  not  been  much  more  considerable.  The  success 
with  which  this  work  had  been  attended,  and  the  information  ac- 
(juired  by  the  correspondence  to  which  it  led,  suggested  to  the  con- 
ductors of  the  Society  at  Berlin,  another  and  scarcely  less  iniportant 
undertaking,  an  impression  of  the  PoUsh  Bible.  Tudismayed  by  the 
dilhculties  with  which  they  were  surrounded,  and  relying,  under  God, 


CHAP.  VI.l  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  jg- 

on  the  expected  support  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
they  resolved  to  make  the  arduous  attempt.  Their  expectation  from 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  was  not  disappointed.  Upon 
the  tirst  intelligence  of  their  design,  the  Committee  in  London  greeted 
it  with  cheering  assurances  of  aid ;  and,  by  successive  grants, 
amounting  in  the  whole  to  800/.  induced  its  projectors  to  enlarge 
their  edition  from  5,000  Bibles  (the  number  originally  proposed)  to 
8,000  Bibles,  and  2,000  additional  Testaments. 

The  proceedings  of  the  Society  at  Berhn  have  been  unilormly 
characterized  by  a  spirit  of  generous  enterprise ;  but  their  conduct 
in  the  present  instance,  viewed  in  connexion  with  the  state  of  their 
city,  and  of  the  circumjacent  country,  exhibits  a  display  of  Christian 
magnanimity,  which  deserves  our  highest  admiration.  At  a  time  when 
they  had  to  lament,  through  the  organ  of  their  Secretary,  "  that  the 
wounds  of  Prussia  were  still  bleeding,"  and  that  "  the  distress  of 
multitudes  was  increasing,  and  hundreds  of  families  were  without 
employment,  without  bread," — it  was  in  this  awful  crisis  of  depres- 
sion and  impoverishment,  that  the  members  of  the  Berlin  Society,  few 
in  number,  and  low  in  resources,  conceived  the  design  of  printing 
5,000  copies  of  the  Bible,  for  the  benefit  of  their  Polish  fellow- 
Christians.  They  could  not  indeed  withhold  the  confession,  that, 
"  owing  to  the  desolating  judgments  which  had  lately  befallen  them, 
as  a  well-deserved  punishment  for  their  awful  departure  from  God 
and  His  holy  word,  they  had,  in  union  with  their  neighbours,  been 
reduced  to  such  circumstances,  that  they  could  expect  but  very  small 
contributions  ;"  yet,  trusting  with  simplicity  to  the  providence  of  God, 
and  the  promised  co-operation  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, they  rose  above  the  influence  of  every  apprehension^  and  fear- 
lessly embarked  in  their  proposed  undertaking. 

A  similar  spirit  of  religious  enterprise  and  perseverance  actuated 
the  members  of  the  Bible  Society  at  Basle,  and  carried  them  success- 
fully through  difficulties  which  would  have  overwhelmed  men  of 
weaker  faith  in  the  promises  of  God,  and  less  ardent  zeal  for  the 
propagation  of  His  word  Amidst  all  the  discouragements  arising 
from  the  severe  visitation  of  poverty  and  distress,  and  still  more  from 
"  the  melancholy  effects  of  a  prevailing  spirit  of  luxury  and  ingrali- 
ttide,"  they  were  enabled  to  issue  their  German  Testament  in  tht- 
spring,  and  their  complete  Bible  in  the  decline  of  1808.  On  the  per- 
formance of  these  works  they  had  bestowed,  as  it  appeared,  extraor- 
dinary pains  ;  and  they  were  already  rewarded  by  the  testimony  of 
approval  with  which  they  were  received  ;  and  by  the  prospect  ot" 


196  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PARTI. 

such  a  circulation  as  would  be  likely  to  create  a  demand  for  repeated 
editions. 

To  these  exertions  on  behalf  of  their  German  fellow-countrymen, 
the  Basle  Society  added  their  strenuous  and  useful  efforts  to  supply 
their  Protestant  neighbours  in  the  South  of  France  with  a  similar 
advantage.  They  hafl  already  succeeded,  greatly  beyond  their  ex- 
pectation, in  disposing  of  French  Bibles,  at  reduced  prices,  to  some 
excellent  ministers  of  that  persuasion  in  Languedoc*  This  success- 
had  the  effect  of  stimulating  the  Basle  Society  to  undei'take  another 
edition  of  the  French  Testament ;  and  caused  them  to  express  their 
regret,  that  their  funds  did  not  authorize  them  to  take  a  further  step, 
by  printing  an  impression  of  the  entire  Bible  in  that  language.  Such 
an  object  had  not  escaped  the  notice  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  as  hkely,  at  one  period  or  other,  to  come  under  the  consi- 
deration of  their  correspondents  at  Basle.  Under  this  conviction, 
they  had,  in  a  contract  for  stereotype  plates  of  the  French  Bible, 
designed  for  domestic  use,  expressly  stipulated  for  duplicates,  in  or- 
der that  they  might  have  it  in  their  power,  by  transmitting  a  set  to 
that  station,  to  expedite  the  accomphshment  of  so  desirable  an  object, 
whenever  it  should  be  required. 

It  ought  not  to  be  overlooked,  of  how  much  importance  the  Bible 
Society  at  Basle  had  become,  as  a  vehicle  for  conveying  the  Scriptures 
in  their  own  language  to  the  Protestants  in  the  South  of  France.  The 
observation  will  confirm  what  has  before  been  stated,  of  the  advan- 
tages which  were  hkely  to  attend  the  transfer  of  the  German  Bible 
Society  from  Nurenberg  to  Basle.  The  advantage  now  alluded  to, 
is  one,  the  value  of  which  cannot  be  too  highly  appreciated  :  inas- 
much as  the  Society  at  Basle  afforded  the  conductors  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society  a  neutral  and  unsuspected  medium  of  inter- 
course with  France,  during  the  long  continuance  of  those  political 
circumstances  which  precluded  them  from  all  access  to  the  inhabitants 
of  that  country,  in  every  other  direction. 

In  the  facts  above  recorded,  the  admiration  of  the  reader  has  been 
directed  towards  the  local  Societies  at  Berhn,  and  at  Bagle.  It  will 
not  detract  from  the  praise  which  has  been  deservedly  bestowed  on 
these  excellent  Establishments,  to  remark,  that  the  Committee  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  were  not  deficient  in  alfording  them 
the  means  of  struggling,  with  success,  against  the  current  of  adver- 
sity.    The   interposition,  by   turns,  of  sympathizing  counsel,  and 

*  One  hundred  pounds  had  been  contributed  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bibh- 
Society  for  that  purpose. 


CHAP.  VI.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  I97 

seasonable  liberality,  tended  materially  to  cherish  their  hopes, 
strengthen  their  resources,  and  encourage  them,  through  all  the  vi- 
cissitudes of  impoverishment  and  vexation,  not  only  to  continue,  but 
to  augment,  their  operations. 

An  account  has  already  been  given  of  the  favourable  condition  in 
which  Sweden  was  supposed  to  be  with  respect  to  the  possession  of 
the  Scriptures.  In  consequence  of  that  i-epresentation,  some  j'ears 
were  suffered  to  elapse,  without  any  attempt  being  made  to  promote, 
in  that  country,  the  work  which,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  was 
proceeding  with  effect  in  so  many  others.  But  the  time  was  come, 
when  Swedish  inaction  was  to  give  place  to  an  ardent  zeal  for  dis- 
seminating (he  Holy  Scriptures,  and  Stockholm  was  to  add  another 
Society  to  those  already  established  for  that  purpose  on  the  continent 
of  Europe. 

The  history  of  the  Institution  erected  at  Stockholm  will  be  found  to 
connect  with  the  event  of  Mr.  Paterson's  retirement  from  Copenhagen 
on  account  of  the  war,  and  the  investigation  which,  during  the  sus- 
pension of  his  labours  in  Denmark,  he  was  led  to  prosecute  in 
Sweden.  The  result  of  this  investigation,  which  had  been  made  with 
diligence,  and  under  circumstances  favourable  for  ascertaining  the 
truth,  agreed  with  the  report  which  had  been  previously  received, 
in  some  particulars,  but  differed  from  it  in  others,  and  those  too  of 
considerable  importance.  With  that  report  it  strictly  concurred,  so 
far  as  regarded  the  state  of  respectable  families,  and  the  houses  of 
farmers  and  inn-keepers  ;  in  all  which  a  Bible  was  regularly  found  : 
but  here  the  agreement  ended.  The  account  transmitted  by  Mr. 
Paterson  described  the  families  of  inferior  consideration,  the  inhabit- 
ants of  cottages  and  cabins,  as  almost  totally  destitute  of  the  word  of 
God  ;  and  represented  the  possession  of  a  Bible,  as  an  article  of  pro- 
perty, in  the  case  of  a  servant  or  a  labourer,  to  be  a  thing  unknown, 
and,  from  the  high  price  which  it  bore,  almost  impossible. 

The  discrepancy  between  the  two  statements  induced  the  Com- 
mittee of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  to  pause,  before  the}' 
should  presume  to  determine  what  measures  it  might  become  them  to 
take.  Antecedently,  therefore,  to  any  decision  upon  the  subject, 
they  followed  the  line  both  of  decorum  and  expediency,  by  referring 
the  information  of  Mr.  Paterson  to  the  respectable  Swedish  authorities 
from  which  the  more  favourable  intelligence  had  been  derived.  The 
event  of  this  reference  was  an  unequivocal  confirmation  of  Mr. 
Paterson's  statement,  with  respect  to  the  wants  of  the  lower  classes 
in  Sweden  ;  and  a  consequent  resolution  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  to  encourage  the  formation  of  an   Establishment  at 


198  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

Stockholm,  for  administering  to  their  effectual  and  permanent  re- 
lief. 

Animated  by  the  assurance  of  liberal  co-operation  from  London, 
and  by  promises  of  support  from  persons  of  great  respectability  in 
Stockholm,  Mr.  Paterson  drew  up  a  memorial  on  the  want  of  the 
Scriptures  among  the  lower  classes  in  Sweden,  the  duty  of  reheving 
it,  and  the  means  by  which  that  end  might  be  attained.  The  effect  of 
tltis  memorial,  combined  with  other  exertions  directed  to  the  same  ob- 
ject, was  the  establishment  of  an  Institution  at  Stockholm,  under  the 
designation  of  "  the  Evangelical  Society,"  and  with  the  high  sanction 
of  the  King  and  Privy  Council.  The  desire  of  effecting  certain 
other  religious  purposes,  and  the  impracticability,  at  that  period,  of 
forming  separate  Institutions  for  each,  rendered  it  expedient  to  incor- 
porate the  distribution  of  the  Scriptures,  and  of  Religious  Tracts,  &c. 
in  one  common  establishment.  With  a  view,  however,  to  secure  a 
strict  conformity  to  the  fundamental  rule  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  that  of  circulating  the  Scriptures  alone,  provision  was 
made  in  the  constitution  of  "  the  Evangehcal  Society,"  that  each  of 
these  objects  should  form  the  business  of  a  separate  department ;  and 
both  the  income  and  expenditure  attaching  to  each,  be  kept  regularly 
and  religiously  distinct. 

The  Stockholm  Evangelical  Society,  having  thus  completed  the 
organization  which  was  necessary  to  qualify  it  for  a  connexion  with 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  announced  its  establishment, 
in  a  primary  Address,  dated  the  20th  of  February,  1809.  This  Ad- 
dress breathes  such  a  spirit  of  warm  and  generous  piety,  and 
describes,  with  so  much  clearness,  the  origin,  design,  and  circum- 
stances, of  the  new  Institution,  that  our  narrative  will  be  both  illus- 
trated and  enlivened  by  its  insertion. 

"  The  Evangelical  Society  in  Stockholm  wishes  to  tlie  Committee 
of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  grace  and  peace  from  Jesus 
Christ,  who  is  the  faithful  witness,  and  the  Prince  of  the  kings  of  the 
earth,  that  loved  us,  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood. 

"  Honoured  and  beloved  Brethren, 

"  It  is  for  the  first  time  that  we  seek  access  to  your  venerable  So- 
ciety. May  it  be  granted  to  us,  and  accompanied  with  the  witness 
of  the  Spirit,  that  we  are  your  fellow-partakers  of  the  inheritance  of 
the  saints  in  light.     Thus  we  salute  each  other  with  an  holy  salutation. 

"  We  regard  you  with  reverence.  You  have  undertaken  a  great 
work ;  and  your  exertions  and  sacrifices  are  worthy  of  the  grand  aim 
which  you  have  in  view. 


CHAP.  VI.]  AND  FOREIGiN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  jijg 

"  You  extend  your  operations  over  the  remotest  parts  of  the 
globe,  and  the  islands  of  the  sea.  All  that  remains  of  the  daughter 
of  Zion  in  Christendom  rejoices  in  your  light.  Dispersed,  like  soli- 
tary cottages  in  a  vineyard ;  concealed,  as  lonely  lodges  in  a  garden 
of  cucumbers  ;  they  feel  their  weary  eyelids  pressed  down  by  dark, 
sultry,  and  tempestuous  clouds  :  yet  a  glimpse  of  cheering  light  pene- 
trates their  huts :  they  perceive,  in  the  firmament  of  the  Church, 
some  morning  stars  ;  and  among  these  your  Society  shines  most  con- 
spicuous. This  sight  gladdens  their  hearts,  and  they  wait  with 
patient  expectation  for  the  approaching  rise  of  the  Sun  of  Righteous- 
ness. But  even  on  the  most  distant  nations,  Mahomedan,  as  well  as 
Heathen,  who  are  sitting  in  darkness  and  in  the  shadow  of  death,  this 
light  now  begins  to  dawn.  With  unexampled  exertion — to  each  in 
his  own  language — you  send  the  word  of  life.  Oh,  thou,  our  Father, 
who  art  in  heaven,  hallowed  be  th}'  name,  thy  kingdom  come  ;  for 
thine  is  the  kingdom,  and  the  power,  and  the  glory,  for  ever  and  ever. 
Amen. 

"It  is  impossible  for  us  to  describe  the  feelings  of  admiration, 
which  filled  our  minds,  when  we  attentively  perused  the  last  Report 
of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  These  Reports  cannot  but 
excite  esteem  for  all  those  men  who  labour  in  this  cause,  with  such 
unwearied  diligence,  and  consecrate  all  the  powers  of  art  and  science 
to  the  service  of  God — and  for  a  public  which  so  generously  aids 
these  endeavours.  Mr.  Paterson,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  the 
communication  of  the  above  Reports,  has  drawn  our  attention  more 
than  ever  to  the  great  want  of  Bibles  which  exists  in  various  parts  of 
our  country,  chiefly  among  the  lower  classes  of  people  ;  at  the  same 
lime,  reminding  us  of  our  duty  to  relieve  this  want,  and  recommend- 
ing means  for  the  attainment  of  this  desirable  object.  This  he  did  by 
an  Address  circulated  in  manuscript  among  the  friends  of  religion  in 
this  metropolis  ;  which  gave  rise  to  the  establishment  of  a  Society, 
denominated  '  the  Evangelical  Society,'  which  we  are  happy  to  state 
has  received  the  full  approbation  and  sanction  of  our  most  gracious 
King. 

'*  After  a  mature  deliberation,  and  having  previously  consulted 
several  exalted  Patrons,  we  found  it  most  advisable  not  to  form  our- 
selves into  a  separate  Bible  Society,  but  to  include  in  one  Society  the 
two-fold  object,  the  circulation  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures,  and  the  dis- 
tribution of  Religious  Tracts.  We  therefore  determined  to  entrust 
the  execution  of  this  design  to  one  and  the  same  Committee  ;  yet 
a  fundamental  rule  was  added,  that  each  of  the  two  branches  should 
have  its  separate  funds,  and  a  distinct  account  of  the  income  and  ex- 


200  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I, 

penditure  of  each  should  be  kept,  and  annually  laid  before  the  pub- 
lic.    We  hope  this  arrangement  will  meet  with  your  approbation. 

"  Our  plan  is  to  print  (if  possible)  the  Sacred  Scriptures  in  the 
Swedish  language  on  standing  types,  and  to  begin  this  work  with  the 
New  Testament.  We  have  already  received  some  donations  for  this 
purpose  ;  and  we  trust  to  meet  with  as  much  support  as  the  present 
pressure  of  the  times,  and  the  distressed  state  of  our  country,  will 
admit.  But  should  we  be  left  to  our  own  resources  alone,  we  fear 
it  will  take  a  long  time,  before  we  shall  be  able  to  procure  the  need- 
ful fund  of  types  for  the  printing  of  the  New  Testament.  To  say  the 
truth,  this  will  be  impossible,  in  our  circumstances,  for  a  number  of 
years. 

"  But  the  generous  assistance  you  have  given  to  other  countries, 
encourages  us  to  direct  our  eyes  to  you.  Kindly  remember  the  poor 
of  our  land ;  for  surely  there  are  numbers  among  us,  who  are  poor 
in  outward  circumstances,  but  far  more  poor  still  in  the  saving  know- 
ledge of  Jesus  Christ.  Lend  them  your  helping  hand  ;  and  let  your 
iioble  humanity  induce  you  to  favour  our  new-born  Society  with 
your  support  in  its  infancy,  that  it  may  grow  up  to  a  man  in  Christ. 
We  shall  consider  ourselves  responsible  to  God  and  to  you  for  the 
application  of  those  means  which  you  may  think  proper  to  entrust  to 
our  care.  Our  ardent  wish  is  to  enter  upon  the  execution  of  our 
plan  without  delay,  and  to  be  helped  by  your  experience,  advice,  and 
support.  Every  communication  from  you  will  be  highly  acceptable 
to  us.  Some  of  us  understand  so  much  of  the  Enghsh  langugage, 
that  they  can  convey  the  sense  of  a  letter  to  the  rest.  But  none  can 
write  it ;  you  will  therefore  permit  us  to  address  you  in  German. 
Now,  honoured  brethren,  we  commend  ourselves  to  your  benevo- 
lence, friendship,  and  intercession.  Farewell,  and  be  happy  in  look- 
ing up  to  Jesus,  the  great  Author  and  Finisher  of  our  faith.  May 
his  divine  blessing  accompany  all  your  efforts  for  the  propagation  of 
that  mystery  of  godliness  which  the  Father  and  Lord  of  heaven  and 
earth  has  concealed  from  the  wise  and  prudent  of  this  world,  and  re- 
vealed unto  babes.  May  all  lands  enjoy  the  blessings  of  the  Gospel, 
and  may  the  whole  earth  be  filled  with  the  knowledge  and  glory  of 
God!" 

The  receipt  of  this  communication  was  cordially  welcomed  by  the 
conductors  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  Projecting  the 
spiritual  instruction  of  the  whole  human  race,  they  could  not  but 
view,  with  pleasure  and  thankfulness,  successive  Ini^titutions,  of 
91  kindred  nature  to  their  own,  rising  intg  existepce  by  their  example, 


CHAP.  VI.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  201 

and  challenging  their  friendship,  countenance,  and  co-operation. 
The  present  also  was  a  case  in  which  a  pecuUar  interest  was  added 
to  the  event,  by  the  antecedent  improbability  of  its  occurrence  in  the 
capital  of  a  country,  whose  population  was  represented  as  having 
"  no  want  of  Bibles."  The  result  was,  on  the  part  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  an  immediate  grant  of  3001.  together  with 
a  congratulatory  address  on  the  accomplishment  of  an  object  calcu- 
lated immediately  to  benefit  the  Swedish  population,  and  ultimately, 
as  it  was  hoped,  to  assist  in  promoting  the  welfare  of  mankind. 

Thus  was  a  foundation  laid  in  the  capital  of  Sweden,  upon  which  a 
National  Bible  Society  was  hereafter  to  be  erected.  The  good  pro- 
duced in  the  meantime  by  this  limited  and  temporary  Establishment, 
exceeded  any  calculation  which  could  have  been  made  upon  its  pro- 
bable means  and  exertions.  Such  was  its  activity,  that  it  dispersed 
the  sacred  treasures  of  divine  truth  through  an  extensive  range  of 
country  ;  and  many  parts  of  the  kingdom  participated  in  its  attention, 
which  might  have  appeared  to  be  removed  beyond  the  reach  of  il« 
operations,  and  almost  of  its  concern.  The  Stockholm  Evangelical 
Society  was,  in  fact,  the  first  depot  in  which  the  Scriptures  were 
printed  and  accumulated  for  distribution  in  the  North  of  Europe.  It 
was  in  the  bosom  of  this  Society  that  the  zeal  for  circulating  the 
word  of  God,  first  kindled  by  the  movements  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  continued  to  burn,  till  it  had  warmed  into  life 
the  Swedish  Provinces,  and  propagated  through  them  a  kindred  flamr 
which  reached  at  length  the  very  heart  of  the  Russian  Empire. 

Before  taking  our  leave  of  the  European  continent,  it  will  not  be 
uninteresting  to  follow  the  400  German  Bibles,  and  200  Testaments, 
designed  for  the  German  colonies  on  the  banks  of  the  Wolga,*  to 
their  destination  ;  and  to  observe  the  transport  of  joy  and  gratitude 
with  which  they  were  received  by  the  poor,  but  pious,  inhabitants  of 
that  distant  settlement.  The  scene  is  described  by  the  Rev.  Mi. 
Huber  of  Catharinenstadt,  who  assisted  to  distribute  the  books,  as 
exceedingly  impressive  ;  and  it  will  appear  from  the  following  state- 
ment, given  by  himself,  that  his  own  exertions  contributed  not  a  little 
(o  heighten  the  effect. 

"  The  Bibles  and  Testaments  which  were  sent  by  the  English  Bi 
ble  Society,  as  a  present  to  the  German  colonies  near  the  Wolga,  arv? 
safely  arrived,  and  have  been  distributed  among  a  number  of  poor 
people,  by  whom  they  were  received  with  great  joy  and  gratitude. 
To  the  distribution  of  them  in  four  parishes  I  can  speak  myself 

*  See  p.  132. 


20^  HISTORY  OP  THE  BRITISH  tPART  I. 

having  been  employed  as  the  honoured  instrument  of  giving  away  144 
copies.  These  four  Protestant  parishes  embrace  no  less  than  thirty- 
two  villages,  which  are  greatly  dispersed,  and  at  a  very  considera- 
ble distance  from  each  other.  But  I  made  it  a  point  to  go  to  them 
all.  Immediately  after  my  arrival  at  a  village,  I  assembled  the  el- 
ders, and  the  schoolmaster  of  the  congregation ;  requested  them  to 
select  the  poorest  young  people  who  could  read,  and  yet  were  en- 
tirely destitute  of  a  Bible,  and  the  means  of  procuring  one;  and  gave 
them  a  short  address,  in  which  I  endeavoured  to  impress  their  minds 
with  the  inestimable  value  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  :  if  it  happened  to 
be  a  Sunday,  I  preached  in  their  church.  I  then  told  them  of  the 
generous  gift  of  the  Enghsh  Bible  Society  ;  and  called  upon  the  rich 
to  assist  me  by  their  contributions,  that  these  Bibles  might  be  given 
to  the  young  people,  free  from  any  expense  of  conveyance:  or  if  I 
could  not  succeed  in  this  way,  I  went  round  in  the  village  from  house 
to  house,  begging  as  much  as  I  wanted.  The  many  thousand 
(EngUsh)  miles  which  the  Bibles  and  Testaments  had  to  travel,  be- 
fore they  could  reach  us,  made  them  come  to  about  20  copecks  a 
Testament,  and  a  rouble  a  Bible ;  and  exactly  thus  much  I  collected 
among  the  congregations  themselves,  that  the  Scriptures  might  be 
gratuitously  distributed  among  their  most  necessitous  members.  My 
journey  was  attended  with  trouble  and  expense  ;  but  I  felt  myself 
amply  repaid  by  the  joyful  sight  1  witnessed,  and  by  the  many  tears 
of  gratitude  which  I  saw  flow.  Indeed,  when  I  heard  many  an  ho- 
nest, godly  man  pronounce  his  blessing  upon  the  remote  benefac- 
tors, I  felt  so  delighted,  that  I  could  have  gladly  made  again  this 
troublesome  tour.  Some  very  worthy  people  came  on  purpose  to 
express  to  me  their  feelings  on  the  occasion :  '  Pray'  (said  they)  '  do 
not  forget  to  return  our  most  respectful  thanks  to  this  excellent  So- 
ciety; and  tell  them,  that  we  feel  quite  constrained  to  implore  a  par- 
ticular blessing  on  such  active  friends  of  Christ.'  " 

A  similar  account  was  afterwards  transmitted  from  Lesnoi  Kara- 
misch,  by  the  Ftev.  Mr.  Hiemer,  who  confirmed  the  description  given 
by  his  colleague  of  Catharinenstadt ;  and  united  with  him  in  offer- 
ing* the  thanks  of  the  colonists,  and  more  especially  the  poor,  who 
had  been  presented  with  Bibles  or  Testaments,  for  a  donation  so 
greatly  esteemed. 


^The  following  is  given  by  Mr.  Huber  as  the  inscription  wbich  he  placed  on  the 
title-page  of  each  Bible:  "This  Bible  is  the  precious  gift  of  the  English  Bible  So- 
ciety ;  never  to  be  sold,  but  to  be  made  a  good  use  of :— The  Clergyman  will  not 
fail  to  make  his  inquiries  bcreafter." 


CHAP.  VI.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  203 

There  is  something  peculiarly  gratifying  to  a  benevolent  mind,  in 
the  contemplation  of  kindness,  like  that  which  has  just  been  describ- 
ed, travelling  to  the  relief  of  objects,  at  once  so  obscure  and  so  re- 
mote as  to  have  precluded  the  hope,  and  it  should  have  seemed,  al- 
most the  possibihty,  of  their  receiving  it  from  the  quarter  from 
which  it  actually  proceeded.  Situated,  as  the  Society  was,  in  the 
metropolis  of  Great  Britain,  and  embarrassed  in  its  movements  by  a 
multitude  of  intervening  obstacles,  it  forms  a  pleasing  spectacle  to  be- 
hold it  thus  fetching  up  the  waters  of  life  from  a  town  in  Saxony,  and 
dispersing  them  with  such  invigorating  efficacy  among  the  thirsty  in- 
habitants of  a  secluded  district  on  the  borders  of  Tartary. 

This  consideration  appears  to  have  impressed  very  forcibly  the 
mind  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hiemer ;  and  his  reflection  upon  a  review  of 
the  transaction,  shall  terminate  this  account. 

"  I  am  indeed  struck  with  admiration  at  the  great  work  which  God 
is  carrying  on  in  England,  and  at  the  zeal  which  the  numerous  Socie- 
ties in  that  country,  all  animated  by  one  spirit,  display  for  the  propa- 
gation of  the  Gospel  throughout  all  parts  of  the  globe.  It  appears 
to  me,  as  if  our  blessed  Saviour,  in  these  days  of  general  faUing  oft' 
and  tribulation  upon  earth,  were  hastening  to  manifest  himself  to  his 
people  in  his  reappearing  ;  and  that,  as  his  Gospel  must  first  be 
preached  throughout  the  v/hole  world,  he  has  produced  these  extra- 
ordinary efforts,  through  the  influence  of  his  Spirit,  for  the  express 
purpose  that  he  may  himself  the  sooner  appear." 

While  the  cause  of  the  Society  was  thus  advancing,  though  by  slow 
degrees,  in  countries  subject  to  the  dominion,  or  intimidated  by  the 
policy  of  our  inveterate  enemy,  and  establishing  itself  with  great 
promise  of  success  in  the  only  kingdom  in  Europe  which  aflbrded  an 
open  field  for  its  free  and  undissembled  operations,  its  exertions  at 
home  were  continued  with  unabating  alacrity,  and  unwearied  perse- 
verance. Large  editions  of  the  English  and  Welsh  Scriptures  were 
put  to  press  ;  and  to  the  impressions  already  executed  in  the  foreign 
languages,  were  added,  in  the  course  of  this  year,  editions  in  the 
Portuguese,  the  Italian,  the  Ancient  and  Modern  Greek,  the  Dutch, 
and  the  Danish. 

In  printing  the  Portuguese  Testament,  the  Society  had  respect  to 
the  numerous  individuals  of  that  nation,  serving  aboard  British  ves- 
sels ;  to  the  Portuguese  islands  and  colonies,  by  the  events  of  the 
war  subjected  to  the  British  crown  ;  and  to  the  facihties  presented, 
by  a  recent  change  of  political  circumstances,  for  distributing  Xh.p 
Scriptures  in  Portugal, 


204  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

The  subject  of  the  ItaHan  and  the  Modern  Creek  Scriptures  was 
taken  up,  under  a  persuasion,  to  which  considerable  encouragement 
had  been  given,  that  copies  of  them  would  be  found  very  acceptable 
in  diflerent  parts  of  the  Mediterranean,  and  in  the  Levant.  The  at' 
tention  of  the  Society  had  indeed  been  incidentally  called*  to  the  ex- 
pediency of  printing  the  Scriptures  in  Modern  Greek  at  a  very 
early  period  after  its  establishment.  A  record  made  of  the  sugges- 
tion ;  (for  such  was  the  form  in  which  it  purported  to  be  given  and 
received  ;)  but  it  was  not  till  the  commencement  of  1808,  that  any 
serious  consideration  was  bestowed  upon  it. 

Shortly  previous  to  that  time,  the  arrival  of  the  Rev.  J.  F.  Usko 
in  this  country  from  the  Levant,  a  circumstance  occasioned  by  the 
rupture  between  Great  Britain  and  the  Porte,  had,  through  the  in- 
tervention of  Bishop  Porteus,  brought  into  communication  with  the 
conductors  of  the  Society  a  man,  who,  in  addition  to  the  knowledge 
he  was  reputed  to  possess  of  the  European  and  Oriental  languages 
in  general,  had  acquired,  by  a  long  residence  at  Smyrna,  an  intimate 
acquaintance  with  the  dialect,  the  opinions,  and  the  habits  of  the  Mo- 
dern Greeks. 

To  Mr.  Usko  were  submitted  the  several  particulars  on  which  the 
question  of  printing  a  portion  of  the  Scriptures  in  their  own  dialect, 
for  the  use  of  this  people,  principally  turned  ;  and  the  opinions  he 
gave  on  them  severally,  led  to  an  unanimous  decision  in  favour  of  the 
experiment.  The  only  point  on  which  any  serious  doubt  had  been 
entertained,  was,  whether  the  projected  edition  would  be  generally, 
or  at  all,  received  by  the  Modern  Greeks.  To  the  query  suggested 
by  this  doubt,  Mr.  Usko  replied,  that  the  Modern  Greeks,  having 
changed  the  ancient  language  of  their  ancestors  into  a  new  one,  as 
the  Italians  had  done  the  Latin,  made  use  of  the  modern  or  newt 
language  in  all  transactions  of  business,  in  conversation,  and  in  cor- 
respondence ;  and  that,  although  they  employed  the  ancient  in  their 
churches  for  divine  service,  yet  they  preached  in  the  vulgar  tongue  : 
that  their  Patriarch  and  themselves,  when  they  addressed  the  people 
in  the  Church,  did  it  always  in  the  modern  language,  as  he  had  him- 
self had  many  o})portunities  of  observing ;  and,  finally,  that  transla- 
tions of  European  books,  and  original  compositions,  both  in  prose  and 
verse,  were  very  current  in  this  language,  and  read  by  the  people 
(as  being  much  more  intelligible  to  them  than  the  ancient  Greek 

♦  By  the  Rev.  D.  Bog'ue,  of  Gosport. 
t  For  an  excellent  account  of  this  new  language,  called  the  Neo-fJrcok,  or  Ro 
nieika,  see  Mr.  Butler's  Hota  ifibluer,  p.  155. 


CHAP.  VI.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  205 

autl'.ors)  with  great  rcadines.?  and  delight.  Mr.  Usko's  conclusion 
therefore  was,  that  an  edition  of  the  New  Testament  in  their  owa 
{anguage  would  be  ver}-^  agreeable  to  the  Modern  Greeks  ;  and  this 
conclusion,  as  will  hereafter  appear,  has  been,  and  continues  to  be,  in- 
creasingly confirmed.* 

To  the  benefit  derived  on  this  occasion  from  Mr.  Usko's  knowledge 
and  judgment,  was  added  that  of  his  personal  services,  voluntarily 
tendered,  and  thankfully  accepted,  in  correcting  the  press.  The 
work  was  printed  from  the  edition  at  Halle  in  1710 ;  but  (as  was  the 
case  in  the  first  translation  printed  at  Geneva  in  1638)  with  the  An- 
cient and  Modern  Greek  in  parallel  columns.  This  plan  was  recom- 
mended by  Dr.  Adam  Clarke,  and  approved  by  Mr.  Usko  :  to  the  lat- 
ter were  awarded,  in  return  for  his  valuable  labours,  the  thanks  of 
the  Committee  ;  the  only  remuneration  he  would  consent  to  receive 
for  assistance  which  he  was  not  more  able  than  willing  to  impart. 

To  the  printing  of  the  Scriptures  in  the  two  last  of  the  before-na- 
med languages,  the  Dutch  and  the  Danish,  the  Society  was  first  stimu- 
lated by  affecting  representations  of  the  great  want  of  Bibles  and  Tes- 
taments among  the  prisoners  of  w'ar  belonging  to  those  nations,  but 
particularly  to  the  latter.  The  Rev.  Dr.  Werninck,  Minister  of  the 
Dutch,  and  the  Rev.  U.  F.  Rosing,  Minister  of  the  Danish  Churches 
in  London,  were  the  individuals,  who,  with  a  zeal  and  sympathy 
which  reflected  great  honour  on  their  pastoral  functions,  made  known 
to  the  Society  the  spiritual  wants  of  their  captive  countrymen,  and 
earnestly  pleaded  for  their  relief.  "  If"  (said  Mr-  Rosing)  "  the  gift 
of  the  Bible  be  a  valuable  thing  to  every  person,  it  must  be  p.^-rt.wliar- 
Jy  so  to  the  man  who  is  confined  wathin  the  narrow  %valls  Ogj-Jepison. 
Without  employment,  with  his  time  hanging  heavy,  and  mis\.'fj  press- 
ing hard  upon  him,  he  will  be  naturally  excited  to  receive  the  instruc- 
tion, to  seek  the  comfort,  and  to  follow  the  advice  of  religion  ;  in  pro- 
portion as  he  feels  himself  in  want  of  her  aid,  and  discovers  in  her 
his  only  resource  and  refuge."  Mr.  Rosing  then  goes  on  to  state, 
that  the  number  of  Danish  prisoners  of  war  at  the  several  depots, 
amounted  to  2,782  ;  that  among  more  than  1 ,300  whom  he  had  visited 


*  The  reception  given  to  the  firfst  translation  in  1G38,  \ras  not  very  encouraging. 
*'  Si  quceras  (nays  Largius  in  his  Dissertation  on  this  edition)  in  quo  pretio  hac  ver- 
sio  sitGrfpcis  habita,  omuino  respondeiuhim  fuerit,  pretium  vix  adeo  magnum  illain 
fuisae  consecutara  in  Grrecia."  The  edition  in  1703,  containing  a  preface  ofi'ensive 
to  the  Greek  Bishops,  was  burnt,  by  order  of  the  Patriarch  of  Constantinople.  (See 
Horce  Biblicce,  p.  160.)  To  these  facts,  the  acceptance  with  which  the  Society's 
edition  (withont  preface  ornotes)  has  been  favoured,  and  the  sanction  which  it  has 
obtained  freni  the  Patriarch,  form  a  very  grateful  and  interesting  contrast. 

28 


200  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

at  Chatham,  he  had  found  but  two  Bibles ;  and  that  he  had  rea  - 
son  to  believe,  that  the  rest  were  not  in  a  less  destitute  situa- 
lion.  "  If,  therefore,"  (adds  Mr.  Rosing)  "  through  the  gene- 
rous efforts  of  your  Society,  Bibles  could  be  procured  for  them, 
an  actual  want  will  unquestionably  be  supplied ;  and  they  will 
have  to  thank  the  Society  for  blessings  which  could  not  have  been  de- 
rived from  any  other  source.'"*  The  result  of  these  pleadings,  on  the 
part  of  Dr.  Werninck,  and  Mr.  Rosing,  was  a  determination  to  print 
both  a  Dutch  and  a  Danish  New  Testament ;  and  the  extent  of  the 
editions  in  each  case  was  calculated  by  a  reference  to  the  prospect  of 
Iheir  being  circulated  with  acceptance  in  the  Dutch  and  Danish  co- 
lonies, both  in  the  East  and  West  Indies,  which  in  the  course  of  the 
war  had  universally  fallen  under  the  dominion  of  Great  Britain. 

In  the  mean  time,  those  measures  which  had  been  adopted  for  sup- 
plying the  hospitals,  gaols,  and  workhouses,  throughout  the  kingdom, 
were  carried  on  with  vigour  and  regularity ;  and  every  opportunity 
was  embraced  to  distribute  copies  of  the  Scriptures,  in  those  lan- 
guages in  which  the  Society  possessed  them,  wherever  a  probability 
existed  of  their  being  thankfully  received,  and  attentively  perused. 
Whether  the  applications  proceeded  from  those  who  were  nigh,  or  from 
those  who  were  afar  off;  whether  they  respected  kindred  or  aliens, 
the  destitute  of  our  own,  or  of  foreign  countries  ;  tliey  found  a 
Board  always  prepared  to  give  them  a  kind  reception,  and  to  adminis- 
ter, to  the  full  extent  of  its  means,  a  prompt  and  effectual  supply. 

It  is  scarcely  possible  to  estimate  the  good  which  may  have  been 
effected  thi'ough  the  instrumentality  of  an  Institution  at  once  so  vi- 
gilaa^'  \  '  HO  active.  Unfettered  by  ceremonious  formality,  exclusive 
attach  r-  *  or  minute  calculation,  it  felt  simply  and  capaciously  for  the 
Spiritual  wants  of  mankind  ;  and,  in  the  contemplation  of  their  relief, 
made  no  distinction  of  nation  or  communion  ;  and  declined  no  sacrifice, 
either  of  exertion  or  exj>enditure.  Aware  that,  on  a  sudden,  demands 
might  be  made,  and  opportunities  of  distribution  might  offer,  and 
unwilling  that  any  should  be  suffered  to  pass  away  without  a 
suitable  degree  of  attention  and  improvement,  the  Society  was 
careful  to  provide  against  surprise,  by  keeping  in  hand  a  compe- 
tent stock  of  tlie  Scriptures,  in  the  languages  to  which  such  exigencies 
were  thought  most  likely  to  apply.     It  resulted  from  this  policy,  that 


*  When  the  depot  at  Greenlaw  was  visited  by  a  deputation  from  tlie  F'dinburgli 
Bible  Society,  in  180'J,  between  five  and  six  hundred  Danish  prisoners  were  found, 
and  only  one  Vanhk  Bible  amoiKj  (hoit,  which  the  owner  said  he  hud  yaved  outos. 
many  things  which  he  hj.d  lost. 


CHAP.  VI.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  ^Qif 

tvhen  the  British  Government  allowed  the  Spanish  prisoners  of  war 
to  join  the  patriotic  standard  which  their  countrymen  had  unexpect- 
edly erected  against  the  invader  and  enslaver  of  their  nation,  the 
agents  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  were  prepared  to  ac- 
company this  generous  act  of  release,  with  the  gift  of  a  Spanish  New 
Testament.  Seven  hundred  and  seventy-five  of  these  captives  re- 
ceived, each  a  copy,  as  they  embarked  for  the  land  of  their  nativity ; 
and,  with  tears  of  joy  and  thankfulness,  they  carried  off  the  precious 
seed,  to  spread  it  over  a  soil  in  which,  perhaps,  it  has  been  less  spa- 
ringly sown  than  in  almost  any  other  portion  of  Christendom. 

Inhke  manner,  when,  in  the  month  of  January,  1809,  part  of  Juaot's 
army  were  driven  into  Penzance  by  foul  weather,  the  Society,  in- 
formed of  this  occurrence,  despatched,  without  delay,  a  supply  of 
French  Testaments,  Avhich  were  immediately  distributed  among  this 
band  of  enemies  ;  and  the  person  who  applied  for,  and  distributed 
them,  W.  H,  Hoare,  Esq.  an  active  and  benevolent  member  of  the 
committee,  reported,  that  they  were  received  with  gratitude,  and  that 
on  the  following  morning  he  found  two  French  othcers  reading  them 
with  attention.  In  this,  and  in  all  similar  cases,  the  Society  appeared, 
it  should  be  observed,  on  ground  which  no  Institution  before  had  un- 
dertaken to  occupy;  and  the  receiver  of  its  gifts  had  (in  the  just  lan- 
gtiage  of  Mr.  Rosing)  "  to  thank  it  for  blessings  which  they  could  not 
have  derived  from  any  other  source." 

It  was  while  thus  employed  in  prosecuting  the  general  concerns  of 
the  Society,  dispensing  copies  of  the  Scriptures  to  some,  preparing 
them  for  others,  and  projecting  their  dispersion  among  all,  that  the 
Committee  received  the  important  intelligence  of  the  estabhshment 
of  a  Bible  Society  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia.*  This  event,  which 
took  place  on  the  12th  of  December,  1808,  gave  to  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society  an  auspicious  entrance  on  the  western  con- 
tinent ;  and  opened  to  its  conductors  prospects  of  usefulness  in  the 

*  Tlie  following'  tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  a  leading  promoter  of  this 
Society,  will  be  read  with  sympathy  by  every  friend  to  the  general  cause. 

"  While  llie  manag-ers  of  this  Society  ofi'er  their  gratitude  to  Almighty  God,  for 
preserving  their  body,  during  past  years,  from  vacancies  produced  by  death,  they 
are,  on  this  occasion,  called  to  the  mournful  duty  of  paying  a  tribute  of  respect  due 
to  their  late  venerable  associate.  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush,  of  this  city.  It  was  with 
deep  regret  that  they  heard  of  his  decease.  He  was  not  merely  au  honour  to  his 
profession  and  to  his  country,  as  a  physician,  but  an  ornament  to  religion,  as  a  zeal- 
ous friend  of  the  Bible.  Among  the  first  to  give  existence  and  energy  to  Ibis  So- 
ciety, he  drafted  its  constitution ;  and  ever  since  its  establishment  he  was  one  of  its 
Vice  Presidents.  A  good  Providence,  it  is  hoped,  will  fill  up  those  vacancies  among: 
the  supporters  of  Bible  Institutions,  which  death,  time  after  time,  may  produce," — 
Fi/fh  Jhpurt  of  (he  PhlUiddphia  Bible  Socidif. 


208  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

new  world,  liUle  inferior  to  those  which  it  had  enjoyed  in  the  old. 
The  inteUJgence  was  officially  announced  in  terras  which  ascribed 
the  formation  of  the  Philadelphia  Bible  Society  to  the  example  and 
influence  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  respectfully 
and  affectionately  deferred  to  it  as  to  a  patroness  and  a  parent.  In 
an  admirable  address,  the  managers  of  this  first  American  Society  un- 
folded their  views  with  regard  to  the  origin  and  design  of  their  Insti- 
tution. Its  origin  (as  has  already  been  mentioned)  they  attribute  "  to 
the  example  offered,  and  the  eflbrts  made,  by  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society."  "  From  the  time"  (they  say)  "  that  it  was  known  in 
this  city,  it  attracted  the  marked  attention  of  several  persons  accus- 
tomed to  take  an  interest  in  whatever  is  calculated  to  extend  the  in- 
fluence of  revealed  truth.  It  was  immediately  seen,  that  the  neces- 
sity for  such  an  Institution  was  the  same  here  as  in  Europe  ;  and  that 
there  was  every  reason  to  believe,  that,  if  suitable  exertions 
were  made,  it  could  not  fail  of  encouragement."  After  assigning 
their  reasons  for  choosing  their  hmited  designation,  they  express  a 
hope,  "  that  the  time  is  not  distant  when  they  shall  see  Institutions 
similar  to  their  own,  in  the  town  of  Boston,  and  in  the  cities  of  New- 
Haven,  Kew-York,  Baltimore,  Richmond,  and  Savannah,  and  in 
the  town  of  Lexington,  in  the  state  of  Kentucky."  And  they 
sssert,  that  they  "  will  at  all  times  be  ready  cordially  to  greet,  as  a 
sister-Institution,  every  Bible  Society,  in  whatever  place  or  part 
of  their  country  it  shall  appear." 

In  explaining  their  design,  they  state,  that  "  it  is  to  the  poor  chiefly 
they  hr.ve  it  in  expectation  to  send  the  inspired  and  authentic  records 
of  the  gospel :"  "  to  enable  them  to  see  for  themselves  the  provision 
made  by  the  Father  of  mercies,  to  sustain  them  under  the  privations 
and  sufferings  of  time,  by  the  hope  of  happiness  in  eternity." 

But  "  while  the  poor,  generally,  will  thus  claim  the  peculiar  notice 
of  the  Society,  a  still  more  especial  regard"  (they  observe)  "may 
be  shown  to  those  who  sufier  from  confinement,  or  from  crime,  as 
well  as  from  poverty.  We  cannot  express  it"  (they  add)  "  without 
emotion,  that  we  hope  the  time  is  at  hand,  when  the  beams  of  the  Sun 
of  Righteousness,  reflected  from  the  Holy  Scripture,  will  penetrate 
and  cheer  the  gloom  of  every  prison  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania." 

From  the  poor,  and  the  prisoner,  they  pa-^s  to  families  in  confined 
circumstances  ;  to  soldiers  and  sailors,  "  who  would,  they  arc  persua- 
ded, often  prize  the  gift  of  a  Bible,  and  find  in  it  the  best  support  and 
folace  of  their  hazardous  and  laborious  occupations  ;"  and  to  "  the  In- 
dians on  the  frontiers,  and  the  poor  Africans,  scattered  through  the 
States:"  and,  finally,  they  sum  up  the  particulars  of  their  design  in 
tills  compendious  declaration,  "  It  is,  indeed,  not  easy  to  foresee  all 


CHAP.  VI.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  209 

the  cases  which  may  occur,  to  demand  the  attention  of  the  Society. 
As  they  arise,  they  will  be  distinctly  considered,  and  the  general  rule 
of  proceeding  will  be — wherever  the  Bible  ought  to  be  possessed, 

AND  cannot,  or  WILL  NOT,  OTHERWISE  BE  OBTAINED,  THERE  TO  BE- 
STOW IT  FREELY." 

In  this  address  (the  whole  of  which  is  well  worthy  of  perusal)  may 
be  seen  the  prototype  of  the  numerous  addresses,  recommendatory 
of  Bible  Societies,  which  have  since  done  so  much  honour  to  the  re- 
ligious character  of  the  Americans  ;  and  contributed  so  greatly  to 
enlarge  the  stock,  both  of  argument  and  exhortation,  in  favour  of  the 
distribution  of  the  Scriptures.  If  to  Great  Britain  belongs  the  ho- 
nour of  producing  the  Philadelphia  Bible  Society,  Philadelphia  may, 
on  her  part,  claim  equally  the  honour  of  having  set  the  tirst  example 
of  a  Bible  Society  in  the  United  States  of  America ;  and  of  having, 
by  her  zeal,  liberality,  and  discrimiiiative  wisdom,  induced  so  exten- 
sive an  imitation  of  her  conduct,  as  not  to  leave  a  single  State  through- 
out the  Union,  unprovided  with  one  or  more  of  these  excellent  and 
most  useful  Estabhshments. 

The  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  lost  no  time  in  expressing, 
according  to  its  usual  manner,  its  joy  on  receiving  the  interesting  com- 
munication which  has  just  been  transcribed,  and  its  desire  to  improve 
the  event  to  which  it  referred,  for  the  advantage  of  the  general 
cause.  The  sum  of  200/.  was  immediately  voted  to  this  Trans- 
atlantic auxiliary ;  and  in  the  letter  which  conveyed  intelligence  of 
the  grant,  the  conductors  of  the  Philadelphia  Society  were  admo- 
nished to  "  proceed  in  giving  to  their  infant  Institution  every  possible 
degree  of  latitude  and  efficacy  :"  "  to  hold  out  the  "Sacred  Scriptures 
in  their  naked  simplicity,  as  a  rallying  point  to  the  several  denomi- 
nations of  Christians  in  the  American  Union :  and  to  reckon,  in  the 
prosecution  of  this  glorious  work,  upon  the  blessing  of  God,  the 
prayers  of  all  good  men,  and  the  cordial  co-operation  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society." 

The  formation  of  the  lirst  Bible  Society  in  the  United  States  of 
America  was  soon  after  followed  by  another  event,  not  less  memora- 
ble in  the  History  of  the  Institution,  the  estabhshment  of  the  first 
Auxiliary  Bible  Society  in  Great  Britain.  Glasgow,  London,  and 
Birmingham,  have  been  severally  particularized,  as  giving  existence, 
in  the  order  now  described,  though  on  different  scales  of  magnitude, 
to  "  Associations,"  contributing  in  a  collective  form  to  the  funds  of 
the  Institution :  but  it  was  reserved  for  the  town  of  Reading  to  give 
to  the  country,  and  to  the  world,  the  first  example  of  a  I'egular 
"  Auxiliary  Bible  Society." 


jn.^  UlSTORV  OF  THE  BRITISH  I.PART  I 

It  had,  for  some  time  past,  been  an  object  with  the  Committee  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  to  promote  the  estabhshment 
of  local  Associations.  With  this  view,  they  inserted  in  their  Fourth 
Report  the  following  passage,  recommendatory  of  such  establishments. 

•'  The  Association  established  in  London  for  contributing  to  its 
funds  have  continued  their  active  exertions  with  increased  effect. 
And  the  funds  of  the  Society  have  received  an  augmentation  from 
Congregational  Collections  in  England,  as  well  as  from  the  liberality 
of  individuals.  In  their  Appendix  to  their  Second  Report,  your  Com- 
mittee published  an  extract  from  the  resolution  of  the  Birmingham 
Association,  as  affording  an  example  of  a  plan  of  proceeding  peculi- 
arly adapted  to  aid  the  object  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety ;  and  the  benefit  which  has  been  derived  from  it,  as  well  as  from 
the  Association  in  London,  and  a  similar  one  in  Glasgow,  makes  them 
anxious  to  point  out  these  Associations,  which  have  been  established 
for  the  special  purpose  of  aiding  the  funds  of  this  Society,  in  tho 
hopes  that  they  will  become  objects  of  imitation,  wherever  such  a 
measure  is  practicable,  throughout  the  island." 

In  what  degree  these  hints  contributed  to  the  movement  which  took 
place  at  Reading,  it  is  neither  easy  to  ascertain,  nor  material  to  in- 
quire. Our  purpose  will  be  sufficiently  answered,  by  describing 
briefly  the  manner  in  which  the  formation  of  this  Auxihary  Society 
was  brought  about,  and  specifying  the  agents  who  principally  contri- 
buted to  its  establishment. 

Previously,  however,  to  entering  into  this  detail,  it  will  be  proper 
to  observe,  that,  in  the  year  1807,  a  Society  had  been  formed  at 
Greenock  in  Scotland,  under  the  designation  of  "  The  Greenock  and 
Tort  Glasgow  Society,"  for  the  professed  object  "  of  circulating  the 
Holy  Scriptures  in  places  where  they  are  most  wanted,  and  of  assist- 
in'^  other  Societies  which  have  the  same  views."  This  Society, 
though  not  tributary  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  exclu- 
sively, and,  therefore,  not  claiming  to  be  regarded  as  one  of  its  pro- 
fessed Auxiliary  Societies,  contributed  very  liberally  to  its  resources  ; 
and  upon  merging  into  the  "  Greenock  and  Port  Glasgow  West  Ren- 
frewshire Bible  Society,"  in  1813,  transmitted,  as  a  final  contribution, 
the  remainder  of  its  funds,  with  a  valedictory  letter,  in  which  the 
Secretary  thus  expresses  the  sentiments  of  the  body. 

"  The  dissolution  of  a  Society  w  hich,  during  six  years,  has  afforded 
to  its  Members  so  many  delightful  opportunities  of  cultivating  tho 
princii)los  of  mutual  charity,  as  well  as  of  contributing  to  improve 
the  spiritual  condition  of  many  of  their  fellow-creatures,  could  not 
be  contemplated  without  feelings  of  deep  regret,  which  nothing  could 


CHAP.  VI.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  21  j 

bave  countervailed  but  the  confident  expectation,  that,  by  the  change, 
the  same  object  will  be  carried  forward  on  a  scale  greatly  enlarged, 
and  with  a  vigour  and  success  proportioned  to  the  number  and  influ- 
ence of  the  persons  engaged. 

"  Permit  me  only,  farther,  in  the  name  of  the  late  Greenock  and 
Port  Glasgow  Bible  Society,  to  return  to  the  Parent  Society,  through 
you,  their  grateful  thanks  for  the  attention  with  which  they  have  all 
along  been  honoured,  and  to  express  their  fervent  wishes,  that  the 
great  and  benevolent  plans  which  they  have  been  led  to  form,  may  be 
crowned  with  success,  and  be  the  means  of  accelerating  that  happy 
period,  when  all  nations  shall  read  and  hear  in  their  own  tongue  the 
wonderful  works  of  God." 

Having  endeavoured  to  do  some  justice  to  an  unassuming  but  meri- 
torious Institution,  the  author  will  now  return  to  the  subject  of  the 
Reading  Auxiliary  Bible  Society. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Valpy,  of  Reading,  whose  erudition  and  philanthropy 
have  conferred  no  ordinary  reputation  on  that  town  which  has  for  so 
many  years  been  the  seat  of  his  scholastic  labours,  had  distinguished 
his  attachment  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  by  preaching 
on  its  behalf,  both  at  Wallingford  and  at  Wrington,  and  by  other  un- 
equivocal testimonies  of  a  concern  for  its  welfare.  Through  the  per- 
severing exertions  of  this  gentleman,  and  others  who  participated  in 
his  sentiments  and  feelings,  a  Pubhc  Meeting  was  convened  in  the 
Town  Hall  at  Reading,  under  the  sanction  of  the  Mayor,  on  the  28th 
of  March,  1809  ;  when  an  "  Auxiliary  Bible  Society"  was  established 
for  the  town  and  vicinity  of  Reading,  on  the  principles  and  "  regula- 
tions of  the  Parent  Society,"  and  with  the  professed  design  of  "  con- 
tributing to  its  laudable  undertaking."  The  business  of  the  day  was 
rendered  particularly  interesting  by  the  presence  of  the  venerable 
William  Sharp,  Esq.*  at  that  time  verging  on  his  eighty-first  year  } 

*  May  the  author  be  permitted,  when  mentioning  a  name,  so  dear  to  himself,  and 
so  deserving  of  atfectionate  commemoration  by  every  friend  of  religion  and  hu- 
manity, to  trespass,  by  a  brief  extract  from  a  Discourse  delivered  by  him  on  occa- 
sion of  the  death  of  that  excellent  man,  and  referring  expressly  to  his  regard  for 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  ? 

"  He  loved  affectionately  all  good  men.  The  strictness  of  his  Creed — for  in  this 
he  never  relaxed — in  no  degree  interfered  with  the  expansion  of  his  heart.  He 
honoured  the  image  of  God,  wherever  he  teemed  to  discover  it;  and  rejoiced  iu 
every  measure  wliich  tended  to  bring  within  the  bonds  of  brotherly  love,  the  dis- 
united members  of  the  Churcli  of  Christ.  By  this  impulse  of  Christian  charity  he- 
was  led  to  hail  tlie  establishment  of  that  Society  which  promised  to  facilitate,  in  a 
degree  beyond  all  former  precedent,  the  accomplishment  of  so  desirable  an  end. 
lie  watched  the  progress  of  this  In.stitut!ou,.  wlnie  its  line  <vas  g^i'ig  o'lt  througa 


212  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [FART  I. 

and  its  object  was  materially  promoted  by  the  countenance  given  to 
it  on  the  part  of  the  Rev.  Robert  Nares,  Archdeacon  of  Stafford,  and 
Vicar  of  St.  Mary's,  Reading. 

To  Archdeacon  Nares  the  author  has  personal  obligations,  which 
he  is  happy  to  find  any  opportunity  of  acknowledging :  but  he  is  only 
discharging  a  pubUc  duty,  when  he  bears  testimony  to  the  decided 
attachment  which  the  Archdeacon  has  manifested  to  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  to  the  constancy  with  which,  through  all 
the  vicissitudes  of  pubhc  opinion,  he  has  persevered  to  support  and 
defend  it.* 

The  Reading  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  very  soon  obtained  the  pa- 
tronage of  the  Bishop  of  Salisbury,  who  cheerfully  became  its  Presi- 
dent :  and  of  so  great  importance  did  this  Institution  appear  to  Bishop 
Porteus,  that  his  Lordship  reprinted,  on  a  separate  sheet,  the 
report  of  the  proceedings  at  its  formation,  as  it  appeared  in  the 
county  papers  ;  and  distributed  copies,  with  great  zeal  and  ear- 
nestness, among  several  of  his  clergy,  as  well  as  more  particular 
friends. 

This  event,  together  with  the  formation  of  "  the  Bible  Society  of 
Nottingham  and  its  Vicinity,"  which  took  place  on  the  30th  of  the 
same  month,  was  regarded  by  the  Committee  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  with  a  similar  feeling  to  that  which  it  had  ex- 
cited in  the  breast  of  the  good  Bishop  of  London.  The  sense  the}-^ 
entertained  of  the  value  of  these  Institutions,  and  their  desire  of  ex- 
all  the  earth,  and  its  words  to  the  end  of  the  world  ;  promoted  its  interests  bj'  all 
the  powers  which  remained  to  him,  both  of  body  and  mind ;  and  honoured  its  an- 
niversaries by  the  countenance  of  his  venerable  presence,  and  by  the  applauding 
testimony  of  his  tears.  Five  of  these  festivals  he  had  witnessed ;  and  it  was  the 
desire  of  his  heart — were  it  consistent  with  that  will  to  which  he  was  always  re- 
signed— to  witness  a  sixth.  But  he  had  another,  and  a  better  destination :  for  ere 
that  era  should  arrive,  he  was  to  take  his  place  in  a  higher  region  •,  and  to  celebrate 
the  triumphs  of  Christian  faith  and  love  in  a  larger  and  more  august  assembly." 

*  It  redounds  to  the  credit  of  the  Archdeacon,  that  "The  British  Critic," 
during  the  period  that  it  continued  under  his  management,  was  tlic  faithful  ally  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society;  and,  with  the  exception  of  one  article,  ob- 
truded upon  the  editor  from  an  opponent  of  high  rnti//,  now  no  more,  it  uniformly 
defended  the  Institution  against  the  insinuations  and  the  caluuinies  with  which  it 
was  so  perseveringly  assailed.  Perhaps,  if  it  were  publicly  known  into  whose  hands 
the  property  lias  passed  since  the  Archdeacon  resigned  it,  some  account  might  be 
given  of  the  cause  which  has  led  to  the  strange,  and  almost  unexampled  incon- 
sistency, of  making  a  publication  of  respectable  name  the  instrument  of  stultifying 
it?elf,  and  of  giving  the  lie  to  almost  every  thing  it  has  advanced  for  a  number  of 
years  in  behalf  of  a  great  National  Institution. 


CHAP.  VI.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  O13 

citing  through  them  a  spirit  of  emulation,  were  thus  expressed  in  the 
Annual  Repoi't,  which  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  anticipate. 

"  It  is  with  sentiments  of  the  sincercst  satisfaction  that  your  Com- 
mittee advert  to  an  event,  of  which,  from  the  notoriety  given  to  it 
through  the  public  papers,  the  Members  of  the  Society  can  scarcely 
be  ignorant :  your  Committee  allude  to  the  formation  of  an  Auxiliary 
Bible  Society  at  Reading,  in  aid  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society.  The  zealous  and  effectual  manner  in  which  the  Reading 
Bible  Society  has  been  constituted,  the  distinguished  patronage  which 
it  has  obtained,  (the  Right  Rev.  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Salisbury,  one  of 
your  Vice  Presidents,  having  accepted  the  Presidency  of  it,)  and 
finally,  the  liberality  and  union  so  unanimoudy  manifested  in  its  sup- 
port, entitle  its  promoters  and  contributors  to  the  respect  and  grati- 
tude of  the  Parent  Institution. 

"  Intelligence  has  also  been  very  recently  received  of  another 
Auxiliary  Institution  having  been  formed  at  Nottingham,  under  the 
designation  of  '  The  Bible  Society  of  Nottingham  and  its  Vicinity.' 

"  Your  Committee  are  so  deeply  impressed  with  the  advantage 
which  must  result  to  the  interests  and  usefulness  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society  from  such  Establishments  in  aid  of  their  funds, 
that  they  earnestly  recommend  the  precedents  furnished  by  '  the 
Birmingham  Association,'  '  the  Reading  Auxiliary  Society,'  and  '  the 
Bible  Society  of  Nottingham  and  its  Vicinity,'  (the  several  regula- 
tions of  which  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix  to  this  Report,)  to  the 
consideration  of  such  towns  throughout  the  kingdom  as  may  be  dis- 
posed to  promote  the  object  of  their  Institution." 

The  indications  which  the  establishment  of  these  Auxiliary  Socie- 
ties* was  considered  to  give  of  the  advancement  of  the  Parent  Insti- 
tution in  the  public  esteem,  were  strengthened  by  the  unequivocal 
evidence  of  a  growing  disposition  throughout  the  Empire  to  en-, 
courage  its  exertions,  and  improve  its  resources. 

•  The  author  might  perhap.s  have  been  excused,  had  he  treated  the  origin  of 
Auxiliary  Societies — an  instrument  of  so  great  efficacy — as  adiiiag  another  to  the 
many  instances  in  which  Providence  appears  to  have  favoured  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society.  Dr.  Wordsworth  professes  to  regard  the  adoption  of  a 
similai'  expedient  in  the  year  ISIO  by  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Know- 
ledge, "as  a  mfrciful  example  of  the  fulfilment  of  his  word,  who  has  promised  to 
be  with  his  church  unto  the  end  of  (he  world." 

Letter  to  Loro  Teigimwuih,  p.  157. 

The  devout  reader,  who,  with  the  author,  is  a  sincere  well-wisher  to  both  Insti- 
tutions, will  probably  be  of  opinion,  that  neither  observation  is  allogrther  destitute 
of  truth. 

op 


214 


IJISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISfl  [PART  I. 


Ireland  had  indeed  too  many  demands  from  her  own  population 
upon  the  slender  funds  of  her  two.  Bible  Societies,  at  Dublin,  and  at 
Cork,  to  have  any  thing  to  spare  for  the  promotion  of  the  general 
cause.  It  was  obvious  that  the  connexion  of  these  bodies  with  the 
Parent  Society  in  London,  must,  from  the  circumstances  of  their  situ- 
ation, be,  for  a  period  at  least,  a  connexion  of  dependence,  or  of  mu- 
tual good  will.  The  only  way  in  which  they  could  be  expected  to 
contribute  to  its  interest,  would  be  by  occupying,  with  its  aid,  a 
field — and  that  a  most  important  one  too — from  which  its  labours 
must  otherwise  be  excluded ;  and  by  returning  the  pecuniary  sup- 
plies which  they  occasionally  received  from  its  liberality,  in  the  fruits 
of  a  vigorous  and  successful  co-operation. 

The  following  extracts  from  their  respective  Reports,  while  they 
communicate  general  information  on  the  state  of  Ireland  as  to  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  v/ill  show,  that  the  hope  of  vigorous  co-operation  in 
that  quarter  with  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  was  not  with- 
out reasonable  foundation. 

"  During  the  time  your  Committee  have  been  in  office,"  (say  the 
Committee  of  the  Hibernian  Bible  Society,)*  "  they  have  had  re- 


*  The  Report  of  the  Hibernian  Bible  Society  was  read  to  the  General  Meeting 
at  Dublin,  November  14,  1808,  iu  the  presence  of  the  Archbishop  of  Dublin,  (the 
Earl  of  Normanton,)  President  of  the  Institution.  The  auihoi  had  an  opportunity, 
which  he  did  not  neglect,  of  introducing  the  subject  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Archbishop,  during  his  temporary  residence 
at  Fulham,  in  the  Spring  of  1807;  and  afterwards  heard,  with  no  little  satisfaction, 
that  his  Grace  had,  iu  the  December  of  that  year,  become  the  President  of  the 
Hibernian  Bible  Society ;  presided  at  its  anniversary,  as  related,  in  November, 
1808,  and,  on  the  termination  of  the  meeting,  presented  it  with  a  donation  of  lOOf. 
In  this  manner  the  Archbishop  redeemed  the  pledge  which  he  was  pleased  to  give 
the  author  in  a  letter,  which,  as  it  contains  a  record  of  His  Grace's  sentiments  on 
tUe  merits  of  the  British  and  Foreigu  Bible  Society,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  insert. 

Arundel  House,  Fulham, 
May  27,  1807. 

"Rev.  Sir, 
"I  have  received  and  read,  with  great  satisfaction,  your  account  of  the  Bible 
Society  here.  And  as  soon  as  I  return  to  Ireland,  I  will  make  myself  acquainted 
with  the  state  and  circumstances  of  our  Society  there;  in  order  to  ascertain,  what, 
upon  the  whole,  bad  best  be  done,  to  promote  the  objects  of  these  useful  Institu- 
tions. 

"  I  am,  Reverend  Sir, 

"  Your  faithful  humble  servant, 

"CUAKLliS  DUBLIN.' 
The  Jiec.  John  Oiccm 


CHAP.  VI.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  215 

peated  proofs  of  the  necessity  and  usefulness  of  the  Society.  A  very 
general  desire  to  purchase  and  read  the  Bible  prevails  in  Ireland  ■ 
and  yet  in  several  parts  of  the  country,  the  Bible  cannot  be  obtained! 
at  least  by  the  lower  classes.  A  letter  from  a  clergyman,  in  a  very 
populous  district  of  the  North  of  Ireland,  stated  to  your  Committee, 
that  in  his  neighbourhood  the  Bible  could  not  be  procured  for  any 
motley.  From  this  circumstance  the  Society  may  judge  what  must  be 
the  case  in  those  parts  of  the  land  where  the  people  are  less  in- 
structed, and  where,  of  course,  it  might  be  expected  that  books 
would  be  very  scarce." 

"  Of  the  usefulness  of  the  Society,"  (they  justly  observe,)  "  the 
best  proof  is  the  following  statement  of  the  books  circulated  durincf 
the  last  year ;  viz. 

Bibles 2,466 

Testaments 2,452 


Total     4,898 

They  conclude  their  Report  "  by  urging  on  each  Member  of  the 
Society  the  necessity  of  increased  exertion  in  the  best  of  all  causes, 
the  improvement  of  their  country  in  civilization,  morality,  and  reli- 
gion." "  Of  all  nations  of  the  earth,  we  are''  (they  add)  "  the  most 
favoured  by  Providence.  While  other  lands  are  wasted  by  famine, 
or  desolated  by  war,  we  are  in  the  enjoyment  of  prosperity  and  do- 
mestic peace ;  and  surely  the  least  return  we  can  make  to  the  boun- 
tiful Author  of  these  blessings,  is,  to  diffuse  among  our  countrymen 
the  knowledge  of  his  Gospel." 

The  extract  from  the  Cork  Report,  to  which  the  reader's  attention 
is  requested,  is  as  follows : 

"  It  was  with  astonishment  and  regret  that  your  Committee  noticed 
the  marked  opposition  with  which  the  Society  was  threatened  at  its 
formation  ;  an  opposition  the  more  surprising,  when  the  professed  ob- 
ject of  the  Association  is  considered — that  of  the  more  general  diffu- 
sion of  D{vi7ie  Truth,  by  the  medium  of  God's  sacred  word  among  all 
classes  of  professing  Christians— and  that  without  any  further  design 
or  prospect  of  proselytism,  than  as  the  sacred  volume  itself  is  calcu- 
lated to  produce  such  an  effect- 

"  But  as  your  Committee  expected,  so  they  had  the  happiness  to 
find,  that  the  gloom  which  overspread  the  dawn  of  the  Institution  was 
not  of  long  continuance.  The  progress  of  Truth,  though  often  slow, 
iS  uniform  and  steady.     The  outcry  raised  against  the  Bible  Society. 


216  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  (PART  1. 

as  subservient  to  the  interests  of  a  party,  and  not  to  the  general 
cause  of  religious  knowledge,  was  seen  to  have  originated  in  preju- 
dice and  misconception,  those  deadly  foes  to  the  emancipation  of  the 
human  mind,  which  too  often  drown  all  candid  inquiry  in  clamour, 
and  cause  the  truth  itself  to  be  viewed  through  a  distorted  medium. 

"  A  happy  revolution  of  the  public  sentiments  in  its  favour  has 
been  abundantly  marked  by  the  liberal  and  enlightened  patronage  it 
has  received,  and  the  highly  respectable  auspices  under  which  it  was 
formed :  its  supporters  have  evinced  their  zeal  for  the  best  interests 
of  their  fellow-creatures ; — we  are  happy  to  observe,  that  their  be- 
nevolent designs  hnve  been  crowned  with  unlooked-for  success. 

"  The  amount  of  subscriptions  and  donations  has  been  very  consi- 
derable ;  among  which  is  most  thankfully  acknowledged,  the  liberal 
grant  of  100/.  voted  in  aid  of  our  funds  by  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society. 

"  Since  the  beginning  of  July  last,  your  Committee  have  procured 
from  the  Repository  in  London,  618  Bibles,  and  1,108  New  Testa- 
ments— the  whole  of  which,  with  the  exception  of  about  twenty  Bi- 
bles and  a  small  portion  of  Testaments,  have  been  disseminated — 
these  few  continue  undisposed  of,  and  an  ample  supply  of  large  Bi- 
bles and  Testaments,  for  which  there  seems  to  be  a  great  demand, 
has  been  ordered  from  London  and  Edinburgh.  A  number  of  Bibles 
and  Testaments  have  been  given,  by  a  vote  of  the  Committee,  to  the 
unhappy  convicts  who  sailed  in  the  last  fleet  for  Botany  Bay. 

"  Your  Committee  cannot  conclude  their  Report,  without  congra- 
tulating the  Subscribers  on  the  increased  spirit  of  inquiry  and  thirst 
for  religious  knowledge,  which  the  most  accurate  observers  notice 
among  the  lower  orders.  Education  is  becoming  more  general — the 
means  of  acquiring  information  arc  more  happily  diffused.  We  hail 
these  encouraging  aj)pcarances,  as  indicating  the  dawn  of  civilization 
— as  the  bright  harbinger  of  happier  times  than  we  have  yet  witness- 
ed— as  giving  the  early  promise  of  a  rich  harvest  of  Glory  to  God 
ill  the  highest ;  on  earth.  Peace,  Good-'will  toxvards  men.'''' 

Scotland  added  considerably  this  year  to  the  number  and  copious- 
ness of  her  tributary  streams.  The  zeal  of  the  Kirk  was  honour- 
ably distinguished  in  this  strife  of  Christian  love  ;  and  the  Presbyte- 
ries of  Lanark,  Paisley,  and  Ayr,  followed  the  example  of  those  which 
had  before  shown  their  zeal  for  the  Society,  by  general  and  produc- 
tive contributions.  The  liberality  displayed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Glasgow  in  180G,  when  a  sum,  amountnig  to  888/.  Ix.  6d.  was  poured 
into  the  treasury  of  the  Institution,  was  again  roused  into  action  ; 
and  the  effect  of  the  excitement  was  equally  creditable  to  the  donors, 


THAP.  VI.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY 


217 


and  beneficial  to  the  object  towards  which  their  bounty  was  directed. 
After  a  solemn  deliberation  on  the  facts  relative  to  the  proceedings 
and  operations  of  the  Society,  the  Presbytery  unanimously  appointed 
an  ANNUAL  collection  to  be  made  in  its  behalf,  at  all  the  churches  and 
chapels  within  its  bounds,  on  or  before  the  last  Sabbath  of  July  each 
year,  till  otherwise  altered — a  measure  for  which,  it  is  said,  there  was 
no  precedent. 

Contributions  in  England,  also,  both  congregatiuual  and  individual, 
were  manifestly  on  the  increase.  A  splendid  part  of  their  argumen- 
tation this  year  was  formed  by  the  aggregate  of  collections  made 
through  the  several  congregations  in  the  connexion  of  the  late  Rev. 
John  Wesley,  amounting  to  1300/.  Of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Adam  Clarke, 
through  whom  this  munificent  donation  was  transmitted,  something 
has  already  been  said  in  another  place;  but  the  intrortluction  of  a 
subject  in  which  the  liberahty  of  that  body  of  Christians  with  which 
he  stands  particularly  connected,  is  mentioned,  affords  a  convenient 
opportunity  of  bearing  testimony  to  their  friendly  regard  for  the  pros- 
perity of  the  Institution.  This  disposition  was  particularly  manifest- 
ed in  the  year  1807,  when,  on  an  application  from  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  their  Conference  permitted  Dr.  Clarke  to  re- 
main in  the  Metropolis,  from  which,  by  their  regulations,  he  must 
otherwise  have  been  removed ;  and  thereby  continued  to  the  Society 
those  literary  services,  the  loss  of  which  would  have  been  most  se- 
verely and  injuriously  felt. 

For  the  acquisition  of  these,  and  many  similar  advantages,  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  is  indebted  to  that  constitution  of 
its  Committee,  which,  by  the  diversity  of  its  component  parts,  fur- 
nishes links  of  connexion  with  almost  every  body  of  Christians 
throughout  the  Empire.  In  Joseph  Butterworth,  Esq.*  the  Society 
possessed,  from  the  period  of  its  formation,  a  medium  of  acceptable 
and  advantageous  communication  with  the  congregations  already  re- 
ferred to ;  and  the  mention  of  his  name,  together  with  that  of 
Thomas  Allan,  Esq.  who  entered  more  recently  into  the  service  of 
the  Institution,  will  remind  those  who  are  acquainted  with  its  practi- 
cal business,  of  the  candour,  good  sense,  and  integrity,  evinced  by 
those  gentlemen,  in  the  part  they  have  severally  taken  in  the  admi- 
nistration of  its  concerns. 

Along  this  tide  of  unexpected  prosperit3%  the  Society  was  carried 
to  the  celebration  of  its  Fifth  Anniversary.  The  Noble  President, 
though  labouring  under  the  effects  of  a  severe  and  protracted  indis- 

*  The  rrcsent  Member  cf  Parliament  for  Coventry. 


218  HISTORY  OP  THE  BRITISH  [PART  I. 

position,  appeared  at  his  station  in  the  Chair.  With  his  usual  fehcity 
of  selection  and  combination,  his  Lordship  recited,  in  a  well-digested 
Report,  the  principal  transactions  which  had  taken  place,  and  which 
described  the  success  that  had  attended  the  Institution  in  the  course 
of  the  year.  At  the  close  of  this  recital,  his  Lordship  exhorted  the 
Members  of  the  Society,  in  the  words  of  the  Report,  not  to  consider 
their  "field  for  exertion  exhausted,  while  the  inhabitants  of  any  part 
of  the  globe,  who  are  able  tu  i  ead  the  tilings  belonging  to  their  peace, 
were  in  want  of  its  assistance."  The  sequel  of  the  Report,  as  read 
by  the  Noble  President,  was  particularly  impressive. 

"  The  Gospel  of  Salvation  was  a  free,  unmerited  boon  to  mankind ; 
let  us  therefore  rejoice,  that,  under  Providence,  we  are  become  the 
honoured  instruments  of  its  dispersion.  It  must  be  most  gratifying 
to  the  Members  of  the  Society,  to  receive  applications  for  its  aid  and 
support,  dictated  by  a  spirit  of  Christian  confidence  and  unity,  from 
their  fellow-labourers  in  the  same  cause,  dispersed  through  various 
parts  of  the  world  :  but  it  is  still  more  gratifying  to  possess  the  dispo- 
sition to  comply  with  them,  and  the  means  of  indulging  that  disposi- 
tion to  the  most  liberal  extent.  Let  us  therefore  hope  that  neither 
will  ever  be  wanting.  Five  years  only  have  elapsed  since  the  Bri- 
tish and  Foreign  Bible  Society  was  established  ;  and,  during  that  pe- 
riod, the  calamities  of  war,  from  which  Providence  has  mercifully 
protected  our  country,  have  been  more  or  less  felt  in  every  kingdom 
of  the  Continent.  But  these  calamities,  even  when  they  have  ope- 
rated with  the  greatest  pressure,  have  not  been  able  to  extinguish 
that  zeal  which  your  Society  had  either  kindled,  or  promoted,  for 
the  circulation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  :  insomuch  that  the  institution 
of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  has  become  a  central  point 
of  union  for  individuals  and  societies  animated  with  the  same  spirit, 
however  variously  circumstanced,  or  widely  dispersed.  Like  a  city 
set  on  a  hill,  it  has  become  conspicuous  ;  and  the  rays  of  light  %vhich 
have  flowed  from  it,  have  been  reflected  with  undiminished  lustre. 
What  success  may  attend  the  operations  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  for  improving  the  religious  and  moral  state  of  mankind, 
cannot  be  ascertained.  But  surely  it  may  be  permitted  to  hope,  that 
the  blessing  of  God  will  not  be  wanting  to  an  Institution  which  has  for 
its  single  object,  to  promote  His  glory  by  the  circulation  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures  ;  nor  its  endeavours  in  this  line  of  duty  be  unattended  with 
correspondent  success.  At  present,  the  Members  of  (he  Society  may 
be  allowed  to  enjoy  the  gratification  of  knowing,  that  it  has  been  the 
instrument  of  communicating  the  words  of  eternal  life  to  cottages  and 
prisons,  to  kindred  and  aliens,  to  the  poor  and  the  afilicted,  in  our 


CHAP.  Vl.l  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


219 


own  and  foreign  countries  ;  and  that,  through  its  means,  the  people 
which  sat  in  darkness  have  seen  a  great  hght,  and  to  them  which  sat 
in  the,shadow  of  death,  light  is  sprung  up. 

"  Many  tracts  are  yet  unexplored  ;  and  it  may  be  necessary  to  re- 
trace some  which  have  been  already  pursued :  but,  whatever  the  va- 
riety or  extent  of  them  may  be,  your  Committee  have  the  fullest  re- 
liance, that  the  zeal  of  the  friends  of  religion  will  supply  means  ade- 
quate to  increasing  exigencies.  Nor  can  any  inducement  be  wanting 
to  those  who  remember  the  words  of  the  prophet,  peculiarly  styled 
e\^angelical : — '  How  beautiful  upon  the  mountains  are  the  feet  of  him 
that  bringeth  good  tidings,  that  publisheth  peace,  that  bringeth  good 
tidings  of  good,  that  publisheth  salvation,  that  saith  unto  Zion, — Thy 
God  reigneth  !" — Isaiah  liii.  7. 

The  Bishop  of  Durham,  in  moving  thanks  to  the  President,  added 
a  brief,  but  highly  energetic  address,  concluding  it  with  a  prayer  for 
the  increased  prosperity  of  the  Institution.  The  liberal  terms  in 
which  this  prayer  was  expressed,  and  the  feeling  manner  in  which  it 
was  delivered,  had  the  singular  effect  of  drawing  from  the  great  body 
of  the  Members,  as  if  actuated  by  one  common  impulse,  an  audible 
and  emphatical  Amen. 

Thus  terminated  the  first  lustrum  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society.  Advancing  from  small  and  scarcely  perceptible  beginnings, 
it  had  now  attained  an  extent,  and  reached  an  eminence,  which  could 
not  fail  to  give  it  consideration  in  the  eyes  of  mankind.  The  differ- 
ent portions  of  the  United  Kingdom  had  recognized  it  with  approba- 
tion, and  supported  it  with  liberality.  Establishments  had  arisen  for 
the  promotion  of  its  object  in  three  important  stations  on  the  European 
continent.  Its  excellence  and  utility  had  been  proclaimed  in  India, 
and  plans  were  forming  there  for  bringing  its  operations  to  bear  on 
the  ignorance,  superstition,  and  idolatry  of  the  East.  A  footing  had 
been  obtained  for  it  on  the  territories  of  the  American  States  ;  and 
its  entrance  on  the  western  hemisphere  had  been  marked  by  all  the 
signs  and  presages  of  prosperity  and  triumph.  Its  resources  were 
considerable,  as  its  works  had  been  numerous  :  and  there  was  every 
thing  in  its  condition,  botli  as  it  respected  its  domestic  and  its  foreign 
connexions,  at  the  terminatiou  of  its  fifth  year,  to  justify  the  assertion 
of  the  venerable  Bishop  Porteus,  that  "  it  was  rising  uniformly  in  re- 
putation and  credit ;  gaining  new  accessions  of  strength  and  revenue, 
and  attaching  to  itself  more  and  more  the  approbation  and  support  of 
every  real  friend  to  the  €hnrch>  and  to  religion." 


rJUP.  1.1  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLK  SOCIETY 


221 


PART  II. 


CHAPTER  I. 


1809—10. 


J.  HE  period  at  which  we  are  now  arrived,  may  be  regarded  as  fixing 
a  new  era  in  the  History  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 

Hitherto  we  have  seen  the  Institution  relying,  principally,  for  its 
encouragement  and  its  resources,  upon  the  countenance  and  support 
of  individuals.  In  certain  parts  of  the  British  empire.  Associations 
were  indeed  formed  ;  and  to  the  funds  derived  from  solitary  contribu- 
tions were  added  the  more  ample  supplies  of  congregational  and  col- 
lective liberality.  These  Associations  were,  however,  but  few,  and 
the  aids  they  furnished  were  limited  and  precarious  :  the  merits  of  the 
Society  were,  on  the  whole,  but  partially  acknowledged ;  and  its 
means,  though  considerable,  were  as  yet  inadequate  and  unsettled. 

But  the  time  was  now  come,  when  this  state  of  doubtful  recognition 
and  precarious  subsistence  was  to  expire.  The  Society  had  passed 
through  five  years  of  exercise  and  probation ;  and  the  claims  which 
it  had  established  to  respect  and  attachment,  began  now  to  be  strongly 
and  extensively  felt.  We  are  henceforth  to  see  that  feeling  display 
itself  in  the  progressive  formation  of  auxiliary  Establishments ;  and 
to  witness  the  rise  and  the  growth  of  a  system  of  measures,  which 
has  given  to  the  Society  a  decided  character,  and  laid  a  solid  founda- 
tion for  its  effectual  and  permanent  support. 

The  dawn  of  that  year  whose  transactions  we  are  now  to  describe, 
was  clouded  by  an  event,  in  which  the  Society  had  to  regret  the  loss 
of  a  zealous  Patron  ;  the  Church  of  England,  an  exen)plary  Prelate  ; 
and  the  cause  of  Christianity,  a  most  active,  vigilant,  and  liberal  be- 
nefactor. The  venerable  Bishop  Porteus,  in  whom  these  characters 
met,  had,  for  some  time  past,  given  painful  indications  of  a  rapid  ten- 
dency towards  dissolution  ;  and  such  wao  tiip  debility  to  whirh  his 
30 


;222  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  11. 

frame  was  reduced,  that  those  wlio  loved  him  most,  and  had  the 
deepest  interest  in  his  detention  upon  earth,  could  scarcely  refrain 
from  breathing  a  prayer  that  his  release  might  not  be  long  delayed. 
Under  all  the  infirmities  of  an  exhausted  constitution,  his  mind  was 
sufficiently  vigorous  to  occupy  itself  in  contemplating  with  delight  the 
progress  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,*  and  in  projecting 
schemes  for  its  further  advancement.  So  strongly  was  the  Bishop 
impressed  by  this  latter  consideration,  that,  within  three  weeks  of  his 
decease,  he  put  himself  to  the  exertion — and  it  vras  to  him  no  ordi- 
nary exertion — of  proceeding  from  London-House  to  Fulham,  in  or- 
der to  suggest  to  the  author  the  expediency  of  drawing  up  a  summary 
of  facts,  with  a  view  to  make  the  nature  and  usefulness  of  the  Society 
more  extensively  known. 


*  The  following  extract  from  a  Pamphlet,  published  by  the  Bishop  a  short  tinw 
previously  to  his  decease,  will  confirm  what  is  said  of  the  vigour  of  his  Lordship's 
mind,  and  also  of  his  persevering  attachment  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety. 

Urging  upon  the  governors  and  proprietors  of  plantations  in  the  British  West 
India  Islands,  the  adoption  of  his  plan  for  educating  their  Negroes,  the  Bishop  thus 
feelingly  and  cloqueiuly  addresses  them. 

♦'  You  will  have  flic  iniinorlal  honour  of  founding  a  veiv  school  for  piety  andvir- 
/«c  in  the  bosom  of  the  Atlantic  Oci  an,  of  erecting  a  noble  structure  of  religion 
and  morality  in  the  Western  world,  of  exhibiting  to  mankind  the  interesting  spec- 
tacle of  a  very  large  community  of  truly  I'hristiun  Ser/roes,  and  of  leading  tht 
way  to  the  salvation  of  more  than  fiOO,000  human  beings,  immersed  before  in  tlie 
grossest  ignorance,  superstition,  wickedness,  and  idolatry,  with  all  their  countless 
descendants,  to  the  end  of  time. 

"  Looking  forward  then,  as  I  do,  with  some  confidence  to  the  accomprisliraent  of 
this  great  event,  it  docs,  1  confess,  in  some  degree  console  and  sustain  my  miucf, 
Hmidst  those  frightt'ul  scenes  that  arc  now  passing  on  every  side  of  us,  and  those 
tremendous  commotions  which  are  convulsing  to  its  centre  almost  the  whole  habit- 
able globe.  It  will  be  one  proof  more,  added  to  nuuiy  others,  of  the  high  and  ex- 
alted character  of  the  British  nation,  and  of  the  extent  and  gramleur  of  its  views, 
beyond  those  of  any  other  nation  on  the  earth.  While  an  immense  gigantic  power 
is  spreading  ruin,  devastation,  and  the  most  complicated  misery,  over  the  world, 
subverting  kingdoms,  empires,  and  long-established  governments,  and  bursting 
asunder  all  the  mo>i  --acred  bonds  of  civil  and  political  society  ;  we  see  this  smali 
island,  not  only  exerting  iUelf  with  vigour  in  its  own  defence,  and  standing  up 
single  against  the  torrent  that  is  ovi  rwheliiiing  the  uhole  continent  of  Kuropc,  bnt 
.It  the  same  time  silently  and  qtiirtly  providing  for  the  luture  happiness  t>f  the  hu- 
jnan  race,  by  ditl'using  every  where  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  thereby  sowing  the 
iceds  of  Christianity  over  every  rjuHrler  of  the  glolie." 

I.vlln-  to  the  (nnrrnor.t,  f.r'ii.iJnfiirei,  ow.V 
Piopriiiltirs  of  J'laiitriHovt  in  the 
VritiAh  West  Indan   Islctr.ds,  p.  2$ 


<HAP.  1]  AND  FOREIGi\  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  223 

On  Saturday,  the  Gth  of  May,  the  author  breakfasted  with  the  Bi- 
shop, and  had  the  mournful  satisfaction  of  conversing  with  his  Lord- 
ship for  the  last  time.  In  this  final  interview,  the  author  added  to  the 
account  which  he  had  transmitted  to  the  Bishop,  relative  to  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Fifth  Anniversary,  such  further  particulars  as  were 
calculated  to  interest  and  delight  him.*  The  Bishop  listened  to  the 
recital  in  an  attitude  of  fixed  attention  ;  and  then,  with  much  earnest- 
ness, exclaimed:  "  Get  the  summary  of  facts  completed  as  speedily 
as  possible  ;  and,"  (raising  his  voice,)  "  circulate  it  widely." 

The  Bishop  afterwards  adverted  to  the  improved  state  of  religion 
in  our  own  country  more  particularly,  and  generally  throughout  the 
world ;  and  dwelt  much  on  the  good  eifects  produced  by  Dr.  Bu- 
chanan's "  Star  in  the  East :"  adding,  w  itli-  great  emphasis,  "  The 
Star  in  the  East  has  done  wonders  !"  The  author  reminded  his  Lord- 
ship that  the  Bible  Society,  and  the  translations  in  India,  had  made 
considerable  progress  ;  "  Oh,  yes,"  (exclaimed  the  Bishop,  lifting  up 
his  emaciated  hands,)  "  the  Bible  Society,  and  the  translations  in  the 
East,  will  bring  about  glorious  days  !"  While  he  uttered  these  words, 
or  words  to  this  effect,  his  morbid  frame  seemed  to  undergo  a  sudden 
reanimation :  the  small  remains  of  blood  in  his  system  appeared  to 
have  collected  in  that  countenance,  always  the  seat  of  benignity,  and 
now  rendered  more  benign  than  ever.  The  glow,  the  smile,  the 
visible  ecstasy,  which  accompanied  the  delivery  of  this  oracular  sen- 
timent, (for  such  it  has  proved  to  have  been,)  were  all  characteristic 
of  the  dying  saint ;  and  portended  the  near  approach  of  that  event 
which  on  the  ensuing  Saturday  terminated  his  conflict  with  mortality, 
and  removed  his  spirit  to  that  region  where  "  the  souls  of  the  faith- 
ful, when  delivered  from  the  burden  of  flesh,  are  in  joy  and  felicity."! 

*  It  was  at  this  interview  that  the  Bishop  expressed  to  the  author  his  intention 
of  presenting  the  Society  with  a  donation  of  50/.  The  death  of  tlie  Bishop  taking^ 
place  speedily  after,  tiic  author  communicated  the  circumstance  to  his  lordship's 
executors,  who,  very  lionourably,  gave  effect  to  the  Bishop's  dying  intention  by  a 
donation  tu  that  amount. 

t  The  aullior  trusts,  he  sliall  be  excused  for  extracting  a  passage  from  his  Speech 
at  the  first  Anniversary  of  the  Hackney  Society  ;  (Dec.  13,  1813,)  as  the  above  ac- 
count will  show  the  ground  he  had  for  the  earnestness  and  decision  witii  which  he 
esprrsse<i  hi;nselfon  that  occasion. 

"  I  confess,  for  my  own  part,  I  feel  a  growing  attachment  to  the  cause,  under  all 
the  circumstances  of  fatigue,  perplexity,  and  sacrifice,  to  which  it  e.vposes  me;  and 
I  am  desirous  to  promote  its  interest,  both  locally  and  generally,  by  all  the  exer- 
tions which  it  is  in  my  power  to  command.  I  owe  this  zeal  and  constancy,  not 
more  to  the  iutrinsical  excellence  of  the  Institution  itself,  than  to  the  solemn  iu 
jonctioDS  of  that  amiable  Prelate,  no^w  conntcd  with  the  spirits  of  jus!  men  niad« 


224  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  11. 

The  decease  of  an  individual  who  united,  in  so  eminent  a  degree, 
some  of  the  best  qualities  of  the  Prelate,  the  Philanthropist,  and  the 
Christian,  was  deservedly  regarded  as  a  general  calamity.  In  that 
calamity,  no  part  of  the  Christian  public  bore  a  larger  share  than  the 
conductors  and  the  members  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 
The  sense  of  their  loss  was  very  suitably  expressed  in  the  Report 
which  detailed  the  transactions  of  the  year  ;  and  with  that  official  tri- 
bute the  author  will  take  his  leave  of  this  affecting  subject. 

"  On  this  occasion  it  is  impossible  to  pass  unnoticed  an  event  which 
has  filled  your  Committee  with  the  deepest  regret,  the  death  of  one 
of  the  Vice  Presidents  of  the  Society,  the  lamented  and  most  respect- 
ed late  Bishop  of  London.  They  are  persuaded  that  every  Member 
of  the  Institution  will  cordially  sympathize  with  them  on  this  expres- 
sion of  their  feelings,  as  a  tribute  no  less  due  to  the  public  and  pri- 
vate virtues  of  that  venerable  Prelate,  than  to  the  station  which  he 
held  in  this  Society."* 

The  close  of  the  last  year  had  been  distinguished,  as  the  reader  will 
recollect,  by  the  formation  at  Reading  of  the  first  Auxiliary  Bible  So- 
ciety, under  the  patronage  of  the  Bishop  of  Salisbury,  a  Vice  Presi- 
dent of  the  Parent  Institution,  and  Bishop  of  the  diocese  within  which 
the  new  Establishment  was  situated.  Two  days  subsequent  to  this 
event,  (viz.  on  the  30th  of  March,)  a  similar  Institution  was  esta- 
blished at  Nottingham,  under  the  designation  of  "  The  Bible  Society 
of  Nottingham  and  its  Vicinity."  The  impulse  was  now  given  ;  and 
exertions  were  made  by  the  friends  of  the  Society  in  different  parts 
of  the  country,  to  excite  the  towns  and  vicinities  with  which  they 
were  severally  connected,  to  an  imitation  of  the  examples  which  Read- 
ing and  Nottingham  had  so  laudably  set.  The  effect  of  this  impulse, 
and  of  the  active  measures  to  which  it  led,  very  satisfactorily  appear- 


perfect ;  under  whose  auspices  I  entered,  and  for  more  than  five  years  continued  in 
its  service.  I  will  not  presume  to  say,  what  would  be  the  sentiments  of  the  en- 
lightened Prelate,  were  he  now  upon  earth  ;  but  1  very  well  know  wl)at  his  sen- 
timents were  while  upon  earth,  and  in  the  moments  which  nearly  preceded  his  re- 
moval to  heaven.  With  his  dying  accents,  and,  with  a  glow  on  his  countenance 
which  I  shall  never  forget,  he  admonished  me  to  give  to  the  plans  of  the  Society 
the  widest  possible  circulation  ;  and  1  should  be  unworthy  of  the  confidence  with 
which  he  honoured  me  while  living,  and  of  the  satisfaction  with  which  I  cherish 
his  image,  now  that  he  is  no  more,  if  I  did  not  derive  from  such  a  nicmoriul,  an  ad- 
ditional motive  for  adherence  to  a  cause  in  which  I  have  had  the  honour  to  labour 
for  i.early  ten  years,  and  in  the  service  of  which,  I  hope,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  to 
be  found  faithful  unto  death." 

♦  Sixth  Report. 


CHAP,  i]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  2^ 

ed  in  the  addition  of  eleven  Auxiliary  Societies  to  the  two  which  had 
been  formed  before  the  expiration  of  the  preceding  year.  The  order 
of  their  formation  was  as  follows  : 

"  The  Edinburgh  Bible  Society"  was  instituted  on  the  31st  of  July, 
1809  ;  that  of  "  Newcastle-upon-Tyne"*  on  the  30th  of  March  :  that 
of  "  East  Lothian"  followed  on  the  4th,  and  of  "  Leeds"  on  the  25th 
of  October ;  the  latter  commemorating,  by  the  day  of  its  formation, 
the  Jubilee  of  our  amiable  but  afflicted  Monarch.  "  Exeter"  stood 
forth  on  the  8th  of  December,  and  closed  the  list  of  Auxiliaries  for 
the  year  1809.  "  Manchester"  took  the  lead  in  1810  ;  the  Society 
for  that  town  and  its  associate  "  Salford,"  having  been  formed  on  the 
4th  of  January.  "  Kendal"  followed  on  the  6th  of  the  same  month. 
The  Istof  February  was  signalized  by  the  institution  of  the  "  Bristol" 
Society,  the  5th  by  that  of  the  "Sheffield,"  and  the  19th  of  the 
"  Leicester."  "  Hull,"  on  the  4th  of  April,  added  the  eleventh 
Auxiliary  Society,  the  last  which  was  formed  previously  to  the  Sixth 
Anniversary  of  the  Parent  Institution. 

From  this  numerical  statement  it  will  appear,  that  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society  attained  considerable  growth  in  the  course  of 
that  year  which  we  are  now  recording,  and  that  much  must  by  con- 
sequence have  been  added  to  its  general  reputation,  and  to  its  active 
and  tinancial  resources.  But  in  order  to  form  a  just  estimate  of  the 
influence,  the  property,  and  the  active  co-operation  which  accrued  to 
the  Society  from  the  Auxiliaries  which  have  now  been  enumerated, 
it  would  be  necessary  to  unfold  the  process  by  which  they  were  se- 
verally formed  ;  and  to  analyze  their  composition  with  a  degree  of 
exactness,  which  obscurity  in  some  cases,  and  delicacy  in  others,  would 
render  it  equally  difficult  and  imprudent  to  attempt.  It  may  not, 
however,  be  amiss  to  mention  a  few  particulars,  in  reference  to  some 
of  these  Establishments  ;  from  which  the  reader  may  obtain  a  clearer 
apprehension  of  the  manner  in  which  they  were  brought  about,  and  of 
the  support  which  they  lent,  by  the  A^ery  circumstance  of  their  for- 
mation, to  tlie  character  and  the  interest  of  the  Parent  Institution. 

The  first  five  of  the  Auxiliary  Societies  which  have  been  described, 
appear  to  have  risen  altogether  from  local  and  insulated  exertion  : 
they  were  not,  at  least,  indebted  for  their  production,  so  far  as  the 
author  knows,  or  has  been  able  to  learn,  to  any  efforts  or  communi- 
cations issuing  from  the  conductors  of  the  Parent  Society.  Of  the 
others,  the  Societies  at  Kendal,  Leicester,  and  Hull,  were,  with  some 
qualification,  particularly  as  it  respects  the  last,  substantially  of  the 

*  This  was  formed  under  the  irotnediate  patronage  of  the  Bishop  of  Durham. 


226  HISTORY  OP  THE  BRITISH  [PART  II. 

same  description.  But  in  the  formation  of  those  at  Manchester,  Bris- 
tol, and  Sheffield,  there  were  circumstances  which,  through  all  their 
stages,  from  their  origin  to  their  completion,  connected  them  with  the 
Officers  of  the  Parent  Society,  and  especially  with  him  on  whom, 
both  from  professional  and  official  obligations,  it  devolved  more  par- 
ticularly to  attend  to  the  interest  and  the  influence  of  the  National 
Church.*  In  the  measures  which  conduced  to  the  establishment  of 
the  Societies  under  consideration,  that  Officer  was  called  to  take  a 
part  which  involved  no  little  anxiety,  labour,  and  responsibility.  The 
assistance  of  his  colleagues  was  principally  rendered  at  the  meetings 
convened  for  the  formation  of  each  ;  and  the  services  of  all  were  uni- 
formly attested  by  a  public  and  recorded  acknowledgment. 

It  has  been  observed  in  general,  that  the  leading  advantages  de- 
rived to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  from  the  accession  of 
these  Auxiliary  EstabUshments,  were  public  recognition  and  perma- 
nent support.  The  former  was  an  advantage  of  the  greatest  import- 
ance, as  it  rescued  the  character  of  the  Society  from  suspicion,  and 
placed  its  claims,  so  far  as  the  influence  of  that  recognition  extended, 
beyond  the  reach  of  impeachment  or  contradiction.  The  publicity  of 
the  meetings  in  which  the  Auxiliary  Societies  were  formed,  the  consi- 
deration of  the  persons  under  whose  direction  or  patronage  those 
meetings  were  held,  the  recorded  approval  of  the  object,  canstitu- 
tion,  and  proceedings  of  the  Parent  Society,!  and  the  notification  of 
the  entire  transaction,  through  channels  of  general  communication, 
placed  the  Institution,  in  whose  favour  all  these  steps  were  taken,  upon 
the  highest  ground  ;  and  gave  to  its  merits  the  benefit  of  a  most  de- 
libei-ate  and  unequivocal  attestation. 

The  value  of  this  recognition  was  also,  in  some  of  the  instances 
already  specified,  considerably  increased  by  the  formal  manner  in 
which  the  Society  was  recommended  to  local  support,  and  by  the  au- 
thority of  the  parties  from  whom  the  recommendation  proceeded. 
Such  was  the  case  in  the  proceedings  adopted  at  Manchester,  for  the 
establishment  of  an  Auxiliary  in  that  place.     A  week  preceding  the 

*  Vide  Proceedings  at  Manchester,  Bristol,  and  Sheffield. 

t  The  following  Rules,  extracted  from  the  Bristol  Resolutions,  were  generally, 
either  literally  or  substantially,  adopted  at  the  formation  of  every  Auxiliary  Bible 
Society : 

"  I.  That  the  object,  the  constitution,  and  the  proceedinsfs  of  the  British  and 
Toreign  Bible  Society,  have  the  cordial  approbation  of  this  Meeting. 

■*'  II.  That  a  Society  be  formed  in  thi«  city  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  and  co- 
operating with  the  British  and  roreign  Bible  Society,  in  the  dissemination  of  the 
Hohj  Scriptures,  both  at  home  and  abroad." 


CHAP.  1]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  22T 

day  of  meeting,  (viz.  Dec.  28,  1809,)  an  advertisement  declaratory 
of  the  sentiments  and  intentions  of  those  who  subscribed  it,  was  offi- 
cially inserted  in  the  Manchester  Papers,  and  circulated  besides  in 
such  other  ways  as  might  ensure  it  the  greatest  publicity. 

This  advertisement  opened  with  the  address  from  the  Committee 
of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  to  which  was  annexed  the 
following  notice : 

"  Whereas  applications  have  come,  addressed  to  several  respect- 
able Inhabitants  of  this  Town  and  Neighbourhood,  from  the  above 
Society,  the  design  of  which  applications  is  to  promote  the  extension 
of  its  noble  and  truly  benevolent  objects,  by  the  formation  of  an 
Auxiliary  Society  in  the  Town  of  Manchester,  after  the  example  of 
Dubhn,  Edinburgh,  Newcastle-on-Tyne,  Birmingham,  Leeds,  and 
other  principal  towns  in  the  United  Kingdom. 

"  We,  the  undersigned,  being  well  persuaded  that  the  designs  of 
the  above  Society  are  eminently  pure  and  universal,  independent  of 
all  considerations  of  sect  or  party,  and  calculated  to  advance  the  true 
interest  and  eternal  happiness  of  mankind — Do  hereby  request  the 
notice  of  the  Public  to  a  proposal,  promising  to  extend  so  great  ad- 
vantages and  blessings  to  the  people  of  this  country,  and  to  foreign 
lands  ;  and  beg  leave  earnestly  to  invite  all  those  who  may  be  friendly 
to  the  cause,  to  meet  at  the  Pohce-Office,  on  Thursday  next,  the  4th 
day  of  January,  1810,  at  eleven  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  taking  the  application  from  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society  into  consideration,  and  adopting  such  measures  as  shall  ap- 
pear most  advisable  in  the  judgment  of  the  Meeting." 

Among  the  signatures  to  this  instrument,  which  composed  a  nume- 
rous list  of  Clergy,  Dissenting  Ministers,  &c.  were  the  following  • 

Rev.  Dr.  Bluckburn,  Warden  of  Manchester. 

Rev.  John  Gatliffe,  ^ 

Rev.  Charles  Ethelston,  f      Fellows  of  the 

Rev.  Croxton  Johnston,  I      Collegiate  Church, 

Rev.  John  Clowes,  J 

Rev.  H.  V.  Bayley,  Sub-Dean  of  Lincoln. 

Rev.  E.  Booth,  Minister  of  St.  Stephen's. 

Rev.  John  Clowes,  Minister  of  St.  John's, 

Rev.  S.  Hall,  Minister  of  St.  Peter's. 

Rev.  Jeremiah  Smith,  Head  Master  of  the  Free  Grammar  ScbooL 

Rev.  Robert  Tweddell,  Minister  of  Ardwick. 

Boroughreeve  and  Constables  of  Manchester. 

Boroughreeve  and  Constables  of  Salford,  &c.  &r.. 


228  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  (^ART  IF. 

Similar  formalities  were  observed  in  the  preparatory  measures 
adopted  for  the  establishment  of  the  Bristol  Society,  but  on  a  scale 
which  rendered  the  influence  of  their  testimony  to  the  merits  of  the 
Parent  Institution  still  more  effectual  and  complete.  The  Bishop  of 
the  diocese  appeared  on  this  occasion,  as  the  original  mover  and  the 
leader  of  the  business,  by  issuing,  in  his  pastoral  capacity,  a  circular 
letter  to  the  Clergy,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy : 

"  Reverend  Sir, 
"  Having  been  requested  by  the  Committee  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  to  recommend  the  formation  of  an  Auxiliary 
Society  in  the  City  of  Bristol,  similar  to  those  which  have  been 
established  in  several  great  towns  throughout  the  kingdom ;  I  beg 
leave  to  state,  that  such  a  measure  has  my  hearty  approbation,  and 
that  it  ivill  afford  me  the  greatest  pleasure  to  see  it  carried  into  exe- 
cution. 

I  am. 

Reverend  Sir, 
Yours  faithfully, 

W,  BRISTOL.'- 

Trinilij  College,  Cambridge, 
Jan.  9,  1810. 

The  receipt  of  this  circular  was  followed,  as  its  immediate  effect, 
by  a  requisition  to  the  Mayor  to  convene  a  Public  Meeting,  signed  by 
twenty-seven  Clergymen,  the  greater  number  of  whom  were  bene- 
ficed, and  by  the  most  respectable  Dissenting  Ministers  and  Laity 
of  Bristol.  These  documents,  together  with  the  Mayor's  acqui- 
escence and  appointment  of  a  Meeting  at  the  Guildhall,  "  for  the  pur- 
pose of  considering  the  best  mode  of  promoting  the  great  objecfts  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,"  were  publicly  advertised  ; 
and  formed  the  authority  under  which  was  constituted  "  The  Bristol 
Auxiliary  Bible  Society."  In  the  present  instance,  therefore,  the 
highest  ecclesiastical  and  civil  functionaries  were  seen,  for  the  first 
time,  to  concur,  in  accrediting  the  character  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  in  afHxing  mutually  their  seal  to  its  excel- 
lence and  utility,  by  measures  of  the  greatest  deliberation,  solemnity, 
and  decision. 

It  is  further  to  be  observed,  that,  in  the  formation  of  these,  and  of 
other  Auxiliary  Societies,  the  progress  from  the  commencement  to 
the  consummation  frequently  exhibited  a  transition  from  improba- 
bility and  embarrassment  to  certainty  and  triumph.     In  not  a  few  in- 


CHAP.  I]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


229 


stances  which  tiiight  be  cited,  the  solitary  individual,  or  the  associ- 
ated few,  who  had  conceived  the  design  of  forming  an  Auxiliary  So- 
ciety, embarked  in  the  enterprise,  with  little  more  to  encourage 
them  than  the  consciousness  of  the  rectitude  of  their  intentions,  and 
the  utility  of  their  object.  Though  environed  with  difficulties,  and 
counteracted  by  opposition,  they  maintained  their  course  without 
yielding  to  despair,  till,  by  a  concurrence  of  circumstances,  often  as 
unexpected  as  it  was  advantageous,  they  were  permitted  to  witness 
the  fulfilment  of  their  wishes  and  the  answer  to  their  prayers,  in  the 
complete  success  of  their  humble  but  persevering  exertions.* 

Nor  is  it  immaterial  to  observe,  that  the  honour  of  producing  these 
Auxiliary  Societies  neither  has  been,  nor,  from  a  variety  of  circum- 
stances, can  be,  distinctly  awarded.  In  some  cases,  the  original  au- 
thors of  the  elementary  movements  were  of  a  condition  in  life,  in 
others,  of  a  denomination  in  religion,  which,  had  the  parties  ap- 
peared with  any  ostensible  prominence,  might  have  excited  a  preju- 
dice, unreasonable  indeed,  but  not  the  less  injurious  to  the  under- 
taking, and  have  thrown  serious  impediments  in  the  way  of  its  suc- 
cess. With  a  degree  of  forbearance,  therefore,  which  cannot  be  too 
highly  commended,  they  chose  a  station  of  unobserved,  but  effectual 
co-operation :  and  provided  they  might  but  touch  in  concealment  the 
springs  of  action,  and  promote  exertions  in  others,  they  resigned  con- 
tentedly the  honours  of  pubhc  distinction,  to  those  who  could  wear 
them  without  prejudice,  or,  as  it  happened  in  most  cases,  with  ad- 
vantage, to  the  common  cause. 

Such  a  conduct,  it  is  obvious,  must  have  involved  considerable  sa- 
crifices of  personal  feeling.  It  argued  the  preponderance  of  a  gene- 
rous concern  for  the  welfare  of  the  Institution  over  every  considei'a- 
tion  of  selfishness  or  vanity  ;  and  evinced,  how  deeply  an  attachment 
to  its  interests  was  radicated  in  the  sentiments  and  the  affections  of  its 
promoters. 

But  it  is  time  to  return  to  the  narrative. 

While  the  Institution  was  thus  advancing  by  the  formation  of  Aux- 
iliary Societies  at  home,  its  progress  was  marked  by  a  very  gratifying 
extension  of  its  labours  and  its  connexions  abroad. 


*  In  the  number  of  those  to  whom  these  observations  apply,  the  author  cannot 
forbear  particularizing  the  Rev.  R.  Tweddell,  of  Manchester,  and  Mr.  Thomas 
Richardson,  of  Bristol.  From  a  very  early  and  frequent  correspondence  with 
these  gentlemen,  the  author  had  opportunities,  peculiar  to  himself,  of  knowing: 
how  much  the  formation  of  the  Manchester  and  Bristol  Societies  was  indebted  to 
their  judicious  and  patient  exertions. 

31 


230  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  it. 

Commencing  with  Basle,  ^\e  find  the  Bible  Society  established  at 
that  place,  in  full  activity,  and  engaging  successively  in  new  and  more 
extensive  operations.  By  the  aid  which  its  conductors  derived  from 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  they  proceeded  to  print  a  se- 
cond, and  a  third,  edition  of  the  German  Bible,  and  to  stock  their  de- 
pository, by  purchase,  with  large  supplies  of  French  Bibles  and  Tes- 
tam£nts.  Both  the  German  and  the  French  Scriptures  were  rapidly 
disposed  of;  and  the  latter  obtained  so  ready  an  acceptance  in  the 
southern  and  south-east  provinces  of  France,  that  while  the  Protes- 
tants, as  was  natural,  received  them  with  joy,  many  Roman  Catholics 
voluntarily  applied  for  copies,  and  were  afterwards  found  to  have  pe- 
rused them  with  eagerness  and  gratitude. 

Under  the  auspices  of  this  Society,  and  with  proportional  assistance 
from  the  Parent  Institution  in  London,  a  company  of  active  Chris- 
tians at  Basle  had  projected,  in  1808,  an  edition  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment in  the  Romanese  language,  for  the  benefit  of  the  Mountaineers 
inhabiting  the  Giisuus,  among  whom  the  Sacred  Scriptures,  (to  which 
this  people  were  religiously  attached,)  had  become  extremely  scarce, 
and  in  some  cases  almost  unattainable.  Of  the  Romanese  langiiage, 
it  appeared,  there  were  two  distinct  dialects,  denominated  severally 
the  Churwelsche  and  the  Ladiniche.  It  was  in  the  first  of  these 
dialects  that  the  edition  alluded  to,  was  designed  to  be  printed  ;  and 
upon  its  completion,  early  in  1810,  the  poor  Mountaineers,  for  whose 
use  it  was  intended,  expressed  their  satisfaction  by  strong  demonstra- 
tions of  gratitude  and  joy.  The  effect  of  this  intelligence  upon  the 
other  division  of  this  interesting  people  was  such,  as  to  create  further 
employment  for  the  benevolent  feelings  in  which  this  %vork  of  kind- 
ness had  originated.  For  "  when  the  poor  Ladins,  who  border  upon 
Italy,  heard  what  a  treasure  their  neighbours  on  the  Tyrolese  fron- 
tiers had  got,  they  expressed  a  very  strong  desire  to  be  favoured 
with  a  similar  boon ;  and  the  result  was  a  determination,  both  in 
Basle  and  in  London,  to  gratify  this  desire,  and  to  give  to  the  whole 
Romanese  nation  the  means  of  reading,  in  their  own  tongues,  the 
wonderful  works  of  God. 

In  connexion  with  the  proceedings  of  the  Basle  Society,  it  may  not 
be  improper  to  advert  to  the  progress  of  an  Institution,  excited  by  its 
example,  previously  to  its  transfer  from  Nurcnberg  to  Basle — the 
Catholic  Bible  Society  at  Ratisbon.  The  spirit  in  which  this  Institu- 
tion was  founded,  and  the  pious  zeal  with  which  it  was  promoted, 
gave  early  promise  of  those  fruits  which  it  has  since  so  abundantly 
produced,  Though  projected  only  in  July,  1808,  so  rapidly  did  its 
labours  advance,  that,  by  the  month  of  October,  1809,  notwithstand- 


CHAP.  I]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


231 


ing  the  great  difficulty  to  which  such  an  undertaking  on  the  part  of 
members  of  the  Roman  CathoUc  persuasion  would  be  exposed,  two 
large  editions  of  the  Testament,  (a  Testament  approved  by  Protes- 
tants themselves)  had  been  disposed  of,  and  a  third  was  nearly  com- 
pleted. These  copies  had  been  largely  and  most  acceptably  distri- 
buted  in  Austria,  Bavaria,  and  Switzerland  ;  many  Catholic  Clergy- 
men publicly  recommended  the  perusal  of  them  from  their  pulpits  ; 
and  Professor  Sailer,  an  eminent  scholar  and  divine,  after  pronoun- 
cing in  a  sermon  delivered  at  Landshut,  in  Bavaria,  a  warm  eulogium 
on  this  best  of  all  books,  added,  "  The  Bible  is  now  read  by  stu- 
dents, by  the  people,  and  even  by  children." 

The  Society  at  Berlin,  under  all  the  difficulties  with  which  it  had 
to  struggle,  continued  to  maintain  its  laudable  exertions  in  preparing 
the  large  edition  of  the  Scriptures,  upon  which  it  had  entered  in  the 
preceding  year,  for  the  service  of  the  Polish  Christians.  The  British 
and  Foi-eign  Bible  Society,  with  a  parental  solicitude,  watched  over 
the  movements  of  this  meritorious  Society,  while  persevering  in  its 
works  of  benevolence  under  circumstances  of  almost  unexampled 
embarrassment ;  and  enabled  it  by  a  loan,  most  seasonably  granted, 
to  resume  its  suspended  exertions,  and  to  prosecute  its  arduous  un- 
dertaking with  renewed  alacrity,  and  eventual  .success. 

But  it  is  to  Sweden  that  we  are  to  look  for  the  brightest  display  of 
vigour  and  zeal  during  this  and  the  succeeding  year.  Encouraged 
by  the  cheering  address  and  pecuniary  grants  of  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society,  the  Stockholm  Evangelical  Society  embarked  in 
its  undertaking  for  printing  the  Swedish  Scriptures  on  standing  types, 
with  a  degree  of  spirit  and  of  perseverance,  which  enabled  it  to 
issue,  in  little  more  than  eighteen  months  from  the  commencement 
of  its  labours,  a  most  interesting  and  satisfactory  Report.  The  train 
of  facts  which  succeeded  each  other,  from  the  dawn  of  this  Society's 
operations  in  the  Summer  of  1809,  to  the  maturity  which  they  had 
acquired  at  the  close  of  1810,  will  justify  the  author  in  anticipating 
in  this  place  the  substance  of  that  valuable  Report.  Prompted  by  a 
desire  to  supply  the  lower  orders  in  Sweden  with  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, and  animated  in  their  work  by  the  spontaneous  and  liberal  co- 
operation of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  the  Evangelical 
Society  speedily  produced  their  tirst  edition  of  the  Swedish  New  Tes- 
tament. This  was  followed  by  two  more  editions  in  the  course  of 
the  same  year;  insomuch,  that  by  the  close  of  1810,  more  than 
}  1 ,000  copies  of  the  New  Testament  had  been  issued,  and  a  resolu- 
tion formed  to  print  the  Old  Testament :  and  all  this,  it  is  to  be  ob- 
served, was  done  in  a  country,  and  for  the  benefit  of  a  people,  which 


232  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  ^PARl   fl. 

had  been  considered  to  be  so  generally  furnished  with  the  Bible,  that 
"  no  want"  \vas  believed  to  exist  among  them  "  of  that  holy  book."* 

Another  object  which  occupied  the  concern  of  the  Stockholm  So- 
ciety, was  the  superintendence  of  an  edition  of  the  New  Testament 
in  the  dialect  of  Lapland.  To  this  interesting  consideration  the  at- 
tention of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  had  been  directed, 
by  their  indefatigable  correspondents,  Messrs.  Paterson  and  Hender- 
son, in  the  Autumn  of  1808  ;  and  the  Society  had  been  induced,  on 
their  representation,  to  appropriate  the  sum  of  500/.  to  an  edition  of 
5000  copies,  for  distribution  in  Norwegian,  Russian,  and  Swedish 
Lapland.  On  the  formation  of  the  Evangelical  Society  at  Stockholm, 
the  execution  of  this  work  was  consigned  to  their  care  :  and  the  fol- 
lowing extract  from  their  Report,  as  above  described,  will  show,  how 
cheerfully  they  accepted  the  charge,  and  with  what  a  lively  interest 
they  attended  to  its  performance. 

"  Within  the  boundaries  of  Sweden,  but  far  in  the  north,  dwell  a 
people  called  Laplanders  ;  their  language  is  totally  distinct,  and  their 
mode  of  living,  and  advance  in  cultivation,  very  far  behind  that  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Sweden  ;  nor  did  the  light  of  the  Gospel  approach 
their  frozen  regions,  for  ages  after  it  had  illuminated  our  nation. 
Within  the  two  last  centuries,  the  Kings  of  Sweden  have  turned  their 
thoughts  for  good  towards  that  nation.  Yet  there  is  still  a  great  want 
of  Bibles,  Common  Prayer  Books,  Catechisms,  and  Religious  Tracts, 
among  them.  A  venerable  man,  Dr.  Nordin,  Bishop  of  Hernosand, 
to  whose  diocese  Lapland  belongs,  purposely  set  up  a  printing-press 
at  Hernosand,  to  remedy,  as  well  as  he  could,  this  deficiency  :  but  it 
must  be  noticed,  to  the  honour  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety in  London,  that  here  again  did  their  unbounded  Christian  love 
step  in,  to  .send  forth,  upon  easy  terms,  light  and  knowledge  to  those 
who  sit  in  darkness.  They  have  undertaken  to  bear  the  cost  of  an 
edition  of  5000  New  Testaments,  of  which  25  sheets  are  already  come 
from  the  press.  Their  directors  prescribe,  that  these  5000  copies 
should  be  distributed  under  the  superintendence  of  our  Committee, 
and  among  the  three  nations  of  Laplanders,  subject  to  Sweden,  Rus- 
sia, and  Norway  :  which  <ielightful  task  the  Committee  have  under- 
taken witli  much  pleasure." 

As  the  proceedings  of  the  Stockholm  Society,  down  to  the  close  of 
1810,  have  hevn  generally  stated,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  advert  more 
particularly  to  the  tenor  of  that  Report,  already  in  part  anticipated, 
ID  which  those  proceedings  arc  more  particularly  detailed.     It  is  not 

•  Page  eo. 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  233 

compatible  with  the  limits  of  this  History,  to  cite  largely  from  the  nu- 
merous documents  which  enrich,  as  well  as  authenticate,  the  Annual 
Reports  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  In  general,  it 
must  suflice  to  glance  at  them  cursorily,  and  refer  the  reader  for  more 
full  information  to  the  records  in  which  they  are  contained.  There 
is,  however,  in  the  First  Report  of  the  Stockholm  Evangelical  Society, 
so  much  simplicity,  good  sense,  and  genuine  piety,  as  to  give  it  a 
claim  to  special  attention.  The  Report  opens  with  happy  abruptness, 
iu  these  words  of  inspiration : 

"  O  God,  send  out  thy  light  and  thy  truth!"  It  then  proceeds  as 
follows  ; — "  To  make  known  more  and  more  the  truth  here  referred 
to,  is,  and  shall  continue  to  be,  the  grand  aim  of  this  Society.  We 
do  not  wish  to  strip  the  arts  and  sciences,  or  the  knowledge  and  wis- 
dom of  man,  of  their  important  value :  no,  we  thank  God  for  their 
usefulness,  and  we  hail  with  dehght  every  discovery  that  removes  or 
softens  in  any  degree  the  sorrows  and  sufferings  of  mortality ;  or 
which,  in  social  hfe,  comforts  man,  or  endears  him  more  and  more  to 
man  as  his  brother.  But  we  dare  not  forget,  that  all  these  advantages 
have  the  narrow  circle  of  time  drawn  round  them  :  they  end  with  our 
lives. 

"  But  the  truth  which  comes  from  above,  embraces  eternitv.  li 
looks  to  Jehovah  as  its  origin,  and  raises  man  from  earth  to  heaven. 
This  truth  is  revealed  and  explained  in  the  Bible. 

"  An  ardent  desire  to  render  Bibles  plentiful,  and  easy  to  be  ob- 
tained, in  the  dear  land  of  our  nativity,  was  coeval  with  the  tirst  idea 
of  this  Institution  ;  and  it  is  still  our  grand  aim  :  but  the  difficulties  ol 
our  commencement,  and  the  want  of  means  for  an  undertaldng  so  ex- 
pensive, left  this  patriotic  desire  as  it  were  dormant,  till  the  goodne^.s 
of  God,  in  his  own  time,  opened  a  way  for  its  gratitication.'-' 

"  I  will  take  upon  myself  to  say,  that  the  Committee  could  not  have 
ventured  upon  this  expensive  undertaking,  for  some  time  at  least,  ha<l 
it  not  been  for  the  noble  benevolence  of  a  foreign  nation. 

"  England  exhibits  to  the  world  a  delightful  assembly  of  sincere 
and  zealous  friends  to  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  who  notwithstanding  tbeii 
diversity  of  views  upon  the  minor  objects  of  religion,  have  found  in 
the  Bible  a  sure  and  harmonious  centre,  whence  they  are  agreed  con- 
jointly to  labour,  in  spreading  far  and  near  that  light  which  shine.* 
more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day.  It  is  from  principles  like  these, 
and  from  a  love  to  the  doctrine  of  Jesus,  that  a  liberality  arose, 
which,  unsolicited,  stretched  forth  a  helping  hand.  A  Society  in 
London,  called  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  made  us  a  pre- 
spnt  of  300/.  sterling,  that  our  poor  might  know  more  of  the  doctrine 


234  HISTORV  OF  THE  BUFTiaH  (PART  II. 

of  Christ :  and,  finding  that  this  went  but  a  small  way  in  a  great  work, 
trebled  it;  yes,  trebled  it,  to  their  everlasting  praise  and  honour. 

"  This  gave  life  to  our  hopes  of  obtaining,  what  we  so  much  re- 
quired— cheap  editions  of  the  Word  of  God  in  Swedish.  We  could 
now,  by  advertisements,  call  on  every  lover  of  God  in  Sweden  to 
come  and  do  likewise.  The  call  has  been  answered  ;  and,  as  far  as 
could  be  expected  in  these  times  of  tribulation,  the  Swedish  public 
have  manifested  an  ardent  desire  to  throw  their  mite  into  this  hea- 
venly treasury. 

"  The  list  of  Swedish  subscribers  to  this  glorious  book  contains 
persons  of  all  ranks,  from  the  first  noblemen  and  dignitaries  in  the 
land  down  to  the  poorest  servants — persons  who  agree  with  us  in 
thinking,  that  the  highest  act  of  benevolence  which  man  can  show  to 
his  fellow,  is,  to  open  to  him  an  opportunity  of  reading  the  Bible  ;  a 
book,  which  is  a  sure  guide  to  endless  happiness,  an  inexhaustible 
fountain  of  divine  wisdom,  an  unerring  touclistnne  whereby  to  deter- 
mine—What is  truth." 

After  stating  the  manner,  in  which  the  funds  have  been  expended, 
the  number  of  copies  of  the  Scriptures  which  have  been  printed  in 
the  Swedish  language,  and  the  distribution  made,  both  of  them  and  of 
certain  Finnish  Testaments  purchased  with  part  of  their  funds,  the 
Report  proceeds  to  detail  what  had  been  done  by  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society  for  the  Laplanders,  (as  quoted  above,)  and  then 
concludes  in  the  following  very  pious  and  impressive  manner : 

"  Finally,  we  bow  our  knees,  under  the  deepest  sense  of  gratitude 
to  the  Father  of  mercies,  for  his  unspeakable  goodness  in  bestowing 
upon  our  Society  so  many  signal  instances  of  favour,  blessing,  and 
success.  We  feel  deeply  humbled  when  we  consider  the  demerit  of 
the  instruments  made  use  of  by  his  grace,  an<l  the  splendour  of  the 
work  committed  to  them — to  spread  abroad  his  light  and  his  truth. 
But  the  cause  is  God's  ;  Jesus  is  our  Master  ;  who  has  said  :  '  Behold, 
I  am  with  you  alway,  even  to  the  end  of  the  world.'  " 

Among  the  advantages  of  anticipating  a  Report  which  properly 
lielongs  to  the  ensuing  year,  not  the  least  is  that  which  we  derive 
from  being  thus  made  acquainted  with  the  real  character  of  the  Stock- 
Ijolm  Evangelical  Society.  It  is  scarcely  possible  to  inspect  this  Re- 
port, without  receiving  a  very  favourable  impression  of  the  indivi- 
duals from  whom  it  proceeded,  and  regarding  tlicir  Association  as 
eminently  calculated  to  advance  the  object  for  which  it  was  formed. 
We  sec  in  il«  members  a  l)oily  of  men,  not  exhibiting  a  show  of  ex- 
ertion, or  indolently  reposing  on  the  gratuitous  aid  of  a  foreign  nation, 
but  fully  alive  to  the  calls  of  duty,  and  sincerely  intent  upon  employing 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  ^So 

the  liberality  of  others  as  a  stimulus  to  awaken  their  own  ener- 
gies, and  to  promote  among  their  countrymen  a  similar  spirit  of  ac- 
tivity and  zeal. 

It  were  unjust  to  overlook  what  is  due  to  Messrs.  Paterson  and 
Henderson,  for  their  discreet  and  persevering  exertions  in  aid  of  the 
Stockholm  Society,  during  this  tirst  and  most  trying  period  of  its  la- 
bours. The  spirit  of  these  active  and  devoted  correspondents  may 
be  learnt  from  their  letter  of  acknowledgment  in  reply  to  a  Resolu- 
tion of  Thanks  transmitted  to  them  in  the  summer  of  1809.  Their 
conduct  and  success  since  the  date  of  that  letter  will  give  a  particu- 
lar interest  to  the  following  extract : 

"  It  is  peculiarly  valuable  to  us,  as  we  consider  it^as  a  pledge,  that 
you  will  in  future  make  use  of  our  services  in  promoting  your  glo- 
rious design,  wherever  God  may  be  pleased  to  cast  our  lot.  We 
want  words  to  express  our  gratitude  ;  but  we  hope  you  will  give  us 
new  opportunities  to  testify  it  by  our  actions.  Be  assured,  that  no- 
thing will  be  esteemed  a  greater  favour  by  us,  than  that  you  would 
have  the  goodness  to  command  our  services.  These  you  may  consi- 
der as  at  your  disposal ;  and  we  beg  of  you  freely  to  tell  us,  in  what 
manner  we  can  most  eflectually  promote  the  views  of  the  Society. 
In  promoting  your  views,  we  consider  ourselves  as  promoting  the 
cause  of  God  and  of  Christ,  to  whose  service  we  have  entirely  dedi- 
cated ourselves.  It  now  appears  to  us  to  be  our  Saviour's  will,  tha( 
we  should  serve  him  on  the  continent  of  Europe  ;  and  as  soon  as  we 
have  completed  what  we  have  begun  in  the  North,  we  hope  you  will 
inform  us  where  you  think  we  could  be  of  most  use  to  the  Society." 

The  Roman  Catholic  Bible  Society  at  Ratisbon  appears  also  by  this 
time  to  have  attained  considerable  strength  and  celebrity.  It  will  be 
recollected  that  the  foundation  of  this  Society  was  laid  by  Regens 
Wittman,  in  1806.  Through  many  difficulties  the  plan  of  printing 
by  standing  types  was  carried  into  execution  ;  and  in  1808  appeared 
the  first  edition  of  the  New  Testament.  The  version  adopted,  though 
generally  conformed  to  the  Vulgate,  was  said  to  be  on  the  whole  a 
faithful  translation  from  the  original  Greek,  and  in  all  essential  and 
fundamental  points  strictly  correct. 

Such  was  the  progress  made  by  the  cause  of  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society,  on  the  continent  of  Europe,  down  to  the  period 
which  terminated  the  sixth  year  of  its  establishment.  The  quantity 
of  effect  from  the  three  Societies  at  Basle,  Berhn,  and  Stockholm, 
(not  to  mention  the  exertions  in  inferior  stations,)  must  on  the  wJiole 
have  been  great ;  and  a  large  proportion  of  it  was  produced  (it  should  be 
observed)  under  all  the  ditficultics  and  discouragements  of  an  extensive 


236  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  11 

and  devastating  war.  This  consideration,  while  it  greatly  enhances 
the  value  of  what  was  accomplished,  leaves  the  mind  in  doubt,  whe- 
ther more  to  regret  the  existence  of  the  obstacles,  or  to  admire  the 
energy  by  which  they  were  surmounted. 

But  it  is  time  that  we  direct  our  attention  to  that  field  of  usefulness 
which  had  been  opened  to  the  Society,  in  the  preceding  year,  beyond 
4he  Atlantic,  and  which  already  exhibited  such  satisfactory  evidences 
of  an  improved  and  still  improving  cultivation. 

The  Philadelphia  Bible  Society  abundantly  justified,  by  its  zeal  and 
success,  the  high  expectations  which  its  commencement  had  excited. 
In  their  First  Report,  (which  was  dated  May  1,  1809,)  the  Managers 
state,  that  "  the  necessity  for  such  an  Institution  had  appeared  mucli 
more  evident  to  them,  since,  in  the  course  of  their  duty,  they  had 
been  led  to  make  particular  inquiries  into  the  poorer  class  of  people 
in  Philadelphia,  than  it  ever  did  before."  "  The  deficiency  of  Bi- 
bles" (they  say)  "  has  been  found  to  be  much  greater  than  was  ex- 
pected ;  and  it  is  believed  to  be  as  great  in  many  other  places.  The 
number  of  families  and  individuals  who  are  destitute  of  a  copy  of  the 
Scriptures,  is  so  considerable,  that  the  whole  of  the  funds  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  Society  could  be  profitably  expended  in  supplying  the 
wants  of  this  city  alone  ;  and  the  opportunities  of  distributing  them  in 
other  places  are  so  numerous,  that,  if  these  funds  were  tenfold  as 
great  as  they  are,  they  would  be  still  inadequate  to  supply  the  de- 
mand." 

The  direct  good  produced  by  the  Institution  is  asserted  in  confident 
terms.  "  Some  hundreds  of  famihes"  (say  the  Managers)  "  are  now 
in  possession  of  a  Bible,  by  means  of  the  Society,  which  never  had 
one  before :  and  it  deserves  to  be  mentioned,  that  the  books  have 
commonly  been  received  with  emotion,  and  strong  indications  of  gra- 
titude ;  and  that  the  application  for  them  is  often  earnest  and  press- 
ing." 

"  But,  besides  the  good  resulting  from  the  promotion  of  the  chief 
and  direct  object  of  the  Society,"  the  Managers  express  it  as  their 
opinion,  that  "  very  important  and  desirable  effects  would  be  indirect- 
ly promoted  by  their  Association."  "  The  cordiality  and  harmony  with 
which  Christians  of  so  many  denominations  have  united  in  prosecuting 
this  important  object,  cannot  fail"  (they  observe)  "  of  being  attended 
with  some  good  effect  on  all  concerned.  It  is  an  approximation  to 
that  unity  and  brotherly  love  among  Christians  which  all  good  men 
iw  ardently  desire.  At  least,  it  will  have  a  tendency  to  remove  pre- 
judices, by  promoting  mutual  acquaintance  between  the  members  of 
different  religious  communities." 


CHAP.  I]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  237 

"  The  Managers"  (they  add)  "  do  moreover  believe,  that  the  zeal 
discovered,  and  efforts  made,  by  so  many  persons  in  this  city,  of  dif- 
ferent conditions  and  professions,  to  furnish  the  poor  with  Bibles  gra- 
tuitously, will  have  a  happy  tendency  to  induce  many  to  appreciate 
the  Sacred  Scriptures  more  highly  than  they  have  been  wont  to  do  ; 
and  may  dispose  those  who  possess  Bibles,  but  have  suffered  them 
to  lie  neglected  in  their  houses,  to  peruse  them  with  serious  atten- 
tion." 

Such  an  example  as  that  of  the  Philadelphia  Bible  Society  could  not 
fail  to  produce  a  salutary  influence  on  the  inhabitants  of  the  surround- 
ing States.  The  effect  of  that  influence  was  speedily  manifested  in  the 
appearance  of  kindred  establishments  :  six  were  formed  in  the  course 
of  the  present  year,  viz.  the  Connecticut  Bible  Society  at  Hartford, 
the  Massachusetts  at  Boston,  the  New-Jersey  at  Princeton  ;  and  three 
at  New- York,  under  the  respective  designations  of  "  The  New- York 
Bible  Society,"  "  The  Young  Men's  Bible  Society,"  and  "  The  New- 
York  Bible  and  Common  Prayer  Book  Society." 

The  last  of  these,  instituted  under  the  auspices  of  the  late  Bishop 
Moore,  and  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Clergy  of  New-York,  was  in- 
troduced to  the  notice  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  by  a 
respectful  letter  from  its  Right  Reverend  President,  accompanied  with 
a  request  of  such  aid  as  the  Society  might  see  expedient  to  grant. 
The  case  was  not  without  a  precedent :  the  Stockholm  Evangelical 
Society  had  another  object,  besides  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  : 
and  the  separation  of  the  former  from  the  latter,  which  characterized 
the  Society  at  Stockholm,  was  found,  on  examination,  to  have  been 
provided  for  in  the  constitution  of  the  Bible  and  Common  Prayer 
Book  Society  at  New-York.  A  grant  was  therefore  made  to  its  funds 
upon  the  scale  which  had  regulated  the  grants  made  to  the  other 
Trans-Atlantic  Societies.  In  the  present  instance,  however,  the  pe- 
cuniary donation  was  commuted  for  Bibles  and  Testaments  to  the  sti- 
pulated amount ;  a  distinction  by  which  the  conductors  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society  considered  themselves  as  unequivocally 
evincing  a  disposition  to  co-operate,  as  far  as  might  be  consistent, 
with  religious  Institutions  of  every  kind,  without  dissembling  their 
preference  of  Societies  constituted  on  principles  in  all  respects  ana- 
logous to  their  own. 

It  may  be  satisfactory  to  add,  that  the  Bibles  and  Testaments  to 
which  reference  has  been  made,  and  which  amounted  in  value  to 
lOOZ.  were  regularly  transmitted;  and,  though,  from  the  indisposi- 
tion and  subsequent  death  of  Bishop  Moore,  their  acknowledgment 
was  delayed,  it  was  made,  in  the  year  1814,  by  theBisliop's  successor 
32 


23S  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  11. 

in  the  Presidency,  the  Right  Reverend  Dr.  Hobart,  with  warm  ex- 
pressions of  gratitude  and  respect. 

.  The  rapid  increase  of  Bible  Societies  in  the  United  States  of  Ame- 
rica, their  pubhc  recognition  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
as  their  prototype  and  common  parent,  together  with  their  grateful 
acceptance  of  its  pecuniary  aid,  as  well  as  of  its  friendship  and  gene- 
ral co-operation,  proclaim,  in  the  strongest  manner,  the  growth  of  that 
interest  in  favour  of  the  common  object,  which  had  been  so  happily 
excited  in  the  regions  beyond  the  Atlantic.  Such  distinguished  suc- 
cess in  a  quarter  with  which  a  connexion  had  been  so  recently  form- 
ed was  regarded  by  the  conductors  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bi- 
ble Society  as  an  event  of  no  ordinary  importance  ;  and  they  received, 
from  time  to  time,  the  intelligence  of  its  progress,  with  emotions 
which  indicated  their  joy  in  the  present  effects,  and  their  anticipa- 
tion of  still  greater  and  more  satisfactory  results. 

In  these  feelings  the  Philadelphia  Bible  Society,  to  whose  steady 
example  and  stimulating  appeals  so  much  of  this  success  is  to  be  as- 
cribed, appeared  most  warmly  to  participate  ;  and  the  sentiments  ex- 
pressed by  its  Managers,  at  the  close  of  the  Report  before  cited,  co- 
incide so  perfectly  with  the  view  which  has  been  taken  of  the  Trans- 
Atlantic  operations,  and  have  been  so  completely  justified  by  subse- 
quent experience,  that  they  deserve  to  be  placed  upon  record. 

"  The  institution  of  a  Bible  Society  in  this  place,  must  be  consider- 
ed an  auspicious  event ;  and  the  Managers  do  not  think  that  their 
hopes  are  too  sanguine,  when  they  persuade  themselves,  that,  at  no 
very  distant  period,  this  Society  will  be  found  in  the  foremost  rank 
among  those  Institutions  which  piety  or  humanity  has  erected  for  the 
relief  of  the  indigent  on  this  continent.  And  they  conclude  this  Re- 
port, by  declaring  it  to  be  the  object,  not  only  of  their  prayers,  but  of 
their  hopes,  that  before  the  present  generation  shall  have  passed 
away,  the  Holy  Scriptures  will  be  read  by  all  the  principal  nations 
imder  heaven,  and  thus  the  way  be  opened  for  the  fulfilment  of  the 
prediction  of  the  prophet,  '  The  earth  shall  be  full  of  the  knowledge 
of  the  Lord  as  the  waters  cover  the  seas.'  " 

So  much  may  suffice  to  represent  the  condition  of  the  Society's  affairs 
on  the  continents  of  Europe  and  America.  Its  proceedings  in  India 
may  be  advantageously  reserved  for  the  next  chapter,  when  an  op- 
portunity will  be  afforded  of  exhibiting  them  in  a  more  connected 
form,  and  in  a  state  more  nearly  approaching  to  maturity  and  com- 
pletion. 

It  will  now  be  proper  to  return  to  the  Domestic  department,  oa 
which  somethirtg  has  already  been  said ;  and  to  review  more  particu- 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  ^39 

larly  the  transactions  at  home,  during  a  year  so  prolific  in  exertions 
among  confederated  Christians  abroad. 

It  will  naturally  be  supposed,  that  the  Committee  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  while  extending  the  most  encouraging  as- 
surances of  sympathy  and  aid  to  the  inhabitants  of  other  countries, 
would  not  remain  indifferent  to  the  wants  and  the  petitions  of  their 
own.  Impressed  with  a  desire  of  gratifying  the  wish  to  possess  the 
Scriptures,  which  appeared  to  be  manifestly  on  the  increase  through- 
out the  country,  the  Committee  gave  a  cordial  reception  to  every  ap- 
plication which  came  within  the  provisions  of  their  constitution,  and 
the  rules  of  their  practice  ;  and  afforded,  as  the  circumstances  of  the 
case  required,  a  proportional  degree  of  accommodation  and  relief. 

Among  the  various  ways  through  which  the  distribution  of  the 
Scriptures  for  the  native  population  of  Great  Britain  was  promoted, 
that  of  charitable  Institutions,  whether  constituted  for  religious  or 
temporal  objects,  formed  a  principal  medium,  at  the  period  now  un- 
der consideration,  in  some  instances,  the  conductors  of  these  Insti- 
tutions were  solicited  to  perform  this  service,  but  in  the  greater  num- 
ber they  were  themselves  the  suitors.  However  that  may  be,  it  is 
certain  that,  through  these  channels,  a  considerable  stock  of  English 
and  Welsh  Bibles  and  Testaments  were  put  into  immediate,  and,  it  is 
believed,  judicious  circulation. 

It  was  also  in  the  course  of  this  year  that  a  resolution  was  adopted 
to  print  a  portion  of  the  Scriptures  in  the  native  Irish  language.  On 
the  expediency  of  this  measure,  which  occupied  the  attention  of  the 
Society  at  an  early  stage  of  its  establishment,  great  diversity  of  opi- 
nion was  found  to  prevail  on  each  side  of  the  Channel ;  and  to  this 
conflict  of  sentiment,  and  contrariety  of  information,  it  must  be  as- 
cribed, that  the  language  of  the  Society,  in  its  Annual  Reports,  was 
at  different  periods  so  various,  and,  in  some  cases  even  contradictory. 
Not  to  detain  the  reader  on  a  subject  to  which  there  may  be  occasion 
again  to  advert,  it  will  be  sufficient  to  observe,  that,  after  a  discus- 
sion, alternately  suspended  and  renewed  during  a  period  of  nearly 
five  years,  and  a  correspondence  of  considerable  extent,  with  pre- 
lates, scholars,  and  public  bodies,  in  Ireland,  it  was  finally  determined 
that  the  experiment  should  be  tried  ;  and  an  order  was  accordingly 
given,  that  an  edition  of  the  New  Testament,  amounting  to  2000 
copies,  conformably  to  the  accredited  version  of  Bishop  Bedell,* 


•  The  New  Testament  was  first  translated  into  the  native  Irish  in  1602,  by  Dr. 
Daniel,  afterwards  Archbishop  of  Tuam.  It  was  printed  in  4to  in  the  Irish  cha- 
racter.   The  Old  Testament  was  translated  by  Dr.  Bedell,  Bishop  of  Kilmore,  and 


240  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  II. 

should  immediately  be  put  to  press.  It  may  not  be  amiss  to  add,  in 
general  terms,  that  the  experiment  was  found  to  answer,  greatly  be- 
yond the  hopes  which  had  been  formed  of  its  success,  and  that  the 
result  of  it  encouraged  the  Society  to  repeat  the  trial  on  a  much 
larger  scale,  and  with  more  ample  means  of  ascertaining  its  real 
effect. 

While  the  Committee  were  prosecuting  these  labours,  with  par- 
ticular reference  to  the  native  population  of  the  United  Kingdom, 
they  were  not  less  occupied  in  planning,  and  labouring  for  the  spiri- 
tual benefit  of  foreigners,  either  resident  among  them,  or  inhabiting 
countries,  near  or  remote,  with  whose  wants  they  had  been  made  in- 
cidently  acquainted. 

An  inspection  of  the  Annual  Reports  will  show  with  what  promp- 
titude and  munificence  the  Society  stretched  out  its  hands  to  the  east, 
and  the  west ;  to  the  north,  and  the  south  ;  and  dispensed  the  sacred 
treasures  which  it  had  accumulated  by  indefatigable  exertions,  to  the 
spiritually  indigent  in  every  part  of  the  world. 

Among  the  persons  of  this  description  to  whom  the  Society  ob- 
tained an  introduction  in  the  course  of  this  year,  were,  the  several 
congregations  formed  by  the  Moravian  Brethren,  (men  of  primitive 
simplicity,  devotion,  and  perseverance,)  in  South  Africa,  the  West 
Indies,  and  North  America.  For  this  introduction  the  Society  was 
indebted  to  the  Rev.  G.  J.  Latrobe,  Secretary  to  the  Brethren's  3Iis- 
sions ;  whose  interesting  appeals  on  behalf  of  his  charge,  as  pub- 
lished in  the  Appendix  to  the  Society's  Reports,  supersede  the  neces- 
sity of  any  eulogium  on  his  talents,  his  zeal,  and  his  piety. 

Among  the  first  fruits  of  this  connexion,  was  an  edition  of  the  Gos- 
pel of  St.  John  in  the  Esquimaux  language,  at  the  Society's  expense  j 
and  an  engagement  to  print  that  of  St.  Luke,  when  the  translation 
should  be  completed,  for  the  use  of  the  converted  Esqiiimaux  on  the 
coast  of  Labrador. 

A  difficulty  occurred  in  the  course  of  this  undertaking,  which 
gave  the  Committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  another 
opportunity  of  testifying  their  vigilant  and  zealous  regard  for  the 
simple  object  of  their  Institution.  By  a  practice,  in  general  use 
among  the  Brethren's  congregations,  a  translation  had  been  made  of 

Provost  of  Trinity  College,  Dublin,  as  early  as  1G40;  but  from  want  of  means  to 
print  it,  or  Rome  other  cause,  it  remained  in  MS.  above  forty  jear;-.  The  Hon. 
Robert  Boyle,  who  liad  reprinted  the  Testament  of  Dr.  Daniel,  broucrht  forward 
also  this  MS.  translation  of  the  Old  by  Bishop  Bedell.  Throu^jli  his  exertions  an 
edition  of  it  was  printed,  and  500  copies  were  di.slributcd  gratis.  It  ouj^ht  to  be 
added,  that  Mr.  Boyle  contributed  to  both  these  undertakings  the  sum  of  700/. 


CHAP,  fl  AJVD  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  241 

a  Harmony  of  the  Scriptures,  into  the  language  of  the  Esquimaux  ; 
and  the  petition  of  their  Secretary  was,  that  this  Harmony  might  be 
printed,  for  their  benefit,  at  the  Society's  expense.  To  this  proposi- 
tion the  Committee  objected  ;  considering  any  mode  of  printing  the 
Scriptures,  but  that  which  exhibited  them  as  they  stood  in  the  Canon, 
to  be  a  deviation  from  the  letter  and  the  spirit  of  their  Institution.  In 
this  view  of  the  subject  the  Brethren  acquiesced ;  and  accordingly 
engaged  to  conform  their  translation  to  the  standard  as  generally  re- 
ceived. A  similar  exception  had  been  previously  taken  against  the 
form  of  a  Harmony,  in  the  Calmuc  version,  when  proposed  by  the 
Missionaries  at  Sarepta ;  and  it  was  attended  with  a  similar  result. 
These  facts  are  mentioned,  in  order  to  show,  with  what  scrupulous 
exactness  the  conductors  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society 
maintained  the  observance  of  their  fundamental  regulations  ;  and  how 
carefully  they  abstained  from  any  measures,  however  speciously  re- 
commended, which  might  be  likely  to  betray  them  into  deflection  and 
error. 

Another  medium  of  distribution,  which  appears  for  the  first  time 
in  the  proceedings  of  this  year,  was  that  of  a  female  correspondent, 
occupying  a  station  of  considerable  rank  and  influence  in  a  sea-port, 
and  distinguished  for  her  piety  and  her  zeal  in  promoting  the  best  in- 
terests of  mankind.  Through  this  important  channel  Bibles  and  Tes- 
taments in  various  languages  were  dispersed,  as  advantageous  oppor- 
tunities occurred,  in  a  manner  which  reflected  great  credit  on  the 
judgment  of  the  distributress,  and  afforded  high  satisfaction  to  those 
in  whose  name  and  behalf  the  distribution  was  made. 

What  has  been  stated  with  respect  to  the  establishment  and  opera- 
tions of  Foreign  Societies,  will  have  prepared  the  reader  for  learn- 
ing, that  the  pecuniary  grants  for  their  encouragement  and  aid, 
amounted,  in  the  course  of  this  year,  to  a  very  considerable  sum. 
Nor  was  an  inferior  degree  of  generosity  shown,  in  cases  where  the 
exercise  of  it  appeared  to  be  called  for,  towards  Societies  and  charita- 
ble Associations  within  the  boundaries  of  the  United  Kingdom.  Five 
hundred  pounds  were  presented  to  the  Hibernian  Bible  Society, 
whose  exertions,  under  the  auspices  of  His  Grace  the  Lord  Primate,* 
and  other  Prelates  and  personages  of  distinction,  seemed  to  promise 

*  In  the  course  of  the  j'ears  1809  and  1810,  the  Hibernian  Bible  Society  very 
greatly  increased  its  patronage.  In  the  Report  for  tlie  latter  year,  His  Grace  the 
Lord  Primate  appears  as  Patron,  the  Archbishop  of  Dublin,  President ;  and.amonLj 
the  Vice-Presidents/ore  the  following  Prelates  and  Dignitaries  ;  viz.  His  Grace  the 
Lord  Archbishop  of  Tuara,  the  Bishops  of  Kildare,  Derry,  Limerick,  Cork,  Down, 
Killalla;  and  the  Provost  of  Triniiy  Collcg^e,  &1'. 


242  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [-PART  II. 

very  beneficial  consequences.*  Two  hundred  pounds  were,  for  the 
second  time,  presented  to  the  Cork  Bible  Society ;  and  a  similar  do- 
nation was  made  to  the  Synod  of  Ulster,  whose  efforts  in  raising  con- 
tributions for  the  purpose  of  distributing  the  Scriptures  among  the 
poor  of  tlieir  congregations  had  been  laudably  conspicuous.! 

To  this  exercise  of  liberality,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  the  Society 
was  in  a  manner  impelled  by  the  ardour  with  which  its  cause  was 
espoused,  and  the  generosity  with  which  its  treasury  was  replenished 
by  individuals,  congregations,  and  Associations  of  various  descrip- 
tions ;  l)ut  particularly  by  Auxiliary  Societies. 

Though  recently  formed,  and  very  imperfectly  organized,  these 
valuable  Associations  discovered  extraordinary  vigour,  and  emulated 
each  other,  in  fulfilling  the  engagement  implied  by  their  designation, 
as  Auxiliary  to  the  Parent  Institution.  A  reference  to  the  Annual 
Reports  will  show,  that  nearly  6000/.  were  added  to  its  funds  by 
the  Contributions  derived  from  those  Auxiliary  Societies  which  had 
been  formed  within  the  year ;  while  the  degree  of  influence  created 
in  its  favour,  by  their  exertions  and  their  printed  addresses,  baffles 
every  attempt  at  computation  or  conjecture. 

It  would  gratify  the  feelings  of  the  author,  to  particularize  those 
circumstances  of  zeal  and  energy  which  he  had  personal  opportuni- 

To  the  500Z.  coutributed  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  were  added 
50Z.  from  the  East  Lothian,  and  .300/.  from  the  Edinburgh  Bible  Society. 

How  strongly  the  Hibernian  Bible  Society  felt  its  obligations  to  the  continued 
friendship  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  may  be  inferred  from  the  fol- 
lowing declaration  in  its  "  Address  to  the  People  of  Ireland"  in  1810. 

"  The  demands  on  the  Committee  for  Bibles  and  Testaments  during  the  last  year 
were  so  great,  that  had  it  not  been  for  the  liberality  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  they  would  have  been  compelled  to  put  a  stop  to  their  operations." 

»  The  Belfast  Branch,  in  its  Report,  observes :  "  It  is  a  grateful  prospect,  that 
the  avidity  of  the  people  seems  to  keep  pace  with  the  means  of  gratifying  it;  and 
that  the  demand  upon  your  Committee  for  the  Scriptures,  not  only  coutiuues,  but 
increases." 

And  the  Hibernian  Bible  Society  state,  that  they  are  not  without  positive  inform- 
ation, that  good  has  been  done:  and,  by  way  of  confirming  this  statement,  they 
cite  the  following  communication  from  one  of  their  Branches. 

"  The  Members  are  convinced,  that  the  benefits  by  the  circulation  of  the  Scrip- 
tures in  their  vicinity,  have  been  considerable,  and  they  ardently  hope  for  an  in- 
creased extension." 

f  The  Synod,  in  returning  their  thanks  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society 
for  the  donation,  stated,  that  "  the  demand  for  the  Scriptures"  in  their  part  of  the 
kingdom  was  "increasing;"  that  they  had  received  from  dilSprent  Congregations 
the  sum  of  1102/.  8*.  3d.  and  "  had  distributed  tJOO  4to.  Bibles,  130  8vo.  1202  ir. 
12mo.  1423  in  24iuo.  and  2074  Testaments." 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


243 


ties  of  observing  in  the  early  proceedings  of  the  Bristol  Society.  To 
those  who  are  acquainted  with  the  character  of  that  city,  it  will  not 
be  matter  of  surprise  to  learn,  that  the  Society  formed  within  its  pre- 
cincts, speedily  took  that  rank,  which,  from  its  wealth,  its  popula- 
tion, and,  above  all,  from  its  spirit  of  religious  and  benevolent  enter- 
prise, it  might  have  been  expected  to  claim  in  Establishments  of  so 
liberal,  pious,  and  benevolent  a  description.* 

Nor  would  the  office  be  less  gratifying,  to  bring  under  the  notice  of 
the  reader  the  conduct  of  such  other  AuxiHary  Societies,  as,  though 
circumscribed  by  narrower  limits,  or  comprehending  a  smaller,  and 
less  wealthy  population,  exhibited,  by  the  promptitude  and  greatness 
of  their  returns,  very  honourable  proofs  of  liberality  and  zeal.  To 
this  praise  the  Kendal  Society  is  pecuharly  entitled ;  which,  without 
the  recommendation  of  exalted  patronage,  or  the  aid  of  other  subsi- 
diary advantages,  effected  its  establishment  with  so  great  rapidity  and 
success,  as  to  be  able  to  present,  within  three  months  from  the  date 
of  its  formation,  a  tribute  of  more  than  330/.  to  the  treasury  of  the 
Parent  Institution. 

It  has  been  intimated,  and  may  now  be  more  particularly  stated,  that 
not  only  the  exertions  of  Auxiliary  Societies,  but  also  the  printed  ad- 
dresses issued  and  circulated  by  themintheir  several  districts,  contri- 
buted materially  to  promote  the  interest  and  extension  of  the  general 
cause.  Many  of  these  addresses  would  be  found,  upon  examination, 
to  deserve  an  attentive  perusal :  as  evincing  the  prevalence  of  Chris- 
tian sentiment  and  Catholic  feehng  in  the  vicinities  with  which  they 
were  connected. 

Without  being  suspected  of  undervaluing  the  rest,  the  author  trust> 
he  may  be  permitted  to  select,  as  entitled  to  more  than  ordinary  con- 
sideration, the  luminous  and  dignified  address  of  the  Leicester  Aux- 
iliary Bible  Society.  The  following  extracts  from  that  masterly  com- 
position, which  bears  throughout  the  stamp  of  the  great  and  liberal 
mind  from  which  it  proceeded,!  will  be  read  with  pleasure  ;  not  only 
from  its  intrinsical  excellence,  but  also  from  the  confirmation  which  it 
adds,  to  the  account  already  given  of  the  general  prospei'ity  of  the 
Parent  Institution. 

*  The  author  has  no  apprehension  of  offending;  those  whom  he  is  relucftintlj 
compelled  to  pass  over  in  silence,  by  mentioning  the  venerable  Richard  Reynolds, 
Esq.  as  one  of  those  individuals  to  whose  liberal,  active,  and  persevering  philan- 
thropy, the  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  in  that  city,  of  which  he  is  so  great  an  orna 
iK«nt  and  a  benefactor,  owes  its  earliest  and  its  latest  obligations, 
t  That  of  the  Rev.  Robert  Hall,  M.  A. 


244  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  II. 

''  Notwithstanding  the  diversity  of  sentiment  which  unhappily  pre- 
^'ails  among  Christians,  we  may  fairly  presume  on  the  concurrence 
of  all  parties  and  denominations  in  promoting  a  design  so  disinter- 
ested as  that  of  diffusing  the  light  of  revelation.  In  the  prosecution 
of  this  design,  our  party  is  the  world ;  the  only  distinction  we  con- 
template, is  between  the  disciples  of  revelation  and  the  unhappy  vic- 
tims of  superstition  and  idolatry  ;  and  as  we  propose  to  circulate  thq 
Bible  alone,  without  notes  or  comments,  truth  only  can  be  a  gainer 
by  the  measure.  To  those  who  confine  their  views  to  this  country, 
the  want  of  Bibles  may  not  appear  very  urgent ;  but  without  insisting 
on  the  many  thousands,  even  here,  who  are  destitute  of  them,  it  is 
certain  that  in  Pagan,  Mahomedan,  and  Popish  countries,  they  are 
extremely  rare,  and  their  number  totally  inadequate  to  supply,  not 
merely  the  immense  population  in  those  parts,  but  even  the  increas- 
ing demand  which  a  variety  of  circumstances  have  combined  to  pro- 
duce. To  supply  this  demand,  to  whatever  extent  it  may  be  carried, 
is  the  aim  of  the  Society  in  London,  with  which  this  is  designed  to 
co-operate.  Their  ambition,  as  far  as  it  may  please  God  in  his  pro- 
vidence to  smile  upon  their  efforts,  is,  by  imparting  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, to  open  the  fountain  of  revelation  to  all  nations.  It  v/as  natu- 
ral and  necessary  for  the  first  movement  in  so  great  an  enterprise, 
to  commence  at  the  heart  of  the  empire  ;  nor  is  it  less  so,  that,  hav- 
ing commenced  there,  it  should  propagate  itself  through  the  larger 
vessels  and  arteries  to  the  remotest  extremities  of  the  body.  AVe 
have  the  pleasure  of  perceiving  that  the  example  of  the  metropolis 
has  already  been  followed  in  several  of  our  principal  towns  and  ci- 
ties ;  and  there  is  room  to  hope,  that  similar  institutions  will,  ere 
long,  be  formed  in  every  part  of  the  kingdom. 

"  In  whatever  light  we  consider  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
cicly,  it  appears  to  us  replete  with  utility.  Its  formation  will,  we 
tru6t«  constitute  a  new  era  in  the  history  of  religion,  which  may  be 
styled  the  era  of  unanimity.  It  affords  a  rallying  point  for  the  piety 
of  the  age,  an  unsuspicious  medium  of  communication  between  the 
^gDod  of  all  parties  and  nations,  a  centre  of  union  and  co-operation  in 
the  advancement  of  a  common  cause,  which  cannot  fail  to  allay  the 
heat|»and  smooth  the  asperities  of  discordant  sentiment.  By  giving 
the  most  effectual  aid  to  means  already  set  on  foot  for  the  conversion 
of  Pagan  nations,  it  also  promises  to  accelerate  the  period  when  truth 
shall  become  victorious  in  the  earth. 

"  It  is  to  be  lamented,  that  Protestant  nations  have  been  too  long 
inattentive  to  this  object :   we  rejoice  to  tind  that  tliey  are  now  con- 


f^HAP.  I  ]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  246 

vinced  of  their  error ;  and  that,  touched  with  commiseration  for  the 
unhappy  condition  of  mankind,  they  are  anxious  to  impart  those 
riches  which  maybe  shared  without  being  diminished,  and  communi- 
cated without  being  lost  to  the  possessor.  Such  is  the  felicity  of  re- 
ligion ;  such  the  unbounded  liberahty  of  its  principles.  Though  we 
should  be  sorry  to  administer  fuel  to  national  vanity,  we  cannot  con- 
ceal the  satisfaction  it  gives  us  to  reflect,  that  while  the  fairest  por- 
tion of  the  globe  has  fallen  a  prey  to  that  guilty  and  restless  ambition, 
which,  by  the  inscrutable  wisdom  of  Providence,  is  permitted  for  a 
time  to  '  take  peace  from  the  earth  ;'  this  favoured  country  is  employed 
in  spreading  the  triumphs  of  truth,  multiplying  the  means  of  instruc- 
tion, and  opening  sources  of  consolation  to  an  afflicted  world." 

The  encouragement  given  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society 
by  such  efforts  in  its  support,  and-such  testimonies  to  its  utility,  could 
not  fail  to  produce  a  considerable  effect  on  the  views  and  the  proceed- 
mgs  of  those  who  were  appointed  to  administer  its  concerns.  Re- 
garding the  progression  of  its  influence,  and  the  increase  of  its  re- 
sources, as  a  call  and  a  stimulus  to  more  diffusive  exertion,  they 
looked  around  for  new  scenes  in  which  to  display  the  benevolence  of 
the  Institution  ;  and  seemed  impatient  of  the  restraints  which  pre- 
vented it  from  being  felt  and  enjoyed  by  those  who  inhabited  the  very 
extremities  of  the  earth. 

It  was  in  this  high  state  of  exertion  and  of  hope,  and  with  pros- 
pects l)rightcningin  so  many  directions,  that  the  friends  of  the  Society 
were  surprised  by  the  appearance  of  an  opponent  to  their  cause,  in 
the  person  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wordsworth,  Dean  of  Rocking,  and  Do- 
mestic Chaplain  to  his  Grace  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury.  As 
the  publication  in  which  Dr.  Wordsworth  arraigned  the  Society,  gave 
occasion  to  a  vexatious  and  protracted  controversy,  it  will  be  proper 
to  explain  the  circumstances  in  which  it  originated,  and  to  state  such 
facts  respecting  it  as  fall  within  the  period  which  it  is  the  business  of 
this  chapter  to  record. 

In  the  autumn  of  1809,  the  author,  having  been  induced  to  enter 
into  a  correspondence  with  some  respectable  clergymen  of  Colches- 
ter and  its  vicinity,  on  the  subject  of  establishing  an  Auxiliary  Bible 
Society  for  the  county  of  Essex,  found  his  proposition  for  s'udh  an 
establishment,  after  a  course  of  mutual  explanation,  very  warmly  and 
decisively  encouraged.  The  initiatory  measures  had  so  far  ad«»nced 
by  the  month  of  January,  1810,  that  a  Provisional  Committee  was 
regularly  formed,  consisting  wholly  of  Ministers  of  the  Estabhshed 
Church  ;  the  Dissenters  having  voluntarily  left  *  e  management  of 
the  business  in  the  hands  of  those  by  whom  they  thought  the  future 
33 


246  msjuRY  OF  the  British  li'art  h. 

Society  would  be  introduced  with  the  greatest  propriety  and  the  best 
effect.  The  Provisional  Committee,  thus  constituted,  proceeded  to 
address  their  clerical  brethren,  inviting  them  to  attend  a  preparatory 
meeting  at  Colchester  on  the  19th  of  the  current  month,  "tor  the 
purpose  of  considering  a  plan  for  establishing  a  Society  in  aid  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society."  At  the  appointed  time  the  meet- 
ing took  place  :  between  twenty  and  thirty  clergymen  attended  ;  and 
the  result  was,  a  unanimous  determination  to  form  an  Auxiliary  Bible 
Society,  and  to  present  an  address  to  the  Bishop  of  London,  request- 
ing his  Lordship,  as  Bishop  of  the  Diocese,  to  become  the  Patron  of 
the  intended  Society.  An  address  was  accordingly  transmitted  by  the 
chairman,  the  Rev.  Philip  Yorke,  Rector  of  Great  Horkesley.  To 
this  application  the  Bishop  replied,  in  terms,  respectful  indeed,  but 
so  decidedly  hostile  to  the  principFe  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  and  all  its  operations,  that  it  was  deemed  by  the  applicants 
imprudent,  not  to  say  indecorous,  to  prosecute  any  further,  for  the 
present,  those  measures  which  had  so  nearly  attained  the  desired  ma- 
turity. The  Bishop's  reply  was  dated  January  28,  1810;  and  early 
in  the  month  of  February  the  Provisional  Committee  was  formally 
dissolved. 

Shortly  subsequent  to  the  event  of  its  dissolution,  a  letter  was  re- 
ceived from  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wordsworth,  one  of  the  parties  addressed, 
agreeably  to  the  Resolution  of  the  16th  of  January,  containing  his 
refusal  to  co-operate  in  the  projected  Society,  and  assigning  the 
grounds  upon  which  that  refusal  was  founded.  Dr.  Wordsworth's 
Letter  was  dated,  "  Lambeth  Palace,  Jan.  12  :"  on  the  1st  of  March 
(as  we  are  told  by  himself)  it  "  was  submitted  to  the  press,  in  com- 
pliance with  the  request  of  a  much  respected  friend;"  and  shortly 
after  appeax'ed  before  the  public,  under  the  title  of"  Reasons  for  de- 
clining to  become  a  Subscriber  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, stated  in  a  Letter  to  a  Clergyman  of  the  Diocese  of  London, 
by  Christopher  Wordswortii,  D.  D.  Dean  and  Rector  of  Rocking,  and 
Domestic  Chaplain  to  his  Grace  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury." 

The  avowed  hostility  of  the  Bishop  of  London,  and  the  signiticanr 
superscription  of  "  Lambeth  Palace,"  gave  to  this  Letter  of  Dr. 
WoAlsworth  a  sort  of  adventitious  importance,  and  rendered  it  an 
object  of  some  consideration.  It  was  on  the  ground  of  the  demi- 
otlicjlf  character  which  it  assumed  in  the  eyes  of  the  world,  that, 
upon  receiving  a  copy  of  "  The  Reasons"  from  the  author,  the 
Noble  President,  iorgctting  every  thing  but  what  he  owed  to  the  ho- 
nour and  interest Tr  the  Institution,  so  unjustly,  and,  as  to  him  and 
others  it  appeared,  so  authoritatively  assailed,  undertook  its  defence; 


CHAP.  I.l  AND  FOREHGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


247 


and  in  the  month  of  April  produced  a  reply,  under  the  designation  of 
"  A  Letter  to  the  Reverend  Christopher  Wordsworth,  D.  D.*  in  reply 
to  his  Strictures  on  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  by  Lord 
Teignmouth,  President  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society." 

The  substance  of  Dr.  Wordsworth's  objections  to  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  is  thus  compendiously  expressed  by  himself: 
"  While  the  Bible  Society  continues  such  as  it  now  is,  embracing 
for  its  object  the  dissemination  of  the  Scriptures,  not  only  abroad,  but 
also  at  home,  I  am  compelled,  at  the  very  least,  to  keep  aloof  from  it. 
In  reply  to  the  solicitations  of  its  friends,  my  answer  must  be,  '  I  am 
already  a  Member  of  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge, 
and  wish  all  others  to  l)e  so  likewise  ;  and,  therefore,  the  direct  and 
baneful  operation  which  the  Bible  Society  has  to  interfere  with,  im- 
pede, and  curtail  the  inestimable  interests  of  piety,  and  peace,  and 
true  religion,  the  preservation  and  continual  promotion  of  which,  are 
the  aim  and  object  of  that  most  important  Society,  commands  me  to 
withhold  my  hand,  that  I  may  not  be  accessary,  hy  my  example,  to 
the  injury  or  the  retardation  of  the  still  further  and  further  growth 
and  propagation  of  one  of  the  gi-eatest  blessings  which  the  Almighty, 
in  his  merciful  providence,  has  vouchsafed  to  this  church  and  nation.'  " 
On  this  passage,  Lord  Teignmouth,  after  expressing  his  regret  that 
sucli  language  should  have  been  usedin  reference  to  a  Society  "  which 
was  patronized  by  the  late  venerable  and  lamented  Bishop  of  London, 
whose  labours,  during  a  long  life,  were  devoted  to  the  advancement 
of  piety  and  religious  truth,  and  which  continued  to  be  patronized  by 
so  many  dignitaries  of  the  church,  and  persons  of  the  first  respecta- 
bility;" observes:  "  The  real  ground  of  your  objccti(>ns  appears  to 
be  nothing  more  than  this ; — that  it  withdraws  from  the  Society  for 

*  Dr.  Wordsworth,  in  replying  to  this  Letter  of  Lord  Teignmouth,  uses  the  fol- 
lowing somewhat  vaunting  expressions : 

"When  your  Lordship  is  seen  to  have  buckled  on  your  armour,  to  have  left  yonr 
throne  of  state,  and  to  have  come  down  into  the  plain,  it  will  be  thought  that  this 
circumstance  denotes  something  of  a  more  than  ordinary  alarm  in  the  citadel,"  &c. 

Letter  to  Lord  Tcigninouih,  p.  5. 

On  this  piece  of  misplaced  exultation,  Mr.  Dealtry  thus  pertinently  remarks: 

"Do not  imagine  that  his  Lordship  'buckled  on  his  armour,'  and  left  his  '  throne 
of  state,'  because  of  the  arfjument.s  with  which  the  Society  was  assailed.  No  :  it 
was  '  Lambeth  Palace'  which  called  him  to  the  field.  He  knew  that  this  hint  would 
he  '  tolerably  understood'  by  many  '  a  country  clergyman,'  who  is  far  beyond  the 
reach  of  argument ;  and,  like  a  wise  man,  he  opposed  name  to  name,  and  authority 
to  authority.  Your  '  Reasons  for  not  subscribing'  might  safely  have  been  left  to  a 
person  of  my  mediocrity  of  situation  and  talent :  '  Lambeth  Palace'  dcniande*! 
rank  and  dignity."  Denlirt/'''  lhi(ticisfiov,  p.  i^B. 


24b  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  If 

Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  funds  which  would  otherwise  be  ap- 
propriated to  its  support."  In  reply  to  the  objection,  placed  in  this 
form,  his  Lordship  thus  sensibly  argues  : 

"  Objections  of  a  similar  nature  have  occasionally  been  applied  to 
new  charitable  Institutions ;  but  I  never  on  this  account  heard  it  as- 
serted, that  the  promoters  and  supporters  of  them  were  liable  to  a 
charge  of  inhumanity,  and  want  of  charity.  The  public  were  dis- 
posed to  giv^e  them  credit,  at  least,  for  pure  and  benevolent  motives  ; 
and  the  patrons  of  old  charities,  instead  of  reprobating  the  friends  of 
the  new,  thought  it  a  more  rational  proceeding  to  draw  the  public 
attention  to  the  old  Institutions,  and  to  redouble  their  exertions  in 
their  favour. 

"  This  conduct  was  laudable  ;  and,  if  your  zeal  for  the  Society  for 
Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  had  been  guided  by  the  same  tem- 
perate discrimination,  you  would  not  have  been  troubled  with  this 
address.  Disclaiming  any  disposition  to  impeach  the  justice  of  your 
eulogium  on  that  venerable  Society  whose  cause  you  so  warmly 
espouse ;  and  professing  for  it  the  most  cordial  esteem  and  respect,  I 
could  wish  to  applaud  your  zeal  for  its  support,  and  I  should  rejoice 
to  learn  that  any  exertions  had  largely  augmented  its  funds. 

"  But  to  return  to  the  objection,  the  principle  of  which  I  shall 
briefly  examine. 

"  No  proof  has  been  exhibited,  and  I  will  venture  to  say,  none  can 
be  produced,  that  the  annual  amount  of  donations  and  subscriptions 
to  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  has  decreased 
since  the  establishment  of  the  Bible  Society.  If  the  fact  however 
could  be  established,  still,  to  justify  your  inferences,  it  would  be  fur- 
ther necessary  to  show,  that  the  decrease  had  arisen  from  the  trans- 
fer of  such  subscriptions  to  the  last-mentioned  Institution.  It  is  im- 
possible to  determine,  and  it  would  be  idle  to  discuss,  whether  any, 
and  what,  addition  would  have  accrued  to  the  funds  of  the  Society  for 
Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  if  the  Bible  Society  had  never 
existed. 

"  Let  us,  however,  for  the  sake  of  argument  only,  suppose,  that 
some  few  of  the  clergy  and  laity  of  the  Church  of  England  (the 
Dissenters  of  the  country,  and  the  Presbyterians  in  Scotland,  being 
out  of  the  question)  have  contributed  to  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  who,  if  it  had  never  been  established,  would  have 
aided  the  funds  of  the  Society  for  Promoting  Chi-istian  Knowledge. 

"  The  sum  of  their  contributions,  whatever  it  may  be,  has  been 
expended  in  promoting  the  circulation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  ;  and  I 
do  not  see  how  it  could  have  been  more  beneficially  employed  by  the 


CHAP.  I]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  249 

Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  or  how  the  interests  of 
*  piety,  peace,  and  true  religion,'  have  been  injured  by  the  applica- 
tion of  it.  The  consciences  of  the  subscribers  may  be  fairly  at  rest 
on  this  point. 

<'  This  I  conceive  to  be  a  full  and  sufficient  answer  to  the  principle 
of  your  objection.  But  surely  it  must  be  obvious,  that  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  by  circulating  the  Scriptures  at  reduced 
prices,  at  home,  has  a  tendency  to  relieve  the  funds  of  the  Society 
for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  from  a  loss  on  its  expenditure,  in 
proportion  to  the  extent  of  such  circulation,  and  thus  a  larger  por- 
tion of  its  funds  becomes  applicable  to  the  extension  of  those  other 
operations  which  you  describe,  and  denominate  '  interests  of  incalcu- 
lable importance.' 

"  Nor  is  it  going  too  far  to  say,  that  the  institution  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society  has  also  an  indirect  tendency  to  increase 
the  funds  of  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  in 
another  way,  viz.  by  exciting  the  attention  of  the  friends  of  religion, 
in  all  parts  of  the  kingdom,  to  the  infinite  importance  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  and  by  stimulating  their  zeal  for  the  propagation  of  scrip- 
tural truth.  The  feeling  thus  excited,  would  naturally  take  a  various 
direction,  and,  although  the  greater  portion  of  its  effects  might  be 
directed  towards  the  Society  whose  exertions  had  given  rise  to  it, 
some  parts  would  undoubtedly  accrue  to  the  Society  for  Promoting 
Christian  Knowledge. 

"  Now,  I  am  informed,  and  I  believe  most  correctly,  that,  in  point 
of  fact,  the  annual  amount  of  subscriptions  to  the  Societ}"^  for  Pro- 
moting Christian  Knowledge,  has  considerably  increased  since  the 
establishment  of  the  Bible  Society  :  if  this  be  the  fact,*  it  affords  a 
strong  presumption  in  favour  of  my  argument,  and  is  prett}'  conclu- 
sive against  yours. 

"  Whatever  may  be  thought  of  tFHs  reasoning,  I  am  by  no  means 
disposed  to  concede  to  you,  that  the  benefit  which  has  resulted  to  the 


*  Mr.  Dealtry,  by  a  comparison  of  the  average  receipts  of  the  Society  for  Pro- 
rooting  Christian  Knowledge  for  four  years  precedina:,  with  those  of  the  five  years 
immediately  succeeding,  the  establishment  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, draws  this  general  conclusion. 

"  Not  only  have  the  receipts  and  subscriptions  increased,  but  the  rate  of  in 
crease  has  been  greatly  accelerated  since  the  establishment  of  the  Bible  Society ; 
and  it  should  be  particularly  observed,  that  the  funds  and  subscriptions  of  both 
Sociciies  received  their  greatest  augmtntation  in  the  same  year;  viz.  in  the  year 
ending  in  March,  1809." 

Leiier  io  fhe  liev.  Dr  Wordmcorth 


250  HISTORV  OF  THE  BRITISH  tP.\RT  11. 

community  from  the  institution  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, would  have  been  equally  attained,  if  every  Member  of  the 
Church  of  England  who  now  subscribes  to  it,  had  appropriated  his 
contribution  to  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge. 
The  limitations  under  which  that  venerable  and  respectable  Society 
acts,  must  necessarily  have  prevented  it  in  numerous  instances. 
Many  societies,  as  well  as  individuals,  who  have  been  supplied  with 
the  Scriptures  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  could  not 
have  received  them  from  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Know- 
ledge, consistently  with  its  rules  and  relugations. 

"  This  is  a  very  important  consideration,  and  of  itself  a  most  de- 
cisive proof  of  the  utility  of  that  Institution  whose  operations  you 
arraign.  In  further  elucidation  of  this  argument,  I  shall  take  the  h- 
berty  of  adding,  for  your  information,  that  the  original  idea  of  a  Bible 
Society  was  suggested  by  the  extreme  want  of  Welsh  Bibles  in  North 
Wales,  and  the  despair  of  obtaining  them,  without  resorting  to  new 
and  extraordinary  means  for  that  purpose." 

The  sobriety,  good  sense,  and  practical  truth,  which  characterize 
these  remarks,  are  very  striking,  and  prepare  the  reader  for  accom- 
panying the  Noble  President  in  drawing  the  following  very  just  and 
liberal  conclusion : 

"  With  what  wisdom  or  consistency  the  Bible  Society  has  been 
produced  in  hostile  opposition  to  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian 
Knowledge,*  is,  to  me,  really  inconceivable.  The  two  Societies 
have  one  object,  in  common — the  diffusion  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  ; 
and  all  the  operations  of  the  Bible  Society  are  confined  to  the  sole 

♦  The  reader  will  not  fail  to  observe,  that  the  opposition  between  the  two  So- 
cieties (which  his  Lordship  so  justly  regrets,  and  which  every  candid  member  of 
both  Societies  must  equally  rearrcl)  is  wholly  to  be  attributed  to  the  mischievous 
and  persevering  hostility  of  a  party  y^  the  administration  of  the  Society  for  Pro- 
moting Christian  Knowledge.  In  confirmation  of  this  statement  may  be  produced 
the  declaration  of  one  of  the  brig'litest  ornaments  and  steadiest  friends  of  that  So- 
ciety, the  late  learned  and  venerable  Dr.  Vincent,  Dean  of  Westminster,  who,  in 
the  letter  which  accompanied  his  contribution  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety in  December,  1811,  thus  expresses  himself: — "  From  the  time  that  au  at- 
tempt was  made  to  ma'.'^  a  breach  between  our  Society  at  Bartlctt's  Buildings  and 
the  Bible  Society,  I  dplermined  to  subscribe  to  the  latter,  to  show  that  /  did  not 
belong  to  that  partij."  Surely  had  the  learned  Bishop  of  Chester  been  aware,  from 
what  quarter  sprung  those  "  comparisons,"  and  that  "  opposition,"  between  the  two 
Institutions,  the  existence  of  which,  he  says,  is  "  much  to  be  regretted,"  his  Lord- 
ship would  have  abstained  from  those  animadversions,  in  his  Charge  to  his  Clergy, 
in  1810,  which  have  contributed  so  greatly  to  encourage  those  "comparisons," 
and  to  stimulate  that  "  opposition." 


CHAP.  /.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  „-, 

act  of  distributing  the  Bible,  to  the  utmost  extent  that  its  means  will 
allow.  Its  proceedings  trench  on  no  duty  of  the  Christian  ministry  ; 
it  does  not  presume  to  interfere  with  the  discipline  of  the  church,  or 
to  recommend  any  act  of  preaching,  expounding,  or  prayer  ;  why 
then,  in  their  march  towards  their  common  object,  must  the  two  So- 
cieties be  forced  into  collision  ?  In  the  constitution  of  the  Bible  Society 
there  is  neither  rivalry  nor  competition  ;  but,  if  there  were,  tlie  ex- 
ample of  St.  Paul  may  reheve  any  one  from  the  apprehension  of  im- 
pendmg  evils,  or  baneful  consequences,  from  any  competition  in  the 
distribution  of  the  Bible.  '  Some,  indeed,'  says  the  Apostle,  '  preach 
Christ  even  of  envy  and  strife,  and  some  of  good-will.  What  then  " 
Notwithstanding  every  way,  whether  in  pretence,  or  in  truth,  Christ 
IS  preached,  and  I  therein  do  rejoice,  yea,  and  will  rejoice.'  "' 

Shortly  after  the  publication  of  Lord  Teignmouth's  Reply,  a  spirited 
and  ingenious   "  Letter,  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wordsworth    by 
Wilham   Dealtry,  M.  A.  Fellow  of  Trinity  College,  and  Examining 
Chaplain  to  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Bristol,"  introduced  to  the  public  a 
writer,  to  whose  promptitude,  acuteness,  and  constancy,  in  defendino- 
and  vindicating  the  cause  of  the  Institution,  the  friends  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society  are  under  the  greatest  obligations.     Mr 
Dealtry  had  been  a  college-associate,  and  was  still  the  personal  friend 
of  Dr.  Wordsworth.     He  had  therefore  to  balance  between  private 
teehng  and  a  sense  of  public  duty.     It  is  not  saying  too  much  of  Mr. 
Dealtry,  (and  more  could  not  be  said  of  any  man,)  that  he  sacrificed 
neither  to  the  other,  but  so  fuliilled  the  obligations  of  friendship,  as  at 
the  same  time  to  satisfy  those  of  affection.     "  I  write  not,"  says  Mr 
Dealtry,  "  in  the  spirit  of  hostihty,  and  I  trust  that  I  shall  say  nothing 
which  can  inthct  the  slightest  pain  upon  your  liberal  and  manly  mind. 
It  1  overstep,  in  a  single  instance,  thatprecise  limit  which  the  most  cor- 
dial respect  and  esteem  would  naturally  mark  out,  I  will  most  readily 
acknowledge  my  error,  and  soHcit  your  forgiveness."     This  tender- 
ness, so  characteristic   of  a  great  mind,  did  not  however  restrain  the 
writer  from  examining  the  objections  which  it  was  his  business  to  re- 
lute,  with  just  and  impartial  severity.     Few  controversial  writers 
have  brought  to  the  drudgery  and  trial  of  repHcation  and  rejoinder 
more  good  humour  and  vivacity  than  Mr.  Dealtry  contrives  (in  de- 
spite of  an  apparent  harshness  of  tone)  almost  invariably  to  maintain. 
Alter  a  soniewhat  elaborate  investigation  of  the  tpaestion  between  the 
Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  and  the  British  and  Foreign 
tiible  Society,  in  which  it  is  shown,  from  the  improved  funds  and  ex- 
ertions ot  the  former,  how  little  ground  it  has  of  complaint  against  the 
latter.  Mr.  Do.iltry  enhvensthe  discussion  by  an  effort  of  pleasantry 


252  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  li. 

which,  as  it  exhibits  a  specimen  of  his  manner,  and  tends,  as  every 
thing  which  he  has  written  does,  to  recommend  a  good  understand- 
ing between  the  two  Societies,  the  author  makes  no  apology  for  laying 
before  the  reader. 

"  Once  upon  a  time,  in  the  midst  of  a  parched  and  dreary  land, 
there  gushed  from  the  top  of  a  mountain  a  fine  spring  of  water,  which 
carried  gladness  and  fertility  wherever  it  flowed  :  the  wilderness  was 
converted  into  a  garden  near  its  banks,  and  verdure  and  cultivation 
were  the  sure  companions  of  its  progress.  After  some  time,  a  similar 
stream  began  to  flow  from  the  summit  of  a  neighbouring  hill :  it  be- 
came the  parent  of  many  branching  rivulets,  which  cheered  the  face 
of  nature  on  every  side,  and  carried  happiness  and  abundance  into  the 
remotest  lands.  The  good  old  stream  was  a  little  touched  with  "  jea- 
lousy ;"  and,  conscious  of  the  inestimable  benefits  which  itself  had 
conferred,  expostulated  with  its  unaspiring  neighbour  in  the  following 
terms  : — '  Do  you  not  know  that  you  are  intruding  into  a  country 
which  I  have  pre-occupied,  and  that  you  and  your  rivulets  have  a  di- 
rect and  baneful  operation  to  interfere  with,  impede,  and  curtail,  the  in- 
estimable benefits  of  grass  and  green  fields,  which  I  have  so  happily 
promoted  ?' — '  Why,  how  can  that  be  ?  Are  not  my  streams  pure  and 
salubrious  as  your  own ;  and  does  not  the  desert  smile,  likewise, 
wherever  I  go  ?' — '  Your  streams  do  indeed  profess  to  be  pure,  though 
I  have  something,  if  1  choose,  to  say  upon  that  point ; — but  I  insist 
upon  it  that  I  am  the  good  old  stream,  and  that  you  are  an  interloper  ; 
and  1  should  not  err  much  if  I  called  you  a  thief.' — '  A  thief!  Did  I 
ever  steal  any  thing  from  you  ?' — '  Yes,  you  have  :  it  can  need  no 
proof,  that,  if  your  mouth  were  closed,  some  of  the  water,  which  now 
courses  along  your  channels,  would,  by  filtration  through  the  moun- 
tain, be  found  in  mine' — '  It  is  certainly  very  possible,  that  some 
fifteen  or  twenty  drops  might  have  reached  you  by  this  subterrane- 
ous filtration  ;  but,  sec  what  a  noble  body  of  water  I  possess !  And  I 
employ  the  whole  for  the  benefit  of  these  parched  and  thirsty  lands.' — 
'  What  business,  I  ask  you,  have  you  to  flow  at  all  ?  1  existed  for  ages 
before  any  one  thought  of  you  ;  and  I  am  by  no  means  convinced, 
notwithstanding  your  imposing  and  devouring  claims,  that  you  confer 
any  benefit  whatever  ;  your  very  complexion  is  "  offensive  ;"  and  if 
"  I  should  go  still  deeper,  I  think  it  would  not  be  diflicult  to  point  out 
some  evils  and  important  deficiencies,  and  more  possibilities  of  evil, 
extant  in,  and  resulting  from,  and  probabilities  of  great  improvement 
lost  and  precluded  by,"  such  a  shabby  current  as  you  are.  Yet,  lit- 
tle as  I  admire  you,  I  had  rather  that  you  would  become  a  feeder 
to  mo,  than  move  in  this  unauthorized  manner  through  the  worM 


CHAP.  I]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  253 

alone.' — '  My  good  friend,  it  is  quite  impossible  :  some  of  my  rivulets 
might  possibly  be  turned,  so  as  to  fall  into  your  channel ;  but  there  are 
copious  branches,  which,  from  the  nature  of  the  country,  roll  on  in 
other  directions,  and  cannot  by  any  process  be  made  to  combine  with 
yours :  neither,  as  I  believe,  would  you  be  willing  to  receive  them. 
While,  therefore,  we  carry  cheerfulness  and  delight  on  every  side, 
let  us  be  content  to  pursue  our  own  channels  in  quietness  and  peace.' 
/',  "  It  would  well  become  us,  my  dear  Wordsworth,  to  follow  this 
good  advice.  Let  the  rivers  of  life  flow  without  interruption  through 
all  climates,  that  every  one  who  thirsteth,  may  come  to  the  waters, 
and  that  their  benefits  may  be  felt  in  every  corner  of  the  globe,  among 
all  nations,  and  languages,  and  people,  and  tongues.  Happy  will  be 
the  day  which  shall  witness  this  extension  of  blessings,  and  happy  the 
instruments  of  such  abundant  good  !" 

The  effect  produced  by  the  answers  of  Lord  Teignmouth  and  Mr. 
Dealtry,  was  considerably  increased  by  an  eloquent  and  conciliatory 
pamphlet  from  the  Rev.  W.  W^ard,  Rector  of  Myland,  near  Colches- 
ter, and  one  of  the  earliest  and  most  strenuous  of  the  Society's 
friends  in  that  quarter.  Under  the  anonymous  designation  of  "  An 
Old  Friend  to  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,"  Mr. 
Ward,  in  "  A  Letter  on  the  Subject  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Gaskin,"  unfolds  the  principles 
upon  which  he,  in  common  with  the  Church  Members  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  reconciles  the  warm  support  of  that  Insti- 
tution with  the  sincerest  friendship  and  good  will  towards  the  Society 
for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge.  As  this  subject  has  been,  and 
continues  to  be,  greatly  misunderstood,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  show, 
by  a  few  extracts  from  Mr.  Ward's  Letter,  the  view  which  was  taken 
of  it  by  the  Church  Members  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, in  1810  ; — a  view  of  the  subject,  it  must  be  added,  which  they 
entertained  from  the  very  commencement  of  the  Institution,  and  which 
the  experience  of  every  succeeding  year  has  tended  more  and  more 
to  confirm. 

The  letter  commences  as  follows  : 

*'  Dear  Sir, 
"  You  may  wonder  how  an  old  member  and  zealous  supporter  of 
the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  can  also  be  an  active 
and  zealous  promoter  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  I 
will  give  you  the  reason  in  few  words : — Because  I  consider  them, 
not  as  rival  or  opposite  Societies,  but  the  very  reverse :  I  consider 
34 


254  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  11 

the  new  as  auxiliary  to  the  old,  and  both  co-operating  to  promote  a 
more  general  difi'usion  of  Christian  Knowledge." 

After  pronouncing  the  highest  eulogium  on  the  old  Society,  Mr. 
Ward  thus  resumes  : 

"  You  may  ask  me,  perhaps,  '  Why  then  promote  a  new  Society  ? 
Why  not  be  content  with  the  old  ?'  I  answer,  Because  the  old  is, 
from  its  constitution,  incapable  of  effecting  all  the  good  which  is  desi- 
rable. You  are  not  equal  to  the  work  v.hich  is  before  us.  The  har- 
vest is  great,  my  dear  Sir ;  and  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  seems  now 
to  be  raising  up  a  great  host  of  labourers  to  accomplish  the  grand 
design.  The  light  of  the  Gospel,  which  at  present  shines  but  on  a 
speck,  as  it  were,  of  the  globe,  is  to  be  diffused  over  the  face  of  the 
whole  habitable  earth,  and  among  those  that  live  upon  the  wide  seas. 
Now  judge,  how  very  inadequate  your  funds  are  to  the  accomplish- 
ment of  this  great  work,  drawn,  as  they  are,  exclusively,  from  Me7it- 
bers  of  the  Church  of  England.  But  the  unlimited  pecuniary  resources 
of  the  Bible  Society — that  is  to  say,  the  united  contributions,  the 
legacies,  and  donations,  of  all  descriptions  of  Christians — can  do  won- 
ders ;  can  absolutely  supply  the  place  of  miracles,  and  the  gift  of 
tongues.  Not  only  '  the  Parthians,  and  Medes,  and  Elamites,  and 
the  dwellers  in  Mesopotamia,'  but  all  the  dwellers  in  Europe,  Asia, 
Africa,  and  America,  and  in  the  isles  of  the  sea,  may  be  enabled  to 
read  in  their  '  own  tongue,  wherein  they  were  born,  the  wonderful 
works  of  God.'  The  object  is  so  glorious,  so  grand,  and  so  sublime  ; 
the  scheme  is  so  full  of  the  love  of  God,  the  love  of  our  country, 
and  the  universal  love  of  our  fellow-creatures  ;  the  idea  is  so  ani- 
mating, and  so  consoling ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  the  attainment  of 
the  object  so  probable,  by  the  means  which  God  seems  to  have  sug- 
gested to  the  minds  of  men,  that,  viewed  in  this  light,  the  work  must 
have  the  last  prayers  of  every  good  man  when  he  lies  down  at  night, 
and  his  first  ejaculations  when  he  awakes  in  the  morning. 

"  Notwithstanding  the  great  efforts  of  the  Society  for  Promoting 
Christian  Knowledge,  for  upwards  of  a  century,  our  wants  at  home 
are  still  great,  I  will  venture  to  say,  there  are  few  parishes 
throughout  England,  in  which  many  Bibles  are  not  wanted  among  the 
poor ;  and  the  wants  are  much  greater  in  many  parts  of  Scotland  . 
but  if  you  cross  the  water  to  the  sister  kingdom — where  the  minds 
of  the  poor  natives,  like  the  soil  of  their  land,  will  produce  a  most 
exuberant  crop  of  any  seed  you  sow,  either  good  or  bad — the  wants 
are  still  far  more  urgent.  Had  you  visited  Ireland  before  the  insti- 
tution of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  the  different  So- 


CaAP.  M  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV. 


255 


cieties  it  has  given  rise  to  in  that  country,  you  might  have  travelled 
from  Giant's  Causeway  to  Bantry  Bay,  from  one  extremity  of  the 
kingdom  to  the  other,  and  (avoiding  the  chief  towns)  visited  every 
cabin  in  your  way,  without  finding,  perhaps,  three  hundred  perfect 
Bibles  among  three  miUions  of  people.  I  speak  from  personal 
knowledge  of  the  country. 

"  Now,  I  only  beg  any  man  to  take  up  the  Reports  of  the  Bible 
Society,  and  read  what  it  has  done  to  supply  the  poor  people  of  that 
country  with  the  Bible  ;  let  any  man  see  what  the  Auxiliary  Socie- 
ties of  Cork,  Dubhn,  Limerick,  Derry,  Belfast,  and  the  united  efforts 
of  the  opulent  and  populous  province  of  Ulster,  have  done,  and  are 
still  doing,  towards  circulating  the  Bible  throughout  the  country  ;  and 
if  he  have  a  spark  of  the  love  of  God,  or  the  love  of  man,  or  the 
love  of  his  country,  in  his  heart,  he  must  approve  and  rejoice." 

The  reasoning  employed  in  the  following  extract,  together  with 
the  observation  by  which  it  is  introduced,  is  deserving  attention  ;  and 
both  will  be  found  to  "Pply  with  increased  propriety  in  the  more  ad- 
vanced stages  of  the  controversy. 

"  The  great  source  of  all  controversy  and  contention  among  good 
men,  with  regard  to  the  Bible  Societj'^,  is  a  want  of  a  clear  knowledge 
of  the  subject  in  dispute.  Many  oppose  it,  who  have  never  exa- 
mined one  of  its  Reports,  nor  know  any  thing  of  its  constitution. 
The  fact  is,  that  men  catch  their  prejudices  from  each  other,  without 
giving  themselves  the  trouble  to  examine  the  truth  and  nature  of  the 
case.  They  hear  a  few  alarming  phrases — such  as  amalgamation, 
heterogeneous  mixture,  combination  of  parties — and  they  imme- 
diately infer  ruin  to  the  Church,  or  injury  to  the  Society  for  Promo- 
ting Christian  Knowledge.  But  they  would  do  well  to  consider,  that 
we  are  mixed  and  amalgamated  as  subjects,  soldiers,  and  sailors,  and 
yet,  by  means  of  laws,  and  discipline,  and  good  government,  we  are 
kept  in  tolerable  order,  and  made  to  work  together  for  the  general 
good.  In  like  manner,  the  first  law  of  the  Bible  Society  will  pre- 
serve unanimity,  and  make  all  its  members  work  together  for  the 
good  of  the  human  race. 

"  Do  not  imagine,  my  dear  Sir,  that  in  pleading  thus  warmly  for 
the  Bible  Society,  I  am  not  also  a  zealous  friend  of  the  Society  for 
Promoting  Christian  Knowledge.  I  would  not  be  understood  as  ad- 
vocating the  cause  solely  of  a  particular  body :  I  desire  to  plead  for 
the  circulation  of  the  Word  of  God.  My  prayer  is,  that  both  So- 
cieties may  prosper.  You  cannot  do  the  same  good  alone  :  but  the 
quantum  of  good  that  may  be  done  by  both  Societies  conjointly,  is  ab- 
solutely incalculable.     Let  all  contention  drop,  then;  and  only  emu- 


256  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  |PART  11. 

late  each  other  in  doing  good.  The  new  Society  has  greatly  contri- 
buted to  the  augmentation  of  the  old,  and  is  contributing  daily  : 
which  any  one  may  see  by  comparing  your  annual  subscriptions  for 
the  last  six  years,  since  the  commencement  of  the  Bible  Society,  with 
those  of  the  six  years  immediately  preceding.  They  stand  as  fol- 
lows : 

"  Subscription  of  1803,  (the  year  before  the  Bible  Society 

commenced,)     2,1 19Z. 

"Ditto  of  1809 3,413/. 

"  Here  is  an  increase  of  1,294/. — above  one-third  ;  and  I  predict 
that  your  next  Report  will  exhibit  a  very  considerable  augmentation 
to  your  last. 

"  Now  let  us  see  the  number  of  Bibles,  New  Testaments,  and 
Psalters,  issued  by  your  Society  in  the  same  years,  and  compare  one 
year  with  the  other,  and  it  will  plainly  appear  that  the  good  you  have 
done  has  increased  in  the  same  proportion  as  your  subscriptions. 

"  Bibles,  New  Testaments,  and  Psalters,  issued  by  the 
Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  in  1803, 
(the  year  before  the  Institution  of  the  Bible  So- 
ciety,)           17,779 

"Ditto  in  1809     , 22,611 

"  Here  is  an  addition  of  4,332 ;  and  if  we  compare  the  number  of 
your  Bibles,  Testaments,  and  Psalters,  issued  in  1800,  with  the  num- 
ber issued  in  1809,  the  difference  will  be  8,848.  In  that  year  you 
sent  out  13,763  ;  in  this  year,  22,611. 

"  Now  to  what  can  this  increase  of  numbers,  and  this  unprece- 
dented exertion  be  owing,  under  God,  but  to  the  general  interest  ex- 
cited in  the  public  mind  by  this  new  Society,  and  the  stimulus  which 
the  one  Society  very  naturally  gives  to  the  other  ? 

"  I  feel  the  highest  reverence  for  some  that  oppose  the  Bible  So- 
ciety, and  confess  my  inferiority  to  them  in  every  respect.  But 
surely,  my  dear  Sir,  neither  you  nor  they  have  ever  made  these  cal- 
culations. Surely  you  would  not  wish  to  deprive  the  world  of  nearly 
a  hundred  thousand  Bibles  and  Testaments  annually,  which  may  be 
increased  to  a  million,  or  to  any  number  commensurate  with  the 
funds  of  the  Institution  :  surely,  I  say,  had  you  considered  the  sub- 
ject in  this  point  of  view,  you  would  not,  from  the  dread  of  some  par- 
tial evil,  wish  to  deprive  the  world  of  such  an  unspeakable  blessing 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  257 

before  you  secured  the  means  to  supply  its  place.  That  the  world 
would  be  deprived  of  this  blessing,  will  clearly  appear,  by  comparing 
the  sum  total  of  Bibles  and  Testaments  circulated  by  your  ir^ociety 
when  you  stood  alone,  in  1800,  with  the  sum  total  issued  by  both  So- 
cieties in  1809. — 

"  Bibles,  Testaments,  and  Psalters,  circulated  by  the 

old  Society  in  1800       13,763 

"  Bibles,  Testaments,  and  Psalters,  circulated  by  both 

Societies  in  1809 99,883!! 


More  Bibles,  Testaments,  and  Psalters,  issued  in  1809, 

than  in  1800 86,120!  ! 

"  These  are  what  have  issued  from  the  respective  repositories  in 
St.  Paul's  Church-yard  and  Fleet-street  only  ;  but  to  these  if  we 
could  add  the  numbers  that  have  issued  from  all  the  other  Societies 
to  which  the  Bible  Society  has  given  birth,  in  Ireland,  Scotland,  and 
the  continents  of  Europe  and  America,  the  sum  total  of  additional 
good  would  be  immense.  And  then,  when  we  consider  that  all  this 
extensive  good  is  still  rapidly  extending  wider  and  wider,  by  means 
of  these  two  Societies,  the  mind  is  filled  with  gratitude  and  wonder ; 
the  heart,  oppressed  with  the  distressful  scenes  of  war  and  devasta- 
tion, is  relieved  and  comforted.  Surely  it  is  the  God  of  mercy  who 
is  thus  sending  forth  the  consolations  of  the  Gospel  to  the  afflicted 
nations  that  are  suffering  at  this  time  under  his  chastening  hand  I 
Where  is  the  man,  with  a  spark  of  the  love  of  God  or  man  in  his 
heart,  that  must  not  pray  for  the  prosperity  and  welfare  of  these  two 
Societies  ?" 

The  compatibility  of  the  two  Societies  each  with  the  other  having 
been  thus  very  fairly  and  satisfactorily  explained,  the  following  sug- 
gestion is  offered  to  the  consideration  of  the  Society  for  Promoting 
Christian  Knowledge ;  the  wisdom  of  which  will,  it  may  be  hoped, 
recommend  it  eventually  to  general  adoption. 

"  Let  all  your  members  who  are  also  members  of  the  Bible  Society, 
draw  their  Bibles  and  Testaments  from  this,  and  only  Tracts  and 
Prayer  Books  from  yours.  Your  Bibles  and  Testaments  being  your 
heaviest  articles  of  expense,  a  saving  may  hereby  be  made  to  you 
of  some  thousand  pounds  annually,  and  you  will  be  enabled  to  do 
much  good  in  other  respects  :  you  will  be  enabled  to  widen  the 
sphere  of  your  utihty,  both  at  home  and  abroad.  Be  assured,  they 
will  prove  your  best  and  truest  friends  that  will  adopt  this  plan.     I 


258  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [fART  H. 

trust  God  will  put  it  into  the  hearts  of  many  good  Christians  to  in- 
crease your  means,  by  legacies  and  donations  ;  these,  however,  are 
contingent ;  but  the  remedy  which  I  propose  we  can  immediately 
command,  and  the  expediency  of  it  is  obvious  and  important. 

"  Both  Societies,  thus  proceeding  in  amicable  emulation,  might 
perform  such  works  of  love,  such  wonders  of  evangelical  charity,  as 
have  not  been  known  since  the  days  of  the  Apostles,  and  would  fill 
the  world  with  astonishment." 

As  the  strain  of  this  letter,  though  sufficiently  hberal,  is  more  par- 
ticularly adapted  to  the  sentiments  and  feelings  of  the  Members  of 
the  Established  Church,  it  was  with  great  judgment  and  tenderness 
of  spirit  that  the  writer  avowed  his  respect  for  the  members  of  other 
Christian  denominations,  who  are  associated  in  support  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  The  passage  which  contains  that  avpwal, 
exhibits  to  advantage  the  principles  of  the  writer ;  and  confirms,  by 
an  additional  and  unsuspected  testimony,  what  has  been  said  in  com- 
mendation of  the  Dissenting  Members  of  the  Institution. 

"  I  should  be  very  sorry,"  observes  the  author,  "  if  any  thing  in 
this  Letter  gave  olfence  to  any  denomination  of  Christians.  Towards 
my  Dissenting  Brethren  I  feel  nothing  but  sentiments  of  good-will : 
the  dignity  and  moderation  with  which  they  have  hitherto  conducted 
themselves,  and  the  modesty  with  which  they  have  given  the  pre- 
cedence to  the  Chui-ch  in  all  Auxiliary  Societies  of  which  I  have  re- 
ceived any  information,  reflect  the  greatest  honour  upon  the  whole 
body,  and  prove,  to  my  conviction,  that  the  circulation  of  the  Bible 
is  the  chief  object  they  have  at  heart ;  which  they  know  they  can 
best  promote  by  giving  precedence  to  the  Established  Church." 

The  triumphant  defence  which  the  Society  had  obtained  from  the 
exertions  of  these  distinguished  advocates,  contributed  not  a  little  to  ele- 
vate the  spirits  of  those  on  whom  the  toil  and  the  responsibihty  of  con- 
ducting its  affairs  officially  devolved.  Animated  by  that  issue  to  which 
the  controversy  had  been  brought,  they  felt  their  confidence  in  the 
success  of  their  labours  abundantly  strengthened,  while  they  saw  the 
Society  pass,  with  so  much  honour,  through  the  ordeal  of  another 
controversy,  to  the  joyful  celebration  of  its  Sixth  Anniversary. 

In  the  midst  of  an  assembly,  greatly  exceeding,  in  number  and  in 
rank,  any  attendance  that  had  previously  been  witnessed  ;  and  sup- 
ported by  prelates,  peers,  and  distinguished  commoners,  and  among 
them  by  the  Bishops  of  St.  David's  and  of  Cloyne,  respectively  the 
first  Welsh  and  Irish  Bishops  who  had  countenanced  the  annual  meet- 
ings with  their  presence, — appeared  the  Noble  President,  and  re- 
counted, in  the  hearing  of  an  animated  multitude,  the  interesting 


CHAP.  I.j  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  259 

transactions  of  the  past  year.  Every  eye  glistened  with  pleasure, 
and  every  heart  beat  with  exultation,  while  his  Lordship  described 
the  extensive  and  diversified  operations  in  which  the  Society  had 
been  engaged,  and  pointed  out,  how,  "  like  the  great  rivers  of  the 
earth,  which  fertilize  regions  far  distant  from  the  soil  in  which  they 
take  their  rise,  it  had  diffused  the  waters  of  life  to  the  remotest  realms, 
and  had  held  out  an  invitation  to  every  accessible  part  of  the  globe — 
'  Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteth,  come  ye  to  the  waters  !'  " 

The  addresses  delivered  by  the  several  speakers,  were  in  the  same 
tone  of  lofty  and  expanded  feehng,  subdued  indeed,  but  not  lowered, 
by  the  painful  recollection  of  the  loss  which  the  interest  of  the  So- 
ciety had  sustained  by  the  decease  of  Bishop  Porteus.  To  the  gene- 
ral regret  many  an  eye  bore  witness,  as  often  as  the  topic  was  ad- 
verted to,  and  more  particularly  when  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hughes,  with 
equal  sensibility  and  candour,  applied  to  the  dispensation  which  had 
removed  our  Episcopal  Patron,  the  very  apposite  exclamation : 
"'  Our  fathers,  where  are  they,  and  the  prophets,  do  they  live  for 
ever  ?" 

The  disposition  which  prevailed  throughout  the  assembly,  corres- 
ponded with  the  wishes  expressed  by  the  Stockholm  Society  in  their 
letter  of  salutation  upon  the  prospect  of  the  approaching  anniversary. 

"  May  your  annual  meeting,"  say  they,  anticipating  the  occasion, 
"  be  blessed  with  much  joyful  intelhgence  from  every  quarter  of  the 
world  ;  announcing,  that  your  exertions  do  increasingly  prosper, 
that  the  darkness  is  passing  away,  that  the  glorious  light  of  the  Gos- 
pel is  shining  brighter  and  brighter,  and  that  to  the  many  thousands 
who  reside  in  the  cottages  of  poverty,  and  whom  God  in  his  inscruta- 
ble wisdom  feeds  with  the  bread  of  tears,  '  beauty'  is  now  given  for 
ashes,  '  the  oil  of  joy  for  mourning,  and  the  garment  of  praise  for  the 
spirit  of  heaviness.'  Thus  you  will  have  a  foretaste  of  heavenly  joys, 
and  we  shall  participate  with  you  in  them.  And  when,  at  the  consi- 
deration of  all  the  mercies  of  God,  which  far  surpass  our  imagination, 
you  are  excited  to  a  holy  astonishment,  and,  lost  in  wonder,  love,  and 
praise,  shall  draw  nigh  unto  the  throne  of  his  glory,  there  to  present, 
with  one  heart  and  voice,  your  united  thanks  and  adorations, — our 
Amen  shall  resound,  and  mingle  with  that  of  the  whole  creation." 

The  event  of  this  meeting  was,  the  addition  of  two  Irish  Prelates, 
the  Bishops  of  Cloyne,  and  of  Clogher,  to  the  number  of  the  Vice 
Presidents  ;  and  a  large  accession,  by  new  subscriptions  and  donations, 
to  the  general  strength  of  the  Institution. 

Such  was  the  auspicious  termination  of  a  year  signally  distinguished 
by  the  several  vicissitudes  of  conflict  and  prosperity,  of  disappointment 


260  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  IJ. 

and  success.  The  spirit  in  which  its  proceedings  were  commemo- 
rated, was  congenial  with  the  sacred  and  peaceful  character  of  the 
Institution.  No  symptoms  were  manifested  either  of  angry  irritation 
or  of  indecorous  triumph-  Every  consideration  in  the  remotest  de- 
gree allied  to  contention  and  controversy,  was  kept  out  of  view ;  and 
nothing  was  advanced,  nothing  was  contemplated,  but  the  glorious  de- 
sign of  the  Society,  and  the  unexceptionable  means  of  effecting  its  ac- 
complishment. 

"  We  could  have  wished."  to  quote  the  language  of  a  respectable 
publication,*  "  that  every  individual  who  feels  a  doubt  respecting 
the  real  nature  and  tendency  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
had  been  present  at  the  meeting  which  we  have  now  the  happiness  to 
record.  He  would  have  seen  a  large  assembly,  composed  of  Chris- 
tians of  almost  every  name,  rejoicing  together  in  the  progressive  ad- 
vancement of  the  Society  towards  its  grand  object,  the  extension  of 
the  word  of  life  and  salvation  '  to  all  nations,  and  kindreds,  and  peo- 
ple, and  tongues.'  He  would  have  seen  how  the  unity  and  sublimity 
of  their  common  object  had  put  to  flight  every  discordant  feeling,  and 
blended  them  into  one  harmonious  mass  ;  affording  some  idea,  though 
a  faint  one,  of  the  peace,  and  love,  and  joy,  we  are  taught  to  expect 
in  that  glorious  period  which  animates  the  hopes  of  the  saints,  when 

*'  One  song  employs  all  nations,  and  all  cry 
*  Worthy  the  Lamb,  for  he  was  slain  for  us.' 
The  dwellers  in  the  vale,  and  in  the  rocks 
Shout  to  each  other,  and  the  mountain-tops, 
From  distant  mountains  catch  the  flying  joy : 
Till  nation  after  nation  taught  the  strain, 
Earth  rolls  the  rapturous  Hosanna  round." 

*  Christian  Observer  for  May,  1810. 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  981 


CHAPTER  II. 


10—11. 


The  affairs  of  the  Society  in  that  portion  of  the  East  to  which  the 
attention  of  its  conductors  had  been  principally  directed,  aseumed  an 
appearance,  in  the  course  of  the  years  1810  and  1811,  which  gave 
them  a  character  of  importance,  and  which  entitle  them,  in  this  part 
of  the  History,  to  a  more  particular  and  detailed  narration. 

The  reader  has  already  been  informed  of  the  political  disabilities 
and  restraints  to  which  the  friends  of  the  Institution  at  Fort  WiUiam 
were  subjected,  with  regard  to  the  patronage  and  encouragement  of 
its  plans  in  British  India.  During  the  continuance  of  these  impedi- 
ments to  an  open  and  avowed  co-operation,  recourse  was  had  to  such 
measures  as,  without  engaging  the  attention,  and  thereby  exciting  the 
displeasure,  of  the  Government,  might  rescue  the  plan  of  translating 
the  Scriptures  into  the  languages  of  the  East  from  the  extermination 
with  which  it  was  threatened. 

The  Baptist  Missionaries  at  Serampore,  who,  from  the  period  of 
their  settlement  in  India,  had,  in  addition  to  their  missionary  labours, 
occupied  themselves  in  translating  and  printing  the  Scriptures,  with 
a  degree  of  talent,  assiduity,  and  disinterestedness,  of  which  there 
have  been  few  examples,  continued  their  exertions,  through  this  fe- 
verish interval  of  discouragement  and  perplexity,  without  deriving  any 
other  benefit  from  the  hberal  intentions  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  than  a  nominal  recognition  as  Members  of  the  Corres- 
ponding Committee,  and  such  protection  as  its  friends  at  Fort  William 
were  enabled  unostentatiously  to  extend  to  their  important,  though 
depreciated  occupation.  In  what  degree  the  pubhcity  given  to  that 
recognition  through  the  "  Proposals"  for  translations,  promoted  the 
credit,  and  by  consequence  augmented  the  resources,  of  the  Baptist 
Missionaries,  it  would  not  be  easy,  nor  is  it  very  material,  to  decide. 
Pecuniary  contribution  is  not  the  only,  nor  the  most  effectual  assist- 
35 


262  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  II. 

ance  which  can  be  furnished  to  a  pubUc  undertaking  ;  and  although, 
from  difficulties  which  have  been  already  described,  the  grants  in  fa- 
vour of  Oriental  translations  had  not  for  a  considerable  time  the  in- 
tended operation,  yet  such  aid  was  administered  to  these  valuable  la- 
bourers, as,  under  the  circumstances  in  which  they  were  placed, 
could  not  but  have  proved  very  advantageous  to  the  progress  of  their 
work. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1807,  the  reduction  of  the  College  of  Fort 
William  took  place  ;  and  with  their  respective  appointments  of  Pro- 
vost and  Vice-Provost  expired  those  obligations,  by  which  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Brown  and  Dr.  Buchanan  were  officially  restrained  from  osten- 
sibly promoting  the  translation  and  distribution  of  the  Scriptures.  As 
this  was  an  event  which  had  been  for  a  long  time  anticipated,  these 
excellent  men  had  made  every  provision  in  their  power  to  supply  the 
loss  which  would  accrue  to  sacred  hterature  from  the  dispersion  of 
so  many  learned  natives  ;  and  also  to  render  their  release  from  official 
restriction  conducive  to  the  propagation  of  Christianity  on  a  scale  of 
greater  publicity  and  extent  than  had  hitherto  entered  into  the  con- 
templation of  its  friends  and  promoters  in  India. 

On  the  termination,  therefore,  of  the  Collegiate  engagements,  Mr. 
Brown  and  Dr.  Buchanan  unitedly  "  resolved  to  encourage  indivi- 
duals to  proceed  with  their  versions,  by  such  means  as  they  could 
command  ;  and  to  trust  to  the  contributions  of  the  public,  and  to  the 
future  sanction  of  the  Government,  for  the  perpetuity  of  the  design. 
They  proposed,  at  the  same  time,  not  to  confine  the  undertaking  to 
Bengal  alone,  or  the  territories  of  the  Company ;  but  to  extend  it  to 
every  part  of  the  East,  where  fit  instruments  for  translation  could  be 
found.  With  this  view,  they  aided  the  designs  of  the  Baptist  Mis- 
sionaries in  Bengal ;  of  the  Lutheran  Missionaries  in  Coromandel, 
belonging  to  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  ;  and  of 
the  other  Missionaries  in  the  East,  connected  with  Societies  in  Eng- 
land and  Scotland  :  and  also  patronized  those  Roman  CathoHc  Mission- 
aries in  the  South  of  India,  whom  they  found  qualified  for  conducting 
useful  works."* 

Things  had  reached  this  point,  when,  from  a  desire  to  concentrate 
as  much  as  possible  the  various  efforts  for  promoting  Christianity  in 
the  East,  and  to  restore  to  the  common  undertaking  that  unity  which 
the  reduction  of  the  College  had  so  unhappily  destroyed,  an  Asso- 
ciation was  projected,  under  the  title  of  "  The  Christian  Institution." 
As  the  design  of  this   Institution  originated  in  the  expanded  views 

*  Buchanan's  Christian  Researches,  Introd.  p.  6. 


CHAP.  li.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  263 

which  Dr.  Buchanan  entertained  of  evangelizing  the  East,  it  will  be 
proper  to  introduce  the  account  which  he  has  given  of  its  nature  and 
object. 

"Early  in  1806,  in  the  view  of  the  translations  of  the  Scriptures 
ceasing  in  the  College  of  Fort  WilUam,  Dr.  Buchanan  resolved  to 
devote  whatever  influence  he  possessed  in  his  official  character  as 
Vice-Provost  of  the  College,  to  the  aid  of  the  translations  in  the 
hands  of  the  Baptist  Missionaries,  and  to  endeavour  to  excite  as  much 
of  public  interest  in  their  favour  as  possible.  For  this  purpose,  he 
drew  up  '  Proposals  for  a  Subscription  for  translating  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures into  the  following  Oriental  languages  :  Shanscrit,  Bengalee, 
Hindoostanee,  Persian,  Mahratta,  Guzerattee,  Orissa,  Carnata,  Tc- 
linga,  Burman,  Assam,  Bootan,  Tibet,  Malay,  and  Chinese ;'  con- 
taining a  prospectus  of  Indian  versions,  and  observations  on  the  prac- 
ticability of  the  general  design  :  signed  by  the  nine  Baptist  Missiona- 
ries, and  dated  Mission-House,  Serampore,  March,  1806.  That  pa- 
per was  composed  entirely  b^  Dr.  Buchanan,  part  of  it  from  mate- 
rials furnished  by  the  Missionaries.  But  as  it  was  apprehended  that 
the  name  "  Baptist"  might  not  be  auspicious  to  the  design,  in  the  ge- 
neral view  of  the  public.  Dr.  Buchanan  did  not  admit  that  word,  but 
designated  them  '  Protestant  Missionaries  in  Bengal,'  Copies  of  the 
'  Proposals'  were  liberally  distributed,  both  in  India  and  jn  England. 
To  some  of  those  distributed  in  England  was  prefixed  a  frontispiece, 
representing  a  Hindoo  receiving  the  Bible,  and  '  bending  to  the  Chris- 
tian faith.'  Copies  were  also  transmitted  to  almost  the  whole  of  the 
principal  Civil  Officers,  and  to  many  of  the  Mihtary  Officers  in  the 
Honourable  Company's  service  throughout  Hindoostan,  from  Delhi 
to  Travancore  ;  many  of  whom  had  never  heard  of  the  Serampore 
Mission  before.  Dr.  Buchanan  obtained  permission,  at  the  same  time, 
to  send  the  Proposals,  in  his  official  character  as  Vice-Provost  of  the 
College,  free  of  expense,  to  all  parts  of  the  empire  ;  and  he  accom- 
panied them,  in  most  instances,  with  a  letter  from  himself  The  de- 
sign received  encouragement  from  every  quarter  :  and  a  sum  of  about 
1600Z.  was  soon  raised  for  the  translations;  to  which  the  late  Rev. 
D.  Brown  contributed  260L" 

Without  undertaking  to  pronounce  on  the  wisdom  or  the  practica- 
bility of  Dr.  Buchanan's  design,  it  must  at  least  be  admitted,  that  it 
argued,  in  its  projector,  a  mind  vigorous  and  comprehensive,  and 
laudably  intent  on  pressing  into  the  service  of  Christianity  all  the  re- 
sources which  were  accessible,  and  all  the  instruments  which  could 
be  employed.  To  him  it  appeared,  (whatever  it  might  to  others,) 
that  such  an  Institution,  extending  itself  through  so  many  parts  of 


264  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  II. 

Asia,  would  become  possessed  of  man^^  stations  and  agents  over  which 
the  East  India  Company,  and  their  Oriental  Government,  could  ex- 
ercise no  vexatious  control ;  and  that,  should  the  Baptist  Missionaries 
be  removed,  (an  event  at  one  time  apprehended,)  the  translation  of 
the  Scriptures  might  still  be  carried  on  by  persons  in  connexion  with 
that  Institution. 

Intelligence  of  the  formation  of  the  Christian  Institution  was  offi- 
cially announced  by  its  President,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Buchanan,  to  the 
Committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  in  a  letter,  dated 
September  22,  1807;  and  the  concurrence  of  the  Society,  in  the  sup- 
port of  its  translation  department,  was  respectfully  and  warmly  soU- 
cited.  But  the  Committee,  adhering  to  the  principles  on  which  the 
resolution  of  July  23,  1804,  was  founded,  determined  to  suspend  their 
judgment  on  every  other  plan,  till  it  should  have  been  finally  ascer- 
tained, whether  the  object  of  that  resolution  could  be  accomplished, 
by  bringing  the  parties  included  in  it  into  mutual  co-operation,  and 
estabhshing  a  Corresponding  Committee  in  India,  combining  erudition 
and  influence  on  the  one  part,  with  vernacular  knowledge  and  patient 
industry  on  the  other ;  and  reflecting  at  the  same  time  in  its  constitu- 
tion as  near  an  image  as  circumstances  would  allow,  of  the  Parent 
Committee  in  Great  Britain.  Actuated  by  these  considerations,  the 
Committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  dechned  the  pro- 
posed connexion  with  "the  Christian  Institution:"  and  it  would  not 
perhaps  be  asserting  too  much,  to  say,  that  to  the  steadiness  with 
which  they  adhered  to  their  resolution,  in  this  and  every  other  in- 
stance of  similar  trial,  may  be,  under  God,  ascribed,  if  not  the  origin 
of  the  Bible  Societies  now  existing  in  India,  yet  at  least  the  liberal* 
basis  on  which  those  Societies  have  been  established,  and  the  harmony 
with  which  all  their  operations  are  conducted. 

In  the  mean  lime,  while  things  were  taking  the  course  described, 
subsequently  to  the  reduction  of  the  College  at  Fort  William,  the 
Rev.  David  Brown,  to  whom  the  sentiments  of  the  Committee  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  were  thoroughly  known, 
continued  to  correspond  with  them  on  matters  which  regarded 
the  advancement  of  the  Society's  object,  as  the  organ  of  communi- 
cation from  the  presumed  Corresponding  Committee.  In  his  letter 
of  April  28,  1808,  Mr.  Brown  detailed  the  measures,  at  that  time 

«  The  Seventh  Regulation  of  the  Calcutta  Society  is  as  follows  : 
"  That  Christian  Ministers  of  all  persuasions,  who  shall  aid  this  Institution,  be 
entitled  to  attend  and  vote  at  all  Meetings  of  the  Committee;  but  that  no  person 
deriving  any  emolument  from  the  Society  shall  have  that  privilege." 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  265 

either  in  operation  or  in  prospect,  by  which  it  was  confidently  hopeil 
that  the  object  would  be  effectually  and  extensively  promoted.  From 
the  account  contained  in  this  despatch  it  appeared,  that  arrangements 
were  made,  by  which  "  correct  editions  of  the  Scriptures,  in  Hin- 
doostanee,  Persian,  and  Arabic,  might  be  expected  from  the  Rev.  H. 
Marty n,  at  Dinagepore,  assisted  by  his  coadjutors  Sabat,  from  Arabia, 
and  Mirza,  from  Lucknow."  "  The  Mayalim,  Cingalese,  Malay,  and 
Tehnga,  (it  was  stated,)  would  be  ably  conducted  in  Malabar,  Ceylon, 
and  the  Coast;"  while  "  the  Missionaries  at  Serampore"  were  spoken 
of  as  "qualified  to  proceed  with  Bengalee,  Mahratta,  Shanscrit,  Bur- 
man,  Chinese,*  and  perhaps  some  other  dialects  of  India."     It  was 

*  With  what  justice  this  was  affirmed  of  the  Baptist  Missionaries,  as  it  respects 
the  Chinese,  may  be  learnt  from  the  following  honourable  testimony  borne  to  their 
merits  in  that  department,  by  the  Governor  General,  Lord  Minto,  in  his  College 
Speech,  delivered  at  Fort  William,  Feb.  27,  1808,  only  two  months  preceding  the 
date  of  Mr.  Brown's  letter. 

"  If  I  have  not  passed  beyond  the  legitimate  bounds  of  this  discourse,  in  ranging 
to  the  extremity  of  those  countries,  and  to  the  furthest  island  of  that  vast  archipe- 
lago in  which  the  Malay  language  prevails,  I  shall  scarcely  seem  to  transgress  them, 
by  the  short  and  easy  transition  thence  to  the  language  of  China.  I  am  in  truth 
strongly  inclined,  whether  regularly  or  not,  to  deal  one  encouraging  word  to  the 
meritorious,  and  I  hope  not  unsuccessful  effort,  making,  I  may  say,  at  the  door  of 
our  College,  though  not  admitted  to  its  portico,  to  force  that  hitherto  impregnable 
fortress,  the  Chinese  language.  The  means,  we  all  know,  that,  in  the  present  cir- 
cumstances, can  be  employed  in  that  difficult  undertaking,  are  very  inconsiderable- 
The  honour  is  so  much  the  greater  to  those  whose  enterprise  seems  already  to 
have  opened  at  least  a  prospect  of  success.  Three  young  men,  I  ought,  indeed,  to 
say,  boys,  have  not  only  acquired  a  ready  use  of  the  Chinese  language,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  oral  communication,  which,  I  understand,  is  neither  difficult  nor  rare  among 
Europeans  connected  with  China;  but  they  have  achieved,  in  a  degree  worthy  of 
admiration,  that  which  has  been  deemed  scarcely  within  the  reach  of  European 
faculties  or  industry;  I  mean,  a  very  extensive  and  correct  acquaintance  with  the 
written  language  of  China.  1  will  not  detail  the  particulars  of  the  Examination 
which  took  place  on  the  10th  of  this  month  at  Serampore,  in  the  Chinese  language, 
the  report  of  which,  however,  I  have  read  with  great  interest,  and  recommend  to 
the  liberal  notice  of  those  whom  I  have  the  honour  to  address.  It  is  enough  for 
my  present  purpose,  to  say,  that  these  young  pupils  read  Chinese  books,  and  trans- 
late them;  and  they  write  compositions  of  their  own  in  the  Chinese  language  and 
character.  A  Chinese  press,  too,  is  established,  and  in  actual  use.  In  a  word,  if 
the  founders  and  supporters  of  this  little  College  have  not  yet  dispelled,  they  have 
at  least  rent  and  admitted  a  dawn  of  day  through  that  thick  impenetrable  cloud ; 
they  have  passed  that  oceanum  dissociabilem,  which  for  so  many  ages  has  insulated 
that  vast  empire  from  the  rest  of  mankind.  Let  us  entertain  at  least  the  hope,  that 
a  perseverance  in  this,  or  similar  attempts,  may  let  in  at  length  upon  those  multi- 
tudes the  contraband  and  long-forbidden  blessings  of  human  intercourse  and  so- 
cial improvement. 


266 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  LPART  II. 


added,  as  a  probable  expectation,  that  *'  in  a  year  or  two  there  would 
be  found  competent  translators  into  every  Oriental  tongue."  The 
improvement  which  had  taken  place  in  the  means  and  facilities  of  ac- 
complishing translations,  and  which  is  principally  to  be  traced  to  the 
causes  already  assigned,  is  thus  described  : 

"  When  the  proposal  for  translations  into  fifteen  languages  was  first 
circulated,  the  labourers  were  few  in  number,  and  confined  to  one 
small  Society.  They  are  now  spread  over  all  India  ;*  and  transla- 
tions are  proceeding  with  good  effect,  under  the  management  of  able 
scholars,  who  are  duly  qualified  for  the  work." 

"  This  happy  beginning,"  adds  Mr.  Brown,  "  could  not  have  ad- 
vanced beyond  the  threshold,  without  the  fostering  care  of  the  Bri- 
tish and  Foreign  Bible  Society,!  whose  most  seasonable  supphes  ani- 
mated the  hopes  and  endeavours  of  all  concerned  in  this  desirable 
"undertaking." 

The  evidence  which  this  document  afforded  of  real  progress  in  the 
system  of  Oriental  translations,  appeared  to  the  Committee  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  so  satisfactory,  that,  speedily  after 
the  receipt  of  it,  viz.  on  the  2d  of  January,  1809,  they  determined 
to  appropriate  to  that  object  an  annual  sum  of  1000/.  for  three  succes- 
sive years. 


I  must  not  omit  to  commend  the  zealous  and  persevering  labours  of  Mr.  Lassar, 
and  of  those  learned  and  pious  persons  associated  with  him,  who  have  accomplish- 
ed, for  the  future  benefit,  we  may  hope,  of  that  immense  and  populous  region, 
Chinese  versions,  in  the  Chinese  character,  of  the  Gospels  of  Matthew,  Mark,  and 
Luke,  throwing  open  that  precious  mine,  with  all  its  religious  and  moral  treasures, 
to  the  largest  associated  population  in  the  world." 

Extract  from  Lord  Minto's  College  Speech,  Feb.  21,  1808. 

*  The  reader  will  of  course  regard  this  language  as  general,  and  expressing  not 
so  much  an  absolute,  as  a  relative  state  of  translation  labours  in  India.  In  this 
qualified  sense  it  is  perfectly  sustained  by  the  circumstances  with  which  it  stands 
connected. 

tThe  statement  contained  in  this  passage  has  been  somewhat  harshly  treated  by 
Professor  Marsh,  as  though  it  affirmed  what  had  not  been  the  fact.  The  Professor 
regards  the  expression  as  applying  exclusively  to  the  vforks  already  produced,  and 
thereby  to  the  Baptist  translators,  while  the  context  plainly  determines  it  to  re- 
late to  the  system  of  Translations  carrying  on  by  the  different  parties  specified  in 
the  enumeration,  of  which  the  Baptist  Missionaries  formed  but  one,  though  cer- 
tainly the  greatest  and  most  efiicient  proportion.  If  this  distinction  be  attended 
to,  and  due  regard  be  had  to  the  particulars  related  in  the  preceding  account,  it 
will  scarcely  be  thought,  by  any  candid  mind,  that  the  language  employed  by  Mr 
Brown  is  too  strong. 


267 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 

The  spirit  in  which  the  Society's  grants  to  India  were  made,  may 
be  inferred  from  the  tenor  of  those  letters  with  which  their  notifica- 
tion was  usually  accompanied. 

In  the  author's  official  communication  of  the  grant  in  June,  1807, 
the  sense  of  the  Committee  is  thus  expressed : 

«'  The  Committee  would  by  no  means  have  you  understand,  that 
their  designs  of  aiding  you  in  this  glorious  work  have  terminated 
with  the  donations  which  they  havo  hitherto  granted.  On  the  con- 
trary, they  consider  your  undertaking  as  vast  and  progressive  ;  and 
it  is  their  unanimous  determination  to  sustain  you  in  prosecutino-  it  to 
the  utmost  of  their  ability,  by  liberal  and  successive  supplies." 

This  encouragement  was  renewed,  in  similar,  or  even  strono-er 
terms,  on  occasion  of  the  grant  for  three  successive  years.  The  de- 
spatch in  which  the  author  officially  announced  it  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Brown,  concludes  as  follows  : 

"  Assure  yourself,  my  dear  Sir,  and  your  excellent  colleagues, 
that  the  Committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  witness, 
with  inexpressible  gratitude  and  pleasure,  the  zealous,  prudent,  and 
efficient  manner  in  which  the  business  of  translating  and  printing  the 
Holy  Scriptures  throughout  India  appears  to  have  been  planned  and 
advanced ;  and  they  are  unanimously  determined  to  support  you  in 
the  further  prosecution  of  this  truly  Christian  undertaking,  by  every 
aid  that  can  be  derived  to  it  from  their  funds,  their  exertions,  and 
their  prayers." 

The  effect  of  such  communications  on  the  minds  of  those  who 
were  struggling  against  obstacles  of  no  common  description,  may  be 
easily  imagined.  And  when  it  is  considered,  that  grants  were  reite- 
rated as  often  as  they  seemed  to  be  required,  and  that  these  grants 
were  represented  as  only  the  pledges  of  future  and  still  greater  con- 
tributions, there  will  be  no  difficulty  in  accounting  for  what  is  said  of 
"  the  fostering  care  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,"  and  of 
those  "seasonable  supphes"  which  animated  the  hopes  and  endea- 
vours of  all  concerned  in  its  benevolent  "  undertaking"  for  the  wel- 
fare of  British  India. 

At  length,  after  a  series  of  delays  and  obstructions,  arising  from 
causes  which  it  would  answer  no  good  purpose  now  to  investigate  and 
expose,  the  object  so  long  desired  and  so  perseveringly  urged  by  the 
Committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  was  happily  ac- 
complished. On  the  12th  of  August,  1809,  George  Udney,  Esq.  the 
Rev.  D.  Brown,  T.  Thomason,*  Dr.  Carey,  W.  Ward,  and  J.  Marsh- 

*  By  a  Resolution  on  the  2d  of  January,  1809,  the  Rev.  T.  Thomason  was  no- 
minated  to  succeed  the  Rev.  Dr.  Buchanan,  who  had  returned  to  England. 


268  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  fPAIlT  II. 

man,  met  by  appointment ;  and  having  taken  into  consideration  the 
Society's  Resolution  of  July  23,  1804,  and  the  several  communica- 
tions which  had  taken  place  between  its  Secretary  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Brown,  subsequently  to  that  period,  unanimously  constituted  them- 
selves a  Corresponding  Committee,  of  which  George  Udney,  Esq. 
should  be  the  Chairman,  the  Rev.  D.  Brown  the  Secretary,  and 
James  Alexander,  Esq.  the  Treasurer. 

The  Corresponding  Committee,  thus  definitively  organized,  pro- 
ceeded to  make  such  arrangements  as  the  charge  which  they  had  ac- 
cepted appeared  to  them  to  require.  It  was  determined  at  the  meet- 
ing in  which  the  formation  of  the  Committee  took  place,  that  mea- 
sures should  be  adopted  for  carrying  forward  approved  translations 
in  the  Arabic,  Persian,  Hindoostanee,  and  Telinga  languages  ;  besides 
those  which  were  in  the  hands  of  the  Serampore  Missionaries.  This 
determination  was  followed,  by  a  direction  to  their  Secretary  to  open 
communications  with  Tranquebar,  Tanjore,  Bombay,  Cochin,  and 
Ceylon ;  and  by  a  Resolution  to  hold  half-yearly  meetings,  for  the 
purpose  of  receiving  Reports,  and  transmitting  information  to  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 

Such  were  the  indications  of  wisdom  and  energy  with  which  the 
Corresponding  Committee  entered  upon  its  important  career.  Its 
organization  was  an  era  in  the  religious  history  of  India.  From  that 
time  the  operations  relative  to  the  translation  and  distribution  of  the 
Scriptures  put  on  a  regular  form  ;  and  proceeded  to  excite,  as  we 
shall  have  occasion  to  see,  that  attention  in  various  directions,  which 
terminated  in  obtaining  for  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  a 
decided  and  general  support. 

The  interval  between  the  primary  meeting  of  the  Corresponding- 
Committee  and  the  first  Monday  in  January,  1810,  to  which  it  ad- 
journed, was  very  advantageously  employed  in  an  interchange  of 
communications  between  the  Secretary,  Mr.  Brown,  and  the  parties 
with  whom  he  had  been  instructed  to  correspond.  The  reader  will 
be  able  to  form  a  judgment  of  the  extent  to  which  encouragement 
was  held  out  by  the  Corresponding  Committee,  in  the  name  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  on  perusing  the  following  circular, 
addressed  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  John,  of  Tranquebar. 

"  Rev.  Sir,  Calcutta,  Oct.  2, 1809. 

"  The  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  have  been  pleased  to  in- 
stitute a  Committee  of  Correspondence  at  Calcutta,  and  have  sent 
out  large  sums,  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  translations  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures  into  the  Oriental  languages,  and  for  publishing  editions  of 
the  same.     I  am  directed  by  the  Corresponding  Committee  to  invite 


CHAP.  II. j  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOcTetY. 


269 


your  co-operation,  and  to  transmit  to  you  the  enclosed  minutes.  We 
understand  that  a  Tamul  edition  of  the  Scriptures  is  much  wanted, 
and  also  that  you  have  at  Tranquebar  a  Tamul  press.  It  is  request- 
ed that  you  will  be  pleased  to  communicate  fully  on  this  subject :  first, 
respecting  the  need  of  a  Tamul  edition  of  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  se- 
condly, respecting  the  means  for  carrying  it  into  effect ;  thirdly,  re- 
specting the  probable  expense,  and  the  number  of  copies  you  would 
advise  for  an  edition.  It  is  particularly  requested  that  you  will  be 
pleased  to  report  on  this  subject  in  the  beginning  of  December  next; 
and  to  suggest  whatever  you  think  may  forward  the  views  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  the  Reports  of  which  will  be  re- 
gularly sent  to  you. 

(Signed)  »  D.  BROWN." 

To  this,  and  similar  addresses,  very  gratifying  replies  were  re- 
ceived from  the  Rev.  Dr.  John,  at  Tranquebar,  the  Rev.  C.  Pohle, 
at  Trichinopoly,  and  the  Rev.  BTessrs.  Kohloff  and  Horst,  at  Tan- 
jore ;  all  of  whom  were  Missionaries  in  connexion  with  the  Society 
for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  :  they  severally  expressed  their 
joy  and  gratitude  on  being  invited  to  co-operate  in  so  important 
a  work.  "  I  have  received"  (says  the  venerable  Dr.  John)  "your 
official  letter  of  the  2d  ult.  with  the  highest  and  most  heartfelt  plea- 
sure, and  sympathize  fully  with  the  grand  and  blessed  object  of  the 
honourable  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society ;  and  accept  of  the  in- 
vitation of  the  respectable  Corresponding  Committee,  to  unite  with 
them  in  obtaining  that  great  object,  which  I  will  joyfully  do,  as  my 
poor  abilities  may  permit." 

"  I  am  very  sensible"  (says  the  excellent  Mr.  Pohle)  "  of  the 
honour  so  kindly  intended  to  be  bestowed  upon  me,  in  the  hope  of 
my  compliance  with  the  object  of  your  kind  invitation ;  as  also  of  the 
great  importance  of  the  undertaking,  to  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  sal- 
vation of  souls,  to  be  promoted  by  the  knowledge  of  truth,  which  is 
to  be  conveyed  to  them  from  its  principal  source,  the  Holy  Bible,  in 
their  native  languages  :  I  shall  not  fail  to  offer  up  my  poor  prayers 
to  the  throne  of  grace  ;  and  if,  in  that  respect,  I  can  be  of  any  use,  as 
also  by  my  advice  to  my  younger  brethren  at  Tanjore,  and  so  can  con- 
veniently co-operate  with  them,  I  shall  readily  do  it."  In  like  man- 
ner, the  Rev.  Messrs.  Kohloff  and  Horst  greet  the  communication 
made  to  them  through  their  senior,  Mr.  Pohle.  "  With  the  most 
lively  emotions  of  joy  and  gratitude,"  (they  say,)  "  we  adore  the 
loving-kindness  and  mercy  of  our  dear  Lord,  who  hath  disposed  the 
respected  Bible  Society  to  afford  us  their  benign  assistance  for  dif- 
36 


270  iftSTORY  OF  THe  BRITISH  [PART  II. 

fusing  the  divine  light  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  among  so  many  thou- 
sands of  souls,  who  are  perishing  for  lack  of  knowledge.  May  the 
Lord  crown  the  pious  designs  of  that  worthy  Society  with  the  most 
ample  success,  and  themselves  with  righteousness,  life,  and  glory 
everlasting  !"  The  communications  with  Cochin  and  Bombay  led  to 
information  respecting  the  MalayaHm  version  of  the  Gospels,  on 
which  the  Corresponding  Committee  were  afterwards  enabled  to  pro- 
ceed with  effect.  It  is  due  to  General  Macaulay,  at  that  time  British 
Resident  in  Travancore,  and  Sir  James  Mackintosh,  Recorder  of 
Bombay,  to  state,  that  their  co-operation  was  readily  granted,  and 
proved  extremely  useful.  To  the  former  the  Society's  obligations 
were  much  greater  than  his  modesty  would  allow  them  to  be  stated. 
He  took,  from  the  first,  the  design  of  printing  the  MalayaUm  Scrip- 
tures under  his  protection ;  and  by  his  exertions  and  influence,  ma- 
terially contributed  to  its  advancement  and  success. 

In  addition  to  these  interesting  communications,  the  Secretary  had 
obtained  distinct  reports  of  the  progress  made  in  the  Tehnga*  New 
Testament,  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Desgranges,  at  Vizaga- 
patam,  and  of  the  Arabic,  Persian,  and  Hindoostanee,  under  the 
Rev.  H.  Martyn,  at  Cawnpore.  The  former  of  these,  Mr.  Desgran- 
ges, a  pious  and  indefatigable  Missionary  from  the  London  Mission- 
ary Society,  was  diligently  employed  in  effecting  a  translation  of  the 
Testament  into  the  Telinga,  with  the  assistance  of  Anunderayer,!  a 
converted  Brahmin,  to  whom  that  language  was  familiar,  and  who 
was  represented  by  his  employer  to  have  engaged  in  the  occupation 
of  translating  the  Scriptures  "  with  all  his  heart  and  soul."  The 
latter,  the  Rev.  H.  Martyn,  one  of  the  Company's  Chaplains,  and  a 

*  The  following  statement  from  Dr.  BucTianan,  will  throw  light  upon  the  lan- 
guages of  Hindoostan,  to  which  reference  is  so  frequently  made. 

"  There  are  five  principal  languages  spoken  by  Hindoos  in  countries  subject  to 
the  British  Empire.  These  are  the  Hindoostanee,  which  pervades  Hindoostan 
generally:  and  the  four  languages  of  the  four  great  provinces;  viz.  the  Bengalee, 
for  the  province  of  Bengal ;  the  Telinga,  for  the  northern  Sircars ;  the  Tamul,  for 
the  Coromandel  and  Carnatic;  and  the  MalayaUm,  or  Malabar.,  for  the  Coast  of 
Malabar  and  Travancore." 

Dr.  Buchanan's  Researches,  p.  82. 

f  For  particulars  of  the  conversion  of  Anunderayer,  see  the  Seventh  Report  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society.     Appendix,  No.  42. 

Dr.  John  says  of  him,  "  Though  I  could  have  recommended  him  long  ago, 
either  in  Madras  or  Tanjore,  for  a  worldly  employment,  either  in  the  Mahrattiaa 
or  Telinga,  he  seems  quite  averse  to  it,  and  wishes  very  much  to  be  employed 
only  in  the  service  of  the  church." 


CHAP.  H]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  271 

man  in  whom  talents  of  the  very  first  order  were  united  with  the 
most  persevering  appHcation,  and  both  were  consecrated  by  the  most 
exalted  piety,  was,  with  the  assistance  of  Sabat,*  the  Arabian,  and 
Mirza  Fitrut,  the  Persian,  preparing  translations  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures into  the  Arabic,  Persian,  and  Hindoostanee.  The  fastidious 
taste  of  tliis  consummate  scholar  and  conscientious  Christian  would 
not  allow  him  to  precipitate  the  publication  of  those  versions  for 
which  he  had  made  himself  responsible  to  God  and  the  church.  His 
report  of  the  progress  made  in  these  several  works  is  characterized 
by  the  modesty  and  caution  which  a  mind  capable  of  appreciating  the 
magnitude  and  delicacy  of  such  undertakings  would  naturally  dis- 
cover. In  his  two  coadjutors,  and  particularly  in  Sabat,  Mr.  Martyn 
felt  that  he  had  instruments,  on  whose  qualifications  for  their  respect- 
ive employments  he  might  safely  depend.  With  reference  to  the 
Hindoostanee,  and  his  assistant  in  that  department,  Mr.  Martyn  states, 
"  The  person  whose  assistance  I  was  most  anxious  to  obtain,  has  once 
more  joined  me  ;  and  I  am  now  willing  to  hope,  that  the  word  of  God 
may  be  presented  to  the  natives  of  India,  so  as  to  be  intelligible  to 
the  generality  of  readers,  yet  not  clothed  in  a  language  that  might  in- 
vite contempt."!     Referring  to  the  Arabic,  and  the  accomplished 


*  Mirza  Fitrut  is  a  uative  of  tlie  dominions  of  the  Great  Mogul,  and  possesses 
a  high  character  for  his  abilities  and  industrj. 

Sabat  is  well  known  through  Dr.  Buchanan's  interesting  account  of  his  conver- 
sion; and  his  qualifications  for  the  work  of  translation  may  be  judged  of  by  the 
following  testimony : 

"  Every  day's  experience"  (observes  Mr.  Martyn)  "gives  me  deeper  and  deeper 
convictions  of  Sabat's  inestimable  value.  Perhaps  there  is  not  a  man  living  that 
can  do  his  work  as  he  does  it.'' 

"  He  is''  (says  Dr.  Marshman)  "  a  most  consummate  Arabic  and  Persic  scho- 
lar." 

The  subsequent  apostacy  of  Sabat,  however  it  may  impeach  his  moral  charac* 
ter,  makes  no  change  in  the  estimate  of  his  literary  qualifications. 

■\-  The  following  passage  from  Mr.  Martyn's  Report  will  show  more  particularly 
the  caution  and  judgment  with  which  he  proceeded  in  his  task  of  preparing  this 
version. 

"  The  Hindoostanee  Testament  has  been  finished  some  time,  and  submitted  to 
the  inspection  of  a  variety  of  persons  in  different  parts  of  the  country:  but  the 
opinions  formed  of  the  work  have  not  hitherto  appeared  to  justify  its  publication. 
I  am  perfectly  convinced  of  the  inutility  of  attempting  to  please  all;  yet  I  thought 
it  better  to  withhold  from  the  press  what  longer  experience,  and  the  possession  of 
more  efficient  instruments,  might  enable  me  to  send  forth  in  a  form  more  calculated 
to  give  general  satisfaction.  But  I  confess  that  I  am  far  from  being  sanguine  in 
my  expectations  on  this  head :  and  you,  who  are  aware  of  the  discrepancy  of 
opinion  which  prevails  on  the  subject  of  the  Hindoostanee,  will  not  wonder  at  my 


272  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  11 

Arabian  in  whose  hands  it  was  placed,  Mr.  Martyn  observes,  "  Con- 
ceiving it  to  be  the  object  of  the  Bible  Society,  in  communicating  to 
the  East  the  treasure  they  once  derived  from  it,  not  merely  to  offer 
their  support  to  their  parent  churches,  but  to  invite  the  fastidious 
Mahomedan  to  review  the  sacred  law  which  he  supposes  abrogated, 
I  think  that  we  shall  be  neglecting  our  present  opportunities,  if,  with 
such  an  instrument  as  Sabat  in  our  possession,  we  do  not  make  an  at- 
tempt, at  least,  to  send  forth  the  Scriptures  in  a  style  which  shall 
command  respect,  even  in  Hujd  and  Hejaz." 

"  And  now,"  (adds  Mr.  Martyn,  in  concluding  his  Report,)  "  hoping 
for  the  blessing  of  God  on  these  our  endeavours,  and  the  prayers  of 
Christian  people,  we  humbly  request  permission  to  assure  the  So- 
ciety, through  you,  of  our  constant  prayer  for  them ;  that,  while  they 
are  thus  seeking  to  make  known  to  all  nations,  through  the  Scrip- 
tures, the  mystery  of  the  Gospel,  according  to  the  commandment  of 
the  everlasting  God,  He  himself  may  be  with  them,  to  guide  their 
counsels,  direct  their  efforts,  and  give  them  perseverance  in  the 
great  and  glorious  undertaking,  till  "  the  earth  shall  be  full  of  the 
knowledge  of  the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea." 

Such  were  the  communications  elicited  through  the  active  mea- 
sures presented  by  the  Corresponding  Committee  on  the  12th  of  Au- 
gust, 1809.  The  first  half-yearly  meeting,  at  which  this  business  was 
to  be  reported,  was  fast  approaching,  when  an  event  took  place, 
which,  from  its  influence  on  the  affairs  of  the  Corresponding  Com- 
mittee, and  its  advantageous  operation  on  the  pubUc  mind,  as  it  re- 
spected Christianity  in  India,  deserves  to  be  particularly  related. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1810,  the  Rev.  David  Brown,  at  the  con- 
clusion of  a  discourse,  deUvered  in  the  Old  Church,  at  Calcutta,  ad^ 
dressed  his  congregation  in  the  following  terms : 

"  It  has  been  usual  for  us  (through  a  long  period  back)  to  begin 
the  new  year  with  a  recollection  of  past  mercies  :  to  begin,  as  it  were 
m^ezn',  our  Christian  race,  and  to  start  afresh  for  the  prize,  stirring  up 
our  hearts  to  persevere  in  every  holy  purpose,  that  we  may  abound 
more  and  more  in  the  'work  of  the  Lord,  and  finish  our  course  with 

apprehensionsi.  The  grammar  of  the  language  is  nearly  fixed  by  Mr.  Gilchrist's 
learned  and  useful  labours,  but  it  is  still  difficult  to  write  in  it  with  a  view  to  gene- 
ral utility  j  for  the  higher  Mahomedans,  and  men  of  learning,  will  hardly  peruse, 
with  satisfaction,  a  book  in  which  the  Persian  has  not  lent  its  aid  to  adorn  the  style  : 
to  the  rest  a  larger  proportion  of  Hiudoostanee  is  more  acceptable.  The  difficulty 
of  ascertaining  the  point  equally  removed  from  either  extreme,  would  be  consider- 
ably lessened,  were  there  any  prose  compositions  in  the  language,  of  acknow- 
Jedged  pnrify."" 


CHAP,  n.l  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


27^ 


joy.  And  as  nothing  can  be  more  animating  to  a  real  Christian  than 
to  hear  what  is  going  forward  in  the  earth  to  the  glory  of  Christ,  we 
have  generally  noticed  the  progress  which  true  religion  is  making 
in  the  earth,  and  the  means  employed  for  the  diffusion  of  it  in 
India. 

"  I  have,  on  a  former  occasion,  mentioned  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  instituted  in  the  year  1804,  the  exclusive  object  of 
which  is,  to  promote  and  assist  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  both 
at  home  and  abroad ; — and  for  this  purpose  they  have  established  a 
Corresponding  Committee  in  this  country,  to  aid  them  in  translations, 
and  to  forward  their  general  views. 

"  Accounts  have  also  lately  been  received  from  the  coast,  of  the 
prosperity  of  the  English  Missions,  particularly  that  of  Tanjore, 
where  thousands  are  adding  to  the  church  of  Christ  continually.  In 
a  new  district,  six  congregations  have  been  lately  raised :  but  the 
labourers  are  few,  and,  what  I  particularly  wish  to  bring  forward  at 
this  time,  and  to  press  upon  your  attention,  is,  the  dearth  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures ;  it  amounts  to  nearly  a  famine  of  the  word ;  and  I  now 
call  upon  you,  who  have  so  lately  been  distributing,  with  liberal  hand, 
the  bread  that  perishes,  to  the  necessitous  poor,  to  devise  in  your 
hearts,  how  you  many  dispense  the  bread  of  hfe  to  the  many  thou- 
sands of  the  Israel  of  God ;  who  are  totally  destitute  of  that  hea- 
venly manna,  which  tills  your  hearts  with  food  and  gladness,  and 
which  constitutes  your  comfort,  and  riches,  and  happiness. 

"  But  I  shall  read  to  you  the  letters.  The  Rev.  Messrs.  Kohloflf 
and  Horst  write  thus  from  Tanjore,  November  17,  1809. 

'  We  are  in  the  utmost  want  of  Tamul  Bibles,  and  likewise  of  Por- 
tuguese, though  not  to  the  same  extent.  The  number  of  native 
Protestants  belonging  to  the  Tanjore  Mission  alone,  including  the 
Tennevally  District,  amounts  nearly  to  twelve  thousand,  none  of 
whom  (the  native  teachers  excepted)  have  any  Old  Testament,  and 
not  one  in  two  or  three  hundred  has  even  the  New  Testament. 
Alniost  all  the  men,  particularly  to  the  south  of  Tanjore,  can  read, 
and  are  very  eager  after  books. 

'  If  only  every  tenth  person  among  them  had  a  copy  of  the  Iloiv 
Scriptures,  we  should  soon  see  the  Word  of  Christ  dweUing  in  thein 
richly,  in  all  wisdom,  and  his  saving  knowledge  spread  among  their 
heathen  and  popish  neighbours.' 

"  The  venerable  Mr.  Pohle,  the  senior  of  the  English  Missions  at 
Trichinopoly,  makes  a  similar  representation  of  the  wants  of  his  ex- 
tensive Mission :  '  I  should  be  happy,'  says  he,  '  if,  for  the  first,  time. 


174  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [fART  11. 

I  could  but  furnished  with  thirty  Tamul  Bibles,  (Old  and  New  Tes- 
taments,) and  fifteen  Portuguese.' 

"  On  hearing  this  account,  methinks  some  of  you  (whose  hearts 
are  wont  to  devise  liberal  things)  are  saying  within  yourselves — But, 
what  can  we  do  ?  How  can  we  meet  the  affecting  necessities  of  a 
people  prepared  to  the  Lord,  and  languishing  for  lack  of  knowledge? 

"  My  brethren,  3'^ou  will  rejoice  to  hear  that  it  is  in  your  power 
to  send  forth  the  word  of  life  to  this  desiring  people  ;  and  you  will 
rejoice,  I  am  persuaded,  to  begin  the  new  year  by  proclaiming  the 
joyful  sound  through  the  regions  of  Tanjore.  The  Mission  has  been 
established  one  hundred  years ;  and  this  your  act  will  crown  it  with 
a  jubilee,  and  make  it  truly  to  them  '  the  acceptable  year  of  the 
Lord.' 

"  The  Rev.  Dr.  John  of  Tranquebar  states,  in  a  letter  dated  No- 
vember 15,  the  means  of  supplying  the  Word  of  God  in  the  Tamul 
tongue  to  Christian  natives  of  the  Coast. 

'  We  have,  in  our  Danish  Mission,  a  second  and  corrected  Tamul 
edition  of  the  Old,  at  four,  and  of  the  fourth  edition  of  the  New  Tes- 
tament, at  one  pagoda,  or  three  sicca  rupees.  Of  these  editions,  to- 
gether with  school  and  other  religious  books,  we  can  give  only  a  set 
gratis  to  our  schools,  and  to  our  catechists,  and  schoolmasters,  in  our 
town,  and  in  the  different  small  congregations  in  the  neighbouring  dis- 
tricts in  the  Tanjore  country.  The  same  we  have  done,  at  the  re- 
quest of  the  English  Missionaries,  for  their  Missions  at  Tanjore,  Pa- 
lamcottah,  Trichinopoly,  Vepery,  Cuddalore,  and  Negapatam.' 

"  The  pious  and  generous  charity  of  the  Bible  Society  for  grant- 
ing the  treasures  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  to  the  natives  freely,  as  a 
present,  comes  now  in  the  most  seasonable  time.  Five  hundred  of 
the  Old  Testaments,  in  quarto,  and  three  hundred  of  the  New,  in 
Tamul,  in  octavo,  besides  the  sets  of  the  New  Testament  which  may 
be  had  in  the  Vepery  Mission,  are  still  in  our  stock  at  Tranquebar ; 
and  we  shall  be  most  happy  to  offer  them  to  the  disposal  of  the  Cor- 
responding Committee,  and  shall  also  undertake  with  pleasure  a 
more  extensive  distribution  among  the  Christians,  Heathens,  and  per- 
sons of  any  religion,  in  all  the  countries  where  the  Tamul  language 
prevails  and  is  spoken. 

"  The  Portuguese  Old  and  New  Testament  would  also  be  most  ac- 
ceptable, and  a  blessing,  not  only  to  Portuguese  Protestants,  but  also 
to  many  Roman  CatoUc  Padries  and  Christians  at  Madras,  St.  Thome, 
Sadras,  Pondicherry,  Cuddalore,  Porto-Novo,  Tranquebar,  Tanjore, 
Manar,  Ceylon,  and,  in  short,  in  all  the  other  chief  places  unto  Goa 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  275 

and  Bombay.  Many  of  the  Roman  Catholics  are  not  so  averse  to  the 
reading  of  the  Bible  as  before,  and  many  even  request  copies  from  us. 

'  Of  the  Old  Testament  we  can  dispose  of  six  hundred  at  three  pa- 
godas, or  nine  sicca  rupees. 

*  Of  the  New  Testament  we  have  only  one  hundred  and  fifty  at  one 
pagoda.'     This  will  be  a  great  and  seasonable  relief. 

'  May  our  gracious  Lord  reward  and  bless  this  most  beneficial  in- 
stitution of  the  Bible  Society,  and  the  Corresponding  Committee,  with 
the  most  desirable  success,  that  all  friends  of  Christ  may  be  rejoiced, 
by  seeing  that  the  light  of  the  Gospel  now  pervades  many  more 
nations  than  before,  with  the  best  effect  to  their  salvation.' 

"  I  am  persuaded,  my  brethren,  after  what  you  have  heard,  it  is 
unnecessary  for  me  to  trespass  longer  on  your  time.  You  will  begin 
the  new  year  with  this  labour  of  love,  and  you  will  be  blessed  in  your 
deed.  Five  hundred  Tamul  Bibles  may  be  purchased  for  somewhat 
less  than  8000  rupees.  Let  us  not  say,  '  But  what  are  they  among  so 
many  ?'  These  will  furnish  a  Bible  to  every  twenty-four  persons 
among  the  12,000  Christians  in  Tanjore.  I  need  only  add  :  subscrip- 
tions will  be  received  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thomason,  who  will  also  cir- 
culate subscription  papers,  with  information  concerning  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  to  those  who  wish  for  it. 

"  And  may  that  God  who  crowneth  the  year  with  his  goodness,  pros- 
per this  beginning !  May  he  prosper  our  affairs,  our  famihes — our 
souls,  and  particularly  this  undertaking !  We  conclude  with  the  so- 
lemn prayer  of  Moses,  the  man  of  God:  '  Let  thy  work  appear  unto 
thy  servants,  and  thy  glory  unto  their  children.  And  let  the  beauty  of 
the  Lord  our  God  be  upon  us  ;  and  establish  thou  the  work  of  our 
hands  upon  us.     Yea,  the  work  of  our  hands,  establish  thou  it.'  " 

The  immediate  consequence  of  this  appeal  was,  a  subscription 
towards  furnishing  the  Christians  of  Tanjore  with  the  Tamul  Scrip- 
tures. At  the  head  of  the  list  appeared  the  name  of  the  Command- 
er-in-Chief, Lieutenant-General  Hewitt,  for  2000  rupees ;  and  the 
sum  subscribed  by  the  31st  of  January,  on  which  day  it  closed, 
amounted  to  9000*  rupees.  But  the  ulterior  and  still  more  import- 
ant consequence  was,  the  interest  which  it  excited  in  favour  of  Chris- 
tianity among  the  Europeans  of  consideration  in  Calcutta,  and  the 
sanction  which  it  obtained  for  the  distribution  of  the  Scriptures  among 
the  converted  natives  of  the  East. 


*  The  following  List,  as  traasmitted  by  Mr.  Brown,  may  not  be  unacceptable  to 
.the  reader. 


276 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH 


[PART  11. 


In  reporting  this  event,  and  the  steps  which  led  to  it,  to  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  Mr.  Brown  thus  expresses  himself:  "  The 
affecting  situation  of  12,000  native  Protestant  Christians  in  Tanjore 
could  not  fail  to  impress  the  Committee  with  the  deepest  interest  on 
their  account.  As  the  funds  remaining  unappropriated  in  their  hands, 
were  inadequate  for  the  purchase  of  the  Tamul  Bibles,  which  were 
offered  for  sale,  a  subscription  for  the  purpose  was  opened  on  New 
Year's  Day,  which  has  been  liberally  supported.  This  will  diffuse 
joy  and  gladness  through  a  wide  region,  and  realize  some  of  the  de- 
scriptions of  Isaiah :  '  The  mountains  and  the  hills  shall  break  forth 
before  you  into  singing,  and  all  the  trees  of  the  field  shall  clap  their 
hands :' " — and,  the  writer  adds,  what  it  is  important  to  remark : 
"  The  inquiry  suggested  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  con- 
cerning an  addition  of  the  Tamul  Scriptures,  led  to  the  discovery  of  the 
nakedness  of  the  land.'''' 

Encouragedby  this  dawn  of  public  support,  and  by  the  openings  which 
appeared  for  acceptable  labour  in  the  several  stations  to  which  their 
circulars  had  been  addressed,  the  Corresponding  Committee  now  pro- 
ceeded to  the  adoption  of  measures  of  larger  enterprise,  and  greater 
publicity,  than  any  to  which  they  had  hitherto  resorted.  The  princi- 
pal of  these,  was  the  establishment  of  "  a  Bibliotheca  Biblica." 
This  Institution  consisted  of  two  departments,  a  Bible  Repository,  and 
a  Translation  Library. 


«C'a?8M««,  Jan.  1,  1810. 
"  Subscribed  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  for  the  purpose  of  dis- 
tributing the  Tamul  Scriptures  in  Tanjore,  through  the  Corresponding  Committee 
at  Calcutta : 


Sicca  Rupnt 

Lieut.  Gen.  Hewitt 2,000 

Lieut.    Col.    Carey 200 

Sir  John  Royds,  Knight 200 

Sir  W.  Burroughs,  Bart 200 

John  Lumsden,  Esq 200 

Sir  John  D'Oyley 200 

J.  H.  Harrington,  Esq 200 

G.  Udney,Esq 300 

R.C.Plowden,  Esq 250 

J.Thornhill,  Esq 500 

A    Lady,  by   the   Rev.   T.  Tho- 

tnason 600 

R.  Downie,  Esq 320 

Rev.  J.  Parson 800 

H.  Martyn 200 

D.  Corrie 200 

— — ^T.  Thomasou 200 

Closed  on  the  31st  Jan.  1810 


Sicca  Ruptti. 

Rev.  T.  Thompson 200 

D.  Brown 200 

R.  M.  Bird,  Esq 200 

A  Lady,  by  Rev.  D.  Brown 150 

Mr.  Templeton 160 

Myers 100 

Gardiner 100 

Brandt 20 

Torkler 50 

Wallis 50 

Da  Costa 150 

HuUeman 100 

A  Friend,  by  Rev.  D.  Brown 200 

James  Alexander,  Esq 200 

Mr.  Longsheeth 100 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bryant 50 

W.  Egerton,  Esq 100 

;  35  Subscribers,  9000  Rupees." 


THAP.  11.]  AND  FOREIGN  EIDLE  SOCIETY.  2^« 

The  Bible  Repository  was  designed  to  contain  Bibles  and  Testa- 
ments, for  general  accommodation,  in  all  languages,  both  European 
and  Asiatic,  to  be  disposed  of  at  moderate  prices.     The  want  of  such 
a  repository  may,  in  some  degree,  be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that,  at 
the  time  when  it  was  projected,  not  a  copy  of  the  Scriptures  in  the 
original,  or  a  Bible  in  the  French  language,  was  to  be  purchased  in 
India :  and  its  importance,  both  as  it  respected  India,  and  other  parts 
of  the  world,  was  obvious,  from  the  consideration,  that  the  Port  of 
Calcutta  is  the  annual  resort  of  multitudes,  from  all  quarters,  for  the 
purposes  of  trade  ;  of  Armenian  Greeks,  from  the  Archipelago  ;  of 
Arabians,  Jews,  Turks,  and  Malays  :  "  some  of  almost  every  nation 
under  heaven."     To  many  of  these  it  was  naturally  thought  that  a 
copy  of  the  Scriptures  might  prove  an  invaluable  treasure^  and  that 
through  them  copies  might  be  introduced  into  their  respective  coun- 
tries, and  thus  the  oracles  of  the  Christian  faith  might  obtain  a  gene- 
ral circulation  among  the  nations  of  the  East. 

The  Translation  Library,  which  composed  the  other  department  of 
the  Bibliotheca  Biblica,  was  intended  to  contain  the  Scriptures  in 
their  original  tongues,  lexicons,  grammars,  works  on  Biblical  criticism, 
and,  in  general,  all  such  books  as  are  calculated  to  facilitate  and  per- 
fect the  labours  of  translators. 

The  Institution,  in  both  its  parts,  was  proposed  to  be  placed  under 
the  auspices  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  ;  and  its  con- 
cerns  were  to  be  administered  by  the  Corresponding  Committee. 

For  this  judicious  and  effective  instrument,  the  Corresponding  Com- 
mittee, and  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  were  indebted  to 
the  sagacious  and  enterprising  mind  of  the  Rev.  D.  Brown ;  and,  as  it 
appears  to  be  constituted  for  permanence,  it  will  stand  as  a  monument 
of  his  zeal  and  wisdom,  to  excite  the  gratitude,  and  provoke  the  emu- 
lation, of  posterity. 

In  the  mean  time,  steps  were  taken  for  purchasing  and  distributing 
Tamul  Bibles  ;  for  acquainting  the  MiHtary  Chaplains  at  Berhampore 
Dmapore,  Benares,  Cawnpore,  Agra,  and  Meerut,  with  the  plan  of 
the  Bible  Repository,  and  inviting  their  general  co-operation  •  and 
for  encouraging  translations  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  by  whomso- 
ever undertaken,  if  approved  by  competent  judges. 

The  effect  of  these  measures  was  highly  favo'^urable  to  the  interest 
of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  They  had  the  tendency  to 
raise  the  drooping  spirits  of  some  pious  individuals,  who  had  almost 
begun  to  despair  of  any  thing  effectual  being  done  for  the  cause  of  Christ 
in  India :  to  others  they  added  strength  and  invigoration,  by  affording 
ihem  immediate  assistance,  and  holding  out  the  prospect  of  supphes  of 
37 


278  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  U. 

the  Holy  Scriptures,  as  the  exigencies  of  their  native  congregations 
might  require  them  :  while  in  the  minds  of  a  third  class  they  awak- 
ened attention  to  an  object  which  they  might  otherwise  have  been  led 
to  neglect,  and  pointed  out  to  their  talents  for  philology,  and  for  the 
cultivation  of  the  Oriental  languages,  a  sacred  and  honourable  em- 
ployment. 

In  support  of  these  observations,  many  striking  testimonies  might 
be  adduced.  The  truth  of  the  Jirst  will  sufficiently  appear  from  the 
following  pertinent  and  serious  reflections,  on  the  part  of  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Thompson,  of  Madras,  dated  Feb.  27,  1810: 

"  The  Committee  will  allow  me  to  congratulate  and  rejoice  with 
them  on  the  fair  prospect  of  a  blessing  thus  opening  upon  India, 
through  their  labours,  from  its  subjection  to  England.  Hitherto  it 
cannot  but  have  occurred  painfully  to  every  serious  mind,  if  it  had 
pleased  the  Lord  in  his  providence  to  have  dispossessed  us,  as  others 
before  us,  of  our  dominions,  how  little  would  have  remained  to  show 
that  a  people,  blessed  with  the  light  of  the  glorious  gospel  of  Christ, 
had  once  borne  sway  in  this  land.  The  word  of  God,  in  the  lan- 
guages of  all  India,  will  be  an  enduring  monument  of^,  British  piety 
and  liberality,  for  which  thanks  and  praise  will  be  given  to  God  of 
many  to  the  latest  generations." 

The  grateful  declarations  of  the  pious  ministers  at  Tanjore,  Messrs. 
Kohloffand  Horst,  (dated  April  21,  1810,)  confirm  the  second  obser- 
vation.    Their  acknowledgment  is  as  follows  : 

"  With  the  most  fervent  gratitude  we,  and  those  among  our  Chris- 
tians that  have  been  apprised  of  it,  acknowledge  and  revere  the  pious 
sohcitude  of  your  worthy  Committee  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  our 
flocks,  and  for  the  conversion  of  the  Gentiles  on  this  coast,  which 
has  prompted  you  so  liberally  to  dispense  unto  these  poor  natives  the 
invaluable  treasure  of  the  word  of  God.  Rest  assured,  worthy  Sir, 
that  this  generous  contribution  for  the  relief  of  the  spiritual  wants  of 
the  Tamulers,  hitherto  unparalleled  among  the  European  gentlemen 
in  India,  will  be  amply  repaid  by  the  acquisition  of  many  souls  to  the 
kingdom  of  Christ,  and  by  the  heavenly  joy  which  the  pious  and 
liberal  contributors  will  feel,  when  so  many  saints,  brought  to  Jesus 
by  the  divine  Word  of  Salvation  distributed  unto  them  by  your  Com- 
mittee, shall  hail  them  and  you  as  the  authors  of  their  everlasting 
bliss!" 

The  last  observation  was  pertinently  illustrated  in  the  conduct  of 
the  late  Dr.  Leyden,  Professor  of  Hindoostanee  in  the  College  of 
Fort  William,  whose  studies  in  philology,  undertaken  without  any 
such  object,  were,  through  the  attention  thus  excited  to  the  transla- 


CHAP.  11.1  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  279 

tions  of  the  Scriptures,  consecrated,  in  a  certain  degree  at  least,  to 
the  promotion  of  sacred  literature.  In  consequence  of  the  general 
encouragement  held  out  by  the  Corresponding  Committee  to  works 
of  that  description,  the  Professor  tendered  his  services,  and  those  of 
his  Pundits,  to  translate  the  Gospels  into  the  several  dialects  of  the 
Malayan  Archipelago.  On  this  project  more  hereafter  will  be  said : 
it  may  suffice,  in  this  place,  to  have  mentioned  it  as  an  evidence  of 
what  it  was  intended  to  prove,  and  to  add,  that  the  undertaking,  so 
far  as  Dr.  Leyden  was  concerned,  together  with  many  others  of  great 
literary  importance,  fell  to  the  ground,  by  the  sudden  and  lamented 
decease  of  that  illustrious  scholar. 

Nor  was  the  influence  of  these  measures  confined  to  those  who 
prefessed  the  Christian  faith  ;  and  on  whom,  therefore,  the  Scriptures 
might  be  regarded  as  having  a  just  claim  to  attention  and  respect. 
In  one  instance,  at  least,  at  a  subsequent  period,  it  extended  to  a  na- 
tive Hindoo  of  high  consideration ;  and  extorted  from  him  (though 
an  unbeliever)  a  very  friendly  address  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bi- 
ble Society,  together  with  a  handsome  contribution  to  its  funds.  The 
address  is  of  so  extraordinary  a  complexion,  that  the  author  will 
gratify  the  curiosity  of  the  reader  by  giving  it  insertion. 

"  To  the  Committee  of  the  Bible  Society. 

"  Honourable  Sirs, 
*'  I  am  no  Christian,  nor  wish  to  be  one,  as  my  own  pure  religion, 
which  we  call  Reestobe,  or  the  Worship  of  one  Eternal  God  through 
a  Saviour,  whom  we  call  Guroo,  or  Krishnoo,  is  enough  for  us,  if 
we  could  do  the  duty  incumbent  upon  us  well ;  and  I  think  a  good 
and  real  Christian  and  a  Hindoo  Reestobe  are  the  same  ;  also  I  think 
Christ  and  our  Krishnoo  are  one  person.  About  twenty-eight  years 
ago,  one  Ramsurumpal  set  up  a  new  profession  at  Bengal,  and  drew 
a  great  number  of  people  after  him,  by  miraculously  healing  the  sick 
without  medicine  :  with  him  I  had  many  secret  conversations  ;  and  he 
told  me,  that  Jesus  Christ,  or  the  true  one,  came  out  from  the  true 
God,  but  that  his  commands  have  not  yet  been  obeyed  by  mankind, 
and  especially  by  the  Hindoos,  that  therefore  he  (Ramsurumpal) 
came  down  from  heaven  to  give  a  true  explanation  to  the  Hindoo,  and 
all  other  nations.  The  said  Ramsurumpal  gave  me  eighteen  orders, 
and  told  me,  if  I  obeyed  them,  I  should  get  well  in  time  from  a  bad 
disorder,  which  an  European  doctor  had  not  been  able  to  cure.  He 
advised  me  also  to  give  five  hundred  rupees  towards  building  the  new 


280  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  K. 

church  in  Calcutta,  which  I  did  ;  and  he  told  me  that,  in  Europe,  and 
in  this  country,  and  in  every  other  couptry,  a  proper  Committee  will 
be  formed  for  inculcating  the  worship  of  one  God,  and  instructing  men 
not  to  do  evil ;  also  that  all  governments  will  give  permission  to  pro- 
mote the  cause  of  the  real  God,  and  of  his  own  Word.  I  understand 
you  have  now  established  a  Committee  in  Europe,  and  I  hope  one  will 
be  established  in  our  country,  who  may  try  the  books  of  the  Hindoos, 
and  put  them  in  a  right  way,  as  they  now  err  grievously  from  the 
ways  of  godliness  ;  and  almost  in  every  country  there  are  new  pro- 
fessions, as  Nanok,  Hubar,  &c.  in  our  own  country !  but  there  has 
been  no  proper  head  or  overseer  of  them.  I  beg  leave  to  send  100 
Benares  sicca  rupees  for  the  Bible  fund,  which  I  hope  the  Commit- 
tee will  accept  for  the  public  use.  Any  information  the  Committee 
may  require  about  Ramsurumpal,  or  about  our  religion,  I  shall  be 
happy  to  give  them. 

I  am,  Honourable  Sirs,  &c. 
(Signed)  JOUNARAIN  GHOSHAUL." 

Benares f  April  26,  1810. 

The  circumstance  which  led  to  this  tribute  of  respect  and  co-ope- 
ration from  one  who  professed  that  he  neither  z«:as  a  Christian,  nor 
wished  to  be  one,  was  the  loan  of  one  of  the  Society's  Reports  on  the 
part  of  a  gentleman  to  whom  this  native  had  applied  for  information 
respecting  the  Christian  religion  ;  and  it  deserves  attention,  that,  "  on 
being  pressed  by  the  arguments  urged  for  the  supreme  importance  of 
Christianity,"  the  Hindoo  "  excused  himself  by  saying,  he  thought, 
if  it  were  so,  the  British  Government  would  have  made  the  Christian 
religion  known  to  their  subjects  in  this  land."*     The  justice  of  this 


*  The  account  which  the  Rev.  D.  Corrie,  one  of  the  Company's  Chaplains,  ar 
that  time  stationed  at  Chunar,  gives  of  this  singular  occurrence,  is  as  follows  : 

"  I  have  lent  the  Report  for  1809,  to  some  of  ray  neighbours  here ;  among  others 
to  a  gentleman  vi^ho  has  exchanged  several  letters  with  a  native  of  Benares,  who 
applied  to  him  lately  for  information  respecting  the  Christian  religion.  This  na- 
tive has  acquired  a  considerable  fortune,  in  some  employment  under  our  Govern- 
ment ;  in  which  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  read  and  write  in  English.  On  being 
pressed  by  the  arguments  urged  for  the  supreme  importance  of  Christianity,  he 
excused  himself  by  saying,  he  thought  if  it  were  so,  the  British  Government  would 
have  made  the  Christian  religion  known  to  their  subjects  in  this  land.  This  ob- 
jection he  urged  in  a  variety  of  ways,  and  here  the  discussion  ended.  On  re- 
ceiving the  Report  for  1809,  the  above  gentleman  sent  it  to  his  native  friend,  with 
an  intimation  that,  if  he  chose  to  subscribe,  any  money  sent  to  me  would  be  duly 
remitted.    In  answer  to  this,  he  sent  an  address  to  the  Bible  Society,  written  by 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  281 

reflection,  so  frequently,  and,  for  a  considerable  time,  fruitlessly- 
urged  by  the  late  inestimable  Dr.  Buchanan,  has  at  length  been  ac- 
knowledged ;  and,  by  the  institution  of  an  Ecclesiastical  Establishment, 
and  the  facilitation  of  Christian  Missions,  a  remedy  has,  it  is  hoped, 
been  provided  for  that  evil  which  for  so  many  ages  disgraced  the  re- 
ligious character  of  our  Oriental  Administration. 

It  now  only  remains  to  describe  the  proceedings  adopted  by  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  on  the  extraordinary  turn  of  pros- 
perity which  their  affairs  had  experienced  at  Calcutta. 

No  sooner  had  the  intelligence  been  laid  before  its  conductors,  than 
they  unanimously  determined  to  act  in  a  manner  becoming  the  cir- 
cumstances in  which  their  Corresponding  Committee  were  placed, 
and  the  serious  responsibility  which  the  Members  of  it  had  incurred 
by  the  measures  which  have  just  been  described. 

The  grant  of  1000/.  annually,  which  had  been  made  in  1809,  was 
immediately  doubled,  and  renewed  for  the  three  succeeding  years. 
Directions  were  given  for  procuring  a  printing-press,  and  fount  of 
Tamul  types,  together  with  a  considerable  quantity  of  printing-paper 
for  the  Missionaries  at  Tanjore,  whose  want  of  these  articles  was 
affectingly  represented ;  and  a  large  supply  of  materials  for  the  edi- 
tion of  the  Malayahm  Scriptures  which  were  printing  at  Bombay. 
The  plan  of  the  Bibliotheca  Biblica  was  highly  approved  ;  and  it  was 
resolved  to  give  it  effectual  patronage,  by  assisting  its  several  depart- 
ments. With  a  view  to  stock  the  Bible  Depository,  an  assortment  of 
the  Scriptures  in  the  original  and  the  modern  languages,  was  ordered 
to  be  forwarded  without  delay,  notwithstanding  the  supplies  which 
had  been  previously  sent  out.  Provision  was  made,  with  similar 
promptitude,  for  procuring,  at  the  Society's  expense,  such  works  as 
might  assist  the  labours  of  translators  :  and  the  foundation  of  the  col- 
lection was  laid  in  a  valuable  copy  of  Walton's  Polyglott,  gratuitously 
presented  by  the  late  Thomas  Hammersley,  Esq.  at  that  time  a  Mem- 
ber of  the  Committee,  and  afterwards  complimented  for  this  act  of 
munificence  and  other  signal  services,  with  the  distinction  of  an  Ho- 
norary Life-Governor  of  the  Institution. 

Such  was  the  state  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  as  it 
respected  India  in  the  year  1810.  The  era  of  prejudice  and  oppo- 
sition to  the  truth  seemed  now  to  have  expired ;  and  every  thing 
indicated  the  appearance  of  a  new  and  better  order  of  things.     The 

himself,  and  now  in  my  possession,  requesting  it  might  be  corrected ;  which  wa» 
done,  retaining  his  own  expressions  as  much  as  possible.  A  fair  copy  of  this  he 
signed,  and  sent  in  a  cover  to  the  Bible  Cotnnoittee,  London,  which  I  enclose." 


282  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  IPART  II. 

overtures  of  the  Corresponding  Committee  every  where  met  with  de- 
monstrations of  cordial  approbation.*  The  majority  of  the  Chap- 
lains on  the  civil,  and  all  on  the  mihtary,  stations  concurred  in  the 
measures  recommended  by  the  Committee,  and  promised  it  their  cor- 
dial support ;  and  but  one  sentiment  appeared  to  prevail  among  those 
who  had  been  consulted,  whether  lay  or  clerical,  Ministers  of  the 
Establishment  or  Missionaries  from  European  Societies  ; — a  convic- 
tion of  the  utility  of  the  plans  pi-oposed  through  the  Corresponding 
Committee,  and  a  resolution  to  aid  them  by  a  vigorous  and  persever- 
ing co-operation.  The  words  of  Mr.  Brown  on  the  occasion  shall 
conclude  this  account. 

"  The  clamour  against  the  Bible  having  subsided,  the  Bible  Society 
begins  to  be  known  in  India  ;  and  though  heretofore  its  progress  has 
been  slow,  and  scarcely  perceptible,  the  time  seems  to  be  near  at 
hand,  when  it  will  be  very  generally  supported  by  all  ranks  of  our 
countrymen  in  the  East." 

It  will  now  be  proper  to  turn  our  attention  to  what  was  going  on  in 
other  parts  of  the  world,  with  a  view  to  the  advancement  of  that  ob- 
ject to  which  the  operations  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
and  its  Auxiliaries,  both  foreign  and  domestic,  were  invariably 
directed. 

The  European  continent  gave  no  indications  of  remarkable  pro- 
gress during  the  course  of  this  year.  It  Avas,  however,  easy  to  col- 
lect from  the  accounts  transmitted,  that  the  cause  was  not  stationary, 
nor  the  prospects  in  any  respect  discouraging. 

The  Society  at  Berlin  was  able  to  announce  the  completion  of  its 
edition  of  the  Pohsh  Scriptures,  amounting  (as  has  already  been 
stated)  to  8000  Bibles,  and  4000  extra  Testaments.  While  the  ac- 
complishment of  this  object  demonstrated  the  vigorous  faith  and  per- 
severing activity  of  the  Berlin  Society,  whose  means  were  limited, 
and  whose  difficulties  were  inconceivably  great,  it  evincedjat  the 
game  time,  the  salutary  influence  of  that  co-operation  which  it  re- 

*  It  will  be  recollected,  that  the  opposition  to  the  translation  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures was  principally  confined  to  certain  members  and  advisers  of  the  Bengal 
Government:  a  disposition  to  favour  such  undertakings  existed  in  various  other 
quarters,  and  only  wanted  a  favourable  opportunity  to  show  itself.  This  assertion 
is  confirmed  by  the  following  testimony  of  Dr.  Buchanan- 

"  Although  the  Government  of  Bengal  withdrew  its  patronage,  most  of  the  in- 
dividuals in  every  part  of  India,  whose  support  was  then  secured,  being  satisfied 
that  the  simple  translation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  must  ever  be  a  measure  utterly 
devoid  of  objection,  have  continued  steady  friends  to  the  undertaking  to  this  day." 

Apology  for  ChTistianity,  p.  69. 


CHAP.  11.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  28S 

ceived  from  the  Parent  Institution  in  London.  Of  1600/.  (the  total 
expense  of  the  work,)  the  Berlin  Society  derived  9G0/.  from  this 
source ;  besides  a  loan  of  300/.  and  by  this  seasonable  aid,  in  con- 
junction with  its  own  exertions,  it  was  enabled  to  provide  a  treasure 
of  inestimable  value,  for  a  numerous,  inquiring,  and  indigent  peo- 
ple. Through  the  enterprising  diligence  of  the  Berlin  Society,  an 
active  communication  had  for  some  time  past  been  opened  with  the 
province  of  Lithuania,  whose  spiritual  wants  and  temporal  circum- 
stances have  already  been  described.  At  the  instance  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  a  Committee  was  formed  at  Kbningsberg, 
consisting  of  some  highly  respectable  characters,  both  lay  and  eccle- 
siastical. Encouraged  by  a  donation  of  300/.  this  Committee  resolved 
to  print  an  edition  of  the  Lithuanian  Bible.  Still,  however,  the  mea- 
sure remained  in  suspense,  on  account  of  the  extreme  poverty  of  the 
inhabitants,  from  whom  the  necessary  funds  were  to  be  raised.  In- 
formation to  this  effect  drew  forth  the  further  liberality  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  in  an  additional  grant  of  200/.  The  au- 
thor has  taken  occasion  to  remark,  and  it  may  not  be  improper  to 
repeat  the  observation  in  this  place,  that  the  grants  of  aid  from  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  were  regulated  by  a  reference  to 
the  disposition  of  the  parties  to  exert  themselves,  as  well  as  to  the  state 
of  indigence  in  which  they  might  happen  to  be.  The  grant  in  ques- 
tion was  considerably  promoted  by  the  manifestation  of  such  a  dispo- 
sition ;  as  will  appear  from  the  following  extract : 

"  Mr.  De  Schcene,  Counsellor  of  State,  and  President  of  the  Con- 
sistory in  Prussian  Lithuania,  who  is  a  very  pious,  worthy  man  wiU 
exert  himself  to  the  utmost  of  his  power,  to  further  the  undertaking 
not  only  in  the  Prussian,  but  (as  far  as  his  influence  extends)  in  th"e 
Russian  part  of  Lithuania.  Upon  the  whole,  be  assured,  that  nei- 
ther I,  nor  my  associates,  shall  be  wanting  in  zeal  and  activity  to  fur- 
msh  the  Lithuanian  nation  with  the  inestimable  treasure  of  the  word 
of  God  in  their  own  tongue,  which  is  so  greatly  wanted,  and  so  abso- 
lutely necessary  to  make  men  wise  unto  salvation,  through  faith 
which  is  in  Christ  Jesus.  We  feel  the  utmost  mllmgness  to  do  what- 
ever  we  can.     But  we  want  the  means:' 

The  prosecution  of  inquiries  into  the  state  of  the  Scriptures  in  the 
Kussian  Empire,  led  to  some  further  discoveries  of  great  interest 
with  regard  to  the  religious  wants  of  the  people  in  the  Baltic  provin- 
ces of  Livoma  and  Esthonia.  The  poverty  of  the  peasants  was  re- 
presented as  extreme ;  to  many  of  them  a  Bible  was  said  to  be  un- 
known, and  by  most  of  them  unattainable  ;  and  though  it  appeared 
that  the  principles  of  infidelity  had  infected  the  minds  of  many,  yet 


284  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  II. 

several  pious  clergymen,  schoolmasters,  and  proprietors  of  estates, 
were  disposed  to  assist  in  distributing  the  Scriptures  ;*  and  there  was 
peculiar  encouragement  for  their  distribution,  inasmuch  as,  for 
the  last  forty  years,  almost  every  individual  had  been  taught  to 
read.  This  intelligence  was  accompanied  by  the  following  affecting 
appeal : 

"  In  a  case  where  there  are  four  hundred  thousand  families ;  I 
say, — FOUR  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  FAMILIES,  without  a  Bible  ;  some- 
thing, I  trust,  will  be  attempted  for  the  cause  of  God." 

Such  a  representation  was  not  lost  on  the  Committee  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  It  was  immediately  determined  to  en- 
courage the  establishment  of  a  Livonian  Bible  Society :  and  a  grant 
was  made  of  6001.  (augmented,  in  the  ensuing  year,  to  1000/.)  in 
order  to  promote  the  accomplishment  of  this  object ;  and  to  forward, 
in  the  meantime,  as  a  temporary  measure,  the  printing  of  an  edition 
of  the  Scriptures  in  the  Livonian  and  the  Esthonian  dialects. 

The  conductors  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  regarded 
this  connexion  with  an  anticipation  of  effects  and  consequences, 
which,  it  will  appear  from  the  subsequent  parts  of  this  narrative, 
was  not  to  be  literally  reahzed.  To  our  short-sighted  apprehension, 
it  seemed  as  though  the  entrance  of  the  Bible  Society  into  the  Russian 
dominions,  would  lie  through  these  provinces ;  and  that  in  them 
would  be  erected  the  first  Estabhshments  for  propagating  the  Scrip- 
tures among  the  inhabitants  of  that  part  of  the  Continent.  But  in 
this,  as  in  so  many  other  transactions  of  moment,  God's  thoughts 
were  not  our  thoughts,  neither  were  His  ways  our  ways.  It  was  in 
His  purpose  that  another  avenue  should  be  opened  for  the  introduc- 
tion of  the  Society  into  Russia ;  and  that  the  honour  of  planting  Aux- 
iharies  to  it  in  the  provinces  should  be  reserved  for  a  Parent  Institu- 
tion in  the  capital,  enjoying  the  patronage  of  the  Sovereign,  and  con- 
centrating within  itself  the  energies  of  the  Empire. 

While,  however,  it  is  admitted,  that  the  communications  with  Livo- 
nia and  Esthonia  did  not  proceed  with  the  desired  expedition,  or  pro- 
duce the  results  expected  from  them,  it  cannot  be  denied,  that  they 
materially  assisted  in  forwarding  the  general  object ;  and  particularly, 
that  they  prepared  the  ground  for  those  Establishments,  the  success- 
ful erection  of  which  it  will  be  our  pleasing  duty,  in  their  proper 
place,  to  record. 


*  The  Unitas  Fratrum,  or  Moravians,  numbered  among  their  own  connexion,  in 
these  provinces,  in  1810,  not  less  than  17,500,  whom  they  had  reason  to  consider 
«s  either  truly  pious  people,  or  seriously  inquiring'  after  the  way  of  salvation. 


GHAP.  II  ]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  o«r 

In  Germany,  Switzerland,  and  other  parts  of  Europe,  both  conti- 
nental and  insular,  the  cause  was  making  a  silent,  but  effectual  pro- 
gress, amidst  the  confusion  and  disasters  occasioned  by  a  wide  spread- 
ing and  desolating  war. 

Not  to  dwell  on  other  places,  Sicily  and  Malta  began  to  experience 
the  benefits  of  the  Institution,  and  to  exhibit  very  gratifying  evidences 
both  of  its  activity  and  its  usefulness. 

"  The  distribution  of  the  Italian  Testaments"  (says  a  correspond- 
ent at  Messina)  "  has  exceeded  my  expectations,  from  the  pressing 
and  anxious  desires  of  all  ranks  of  people  to  obtain  them.  I  have 
had,  at  my  house,  from  the  prince  to  the  poor  labourer,  solicitino- 
them ;  and  have  also  received  letters  and  messages  from  people  of 
the  first  respectabihty  in  this  place,  begging  to  be  favoured  with  this 
inestimable  volume :  in  short,  they  have  met  with  a  most  extensive 
circulation." 

A  very  advantageous  connexion  had  been  formed  with  Malta,  in 
1808,  through  the  diligent  and  pious  exertions  of  the  Rev.  W.  Ter- 
rott,  at  that  time  Chaplain  to  Sir  Alexander  Ball,  the  Governor  of  the 
Island.  It  had  pleased  God  to  make  the  conversation  of  Mr.  Terrott 
eminently  useful  to  Dr.  Naudi,  a  Physician  and  Professor  of  Chy- 
mistry,  in  the  College  of  La  Valette ;  and  the  consequence  was,  the 
acquisition  of  an  agent  in  the  person  of  Dr.  Neiudi,  who,  from  his  re- 
ligious connexion  as  a  Cathohc,  and  his  literary  character  as  a  Pro- 
fessor, had  it  in  his  power  to  subserve,  with  good  effect,  the  desie-ns 
of  the  Society,  not  only  in  Malta,  but  also  generally,  both  in  the  Me- 
diterranean and  the  Levant. 

By  the  zealous  activity  of  this  excellent  man,  together  with  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Laing,  Secretary  to  the  Governor,  George  Yeoland,  Esq. 
and  some  other  friends  of  the  Institution,  (after  Mr.  Terrott's  depart- 
ure for  England,)  a  judicious  and  effective  circulation  of  the  Itahan 
Testaments  was  promoted  in  Malta,  Sicily,  and  the  islands  of  the  Ar- 
chipelago. 

In  1809,  when  the  first  distribution  was  made,  the  Testaments  were 
stated  to  have  been  generally  well  received,  and  in  some  places 
"  with  incredible  eagerness."  As  an  encouragement  to  the  Mem- 
bers of  the  Society,  "  to  continue  their  holy  and  divine  undertaking," 
it  was  reported,  on  the  same  respectable  authority,  that  the  Testa- 
ments had  "  done  remarkable  good"  in  the  island  of  Malta. 

In  the  further  development  of  their  effects  in  1810,  it  appeared, 
that  they  had  found  their  way  into  private  houses,  and  had  engaged 
the  serious  attention  of  the  Priests.     Many  fathers  of  ftmilies  as- 

38 


286 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  H. 


sured  the  Society's  correspondents,  that,  since  they  had  receired  the 
ItaUan  New  Testament,  "  they  had  not  ceased  to  read  it ;  and  to  re- 
late, with  the  greatest  satisfaction,  to  their  wives  and  children,  the 
truths  and  remarkable  facts  which  it  contains."  And  a  country  priest, 
who,  as  is  the  case  with  the  greatest  part  of  his  fraternity  in  the 
island,  was  but  imperfectly  acquainted  with  the  Latin  language,  and 
"who  loved  to  preach  to  the  people,"  affirmed,  with  amiable  simph- 
city,  that  he  found  "  much  greater  eloquence  in  his  sermons,  and 
much  more  attention  in  his  auditors,  upon  having  previously  read  a 
chapter  of  the  New  Testament,  than  when  he  had  studied  the  books 
of  the  holy  Fathers,  and  commentaries  which  he  possessed."  It 
adds  not  a  little  to  the  value  of  this  interesting  anecdote,  to  know 
that  this  country  priest  did  not  satisfy  himself  with  perusing  the  New 
Testament  for  the  improvement  of  his  own  character,  and  the  better 
discharge  of  his  sacred  functions,  but  that  he  applied  for  many  copies 
of  a  treasure  he  so  greatly  prized,  "  on  behalf  of  his  parishioners." 

Such  effects  as  these  on  "  masters  of  families,"  and  "  country 
priests,"  were  among  the  best  evidences  of  the  Society's  general 
usefulness  :  they  afforded  a  rational  ground  for  hoping  that  the  fer- 
mentation thus  happily  commenced  would  proceed,  till  the  whole 
mass  of  the  Maltese  population  should  become  leavened  ;  and  that 
ignorance  and  superstition  be  effectually  removed,  by  which  they 
have  been  so  long  oppressed  and  degraded. 

America  was  in  the  mean  time  advancing  with  rapid  strides  towards 
the  organization  of  Bible  Societies  through  her  principal  settlements. 
To  the  live  States  in  which  Institutions  of  this  description  had  been 
previously  formed,  were  now  added  those  of  South  Carolina,  Maine, 
and  Georgia,  whose  capitals  became  the  seats  of  as  many  Bible  So- 
cieties, taking  their  denominations  from  the  State  for  which  they  were 
respectively  established. 

The  addresses  of  these  several  Institutions  to  the  Parent  Society 
in  London,  were  all  conceived  in  the  same  spirit  of  Christian  unity 
and  brotherly  love,  by  which  those  of  their  predecessors  in  the  same 
holy  career  had  been  distinguished.  To  the  British  and  Foreign  Bi- 
ble Society  they  uniformly  ascribed  their  origin  :  they  approached  it 
"  with  feelings  of  respect  and  regard  almost  fihal ;"  and  professed  to 
view  it  "  in  the  light  of  a  parent,  whose  example  they  considered  it 
as  their  highest  honour  to  follow. "  It  is  but  justice  to  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society  to  add,  that  these  testimonies  of  affection  and 
respect  were  duly  appreciated,  and  met  with  correspondent  returns. 
Of  this  assertion  it  may  be  a  sufficient  proof  to  state,  that  a  donation 


CHAP.  Ill  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  237 

of  100/.  was  promptly  transmitted  to  each  of  the  Societies  above 
enumerated,  together  with  a  letter  of  congratulation  upon  their  es- 
tablishment and  their  prospects. 

It  is  due  to  the  Georgia  Bible  Society  to  observe,  that  the  pecu- 
niary grant  was  in  their  case  made  against  the  express  declaration  of 
their  unwilUngness  to  subtract  from  the  funds  of  the  Parent  Institu- 
tion. "  Munificent"  (they  say)  "  as  is  your  Establishment,  you  have 
other  objects  sufficient  to  employ  all  your  income  ;  and  we  have  too 
often  experienced  the  liberality  of  the  people  of  this  State,  to  doubt, 
for  a  moment,  that  our  funds  will  be  equal  to  our  expenditure." 

The  conductors  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  without 
questioning  the  sincerity  of  this  declaration,  or  doubting  either  the 
judgment  or  the  liberality  of  the  parties  to  whom  it  referred,  were 
still  of  opinion,  that  the  offering  which  they  were  accustomed  to  make 
to  other  Trans-Atlantic  Bible  Societies  in  their  infancy,  should  not  be 
withheld  from  the  Georgia  Bible  Society,  for  any  considerations  upon 
which  that  Institution  had  professed  to  decline  it.  Experience  had 
taught  the  conductors  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  that 
the  wants  of  such  an  Institution  are,  for  the  most  part,  very  imper- 
fectly estimated,  in  the  dawn  of  its  establishment;  and  they  seemed 
to  discover,  in  the  following  statement,  a  prospect  of  demand  upon 
the  Georgia  Bible  Society,  which  confirmed  the  propriety  of  a  pecu- 
niary donation. 

■"  There  are  two  circumstances  which  particularly  call  for  such  an 
Institution  in  Georgia.  By  the  exertions  of  several  denominations  of 
Christians,  an  attention  to  religion  has  been  excited  in  various  parts 
of  the  State,  which  a  few  years  since,  were  noted  only  for  their  pro- 
fligacy and  immorality  ;  and  Bibles  are  there  eagerly  sought  for, 
where  lately  they  were  despised.  We  wish  also  to  extend  the  con- 
solations  of  the  Gospel  to  the  Blacks  among  us.  The  attention  that 
has  been  paid  to  their  religious  instruction  has  been  richly  rewarded. 
In  every  part  of  the  State  there  are  many  of  them  who  profess  the 
religion  of  Jesus,  and  live  in  conformity  with  its  precepts.  To  the 
ditlerent  churches  in  this  city  alone  there  belong  no  less  than  sixteen 
hundred  and  ninety-four  communicants,  who  are  people  of  colour. 
Many  of  these,  it  is  true,  reside  on  the  adjoining  plantations,  but  at- 
tend as  often  as  possible  on  the  Sabbath,  and  generally  whenever  the 
Lord's  Supper  is  administered.  To  these  no  present  could  be  more 
acceptable  than  the  Gospel  of  Jesus." 

There  is  something  particularly  gratifying  to  the  Christian  mind  in 
the  contemplation  of  such  transactions  between  nations,  separated 
from  each  other  by  intervening  seas,  and  rendered  but  too  frequently 


266 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  II. 


angry  competitors  by  questions  of  relative  policy  and  merely  secular 
interest.  On  the  only  question  which  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society  involves,  that  of  promoting  in  concert  the  universal  circulation 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  all  differences  of  opinion  as  to  other  matters 
were  merged  in  general  unanimity.  The  bands  of  concord  were 
equally  felt  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic  :  and  Great  Britain  and  Ame- 
rica were  seen  associated,  through  the  mediating  offices  of  the  Bri- 
tish and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  in  a  system  of  co-operative  exer- 
tions for  promoting  the  interests  of  that  kingdom  which  is  not  of  this 
world. 

The  tendency  which  such  a  communication  had  to  draw  forth  the 
kindest  affections  of  the  nations  so  associated  towards  each  other,  has 
been  often  adverted  to  ;  and  numerous  occasions  will  yet  be  afforded 
for  bringing  it  again  into  view.  In  the  demonstration  of  this  effect,  no 
people  to  whom  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  has  extended 
its  services,  have  exceeded  the  inhabitants  of  the  United  States  of 
America :  and  the  following  extracts  from  the  address  of  the  Georgia 
Bible  Society,  before  quoted,  will  serve  to  show  how  strongly  the  feel- 
ing of  gratitude  and  attachment  prevailed  in  that  country  at  the  pe- 
riod which  we  are  now  describing. 

"  While  the  good  that  has  directly  flowed  from  your  excellent  In- 
stitution is  immense,  it  has  also  been  the  means  of  exciting  Christians 
in  all  parts  of  the  world  to  form  similar  Societies,  which  regard  it  as 
their  parent.  From  this  distant  land,  the  blessings  of  thousands  who 
were  ready  to  perish,  but  who  were  enlightened  by  the  Sacred  Scrip- 
tures, distributed  according  to  the  plan  first  proposed  by  you,  shall 
descend  upon  your  heads ;  and  long  after  we  are  dead,  the  names  of 
the  founders  and  promoters  of  your  benevolent  Society  shall  be  re- 
peated with  affectionate  gratitude  by  our  descendants." 

"  May  the  Lord  continue  to  bless  your  exertions  !  Many  prayers 
here  rise  for  the  prosperity  of  your  Society.  Many  hearts  are  inte- 
rested in  its  welfare.  May  it,  and  the  Institutions  to  which  it  hag 
given  birth,  prove  an  eminent  mean  of  introducing  that  last  and  glo- 
rious reign  of  the  Prince  of  Peace,  to  which  the  hopes,  the  expecta- 
tions, and  the  desires  of  the  pious,  have  so  long  looked  forward  !" 

While  foreign  countries  were  seconding  in  this  manner  the  designs 
of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  extending  its  influence 
and  operations,  through  similar  Institutions  established  among  them- 
selves, and  supported  in  the  main  by  their  own  exertions  and  resources, 
the  Committee  oi"  the  Parent  Society  in  London  were  pursuing,  with 
no  less  zeal  and  diligence,  the  measures  which  related  to  the  general 
administration  of  its  concerns. 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  Ogg 

Intent  on  supplying  those  wants  which  their  investigation  had 
brought  to  hght,  and  on  meeting  the  apphcations  which  they  had  taken 
so  much  pains  to  encourage,  they  both  printed  and  distributed  copies 
of  the  Scriptures  in  the  languages  most  generally  required,  on  a  scale 
adapted  to  the  progressively  increasing  demand. 

The  success  which  had  attended  the  Hrst  edition  of  the  Italian  Tes- 
tament, was  considered  as  justifying  the  adoption  of  stereotype  ;  and 
plates  were  accordingly  cast,  in  order  that  copies  might  be  furnished, 
in  sufficient  numbers,  and  without  any  delay,  as  new  emergencies 
might  appear  to  require  them.  The  completion  of  the  New  Tes- 
tament in  the  Irish  and  the  Manks  languages,  at  the  commencement 
of  the  year  1811,  enabled  the  Society  to  enter  upon  the  experiment 
proposed  to  be  made  through  the  former,  and  to  supply  the  existing 
and  well  ascertained  want  of  the  latter. 

It  was  matter  of  satisfaction  to  the  Committee,  to  learn,  from  so 
eminent  an  Irish  scholar  as  the  Rev.  Dr.  Neilson  of  Dundalk,  that,  so 
far  as  he  had  examined  the  Testament  in  that  language,  he  had  found 
it  very  accurate,  and  that  he  had  no  doubt  of  its  being  generally  in- 
telligible. Of  its  reception  and  circulation,  sufficient  evidence  will 
appear  in  its  proper  place. 

The  Bishop  of  Sodor  and  Man,  upon  receiving  intelligence  that 
the  impression  of  the  Manks  Testament  w-as  ready  for  delivery,  cir- 
culated a  notification  to  that  effect,  among  the  clergy  of  his  diocese, 
and  accompanied  it  with  a  request  that  subscriptions  might  be  made 
according  to  the  number  of  copies  required.  The  result  of  this  step 
was  an  immediate  application  from  the  Bishop,  through  his  Episcopal 
Registrar,  the  Rev.  T.  Stephens,  for  1,326  Testaments,  which  were 
as  promptly  supphed,  at  reduced  prices,  with  a  view  to  the  accom- 
modation of  the  poor. 

Several  exertions  of  a  miscellaneous  nature  might  be  specified,  as 
carrying  into  effect  the  benevolent  designs  of  the  Society,  through  new 
and  hitherto  neglected  channels.  Among  others  may  be  mentioned 
the  attention  so  kindly  and  liberally  paid  to  his  Majesty's  revenue 
cutters,  and  to  other  small  craft,  which  hjd  generally  been  overlook  • 
ed,  as  lying  without  the  limits  of  religious  or  moral  consideration. 
To  Captains  William  Blake  and  John  Hopkins,  the  Society  was  in- 
debted for  the  first  suggestion  of  supplying  vessels  of  this  description 
with  copies  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.*     These  diligent  officers,  sta-. 

*  Tliis  object  is  likely  now  to  be  uiore  completely  ancl  beneficially  accoinplishei 
through  the  plan  of  "  Marine  Bible  Associations,"  by  means  of  which  -'sailors 
may  procure  the  Holy  Scriptures  en  the  easiest  terms,  not  only  tor  themselves  ann 
lamilies,  but  even  for  disposal  iu  forei;jii  countries." 


290 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  II. 


tioned  on  the  service  at  Milford  Haven,  presented  a  petition  on  be- 
half of  the  crevps  of  twenty  revenue  cutters,  under  their  inspection, 
amounting  to  618  men.  The  prayer  of  this  petition  was  very  cheer- 
fully granted  ;  and  from  that  time,  attention  was  regularly  paid  to  the 
wants  of  persons  thus  occupied  in  the  principal  rivers,  and  on  differ- 
ent stations  along  the  coast.^ 

About  the  same  period,  the  Committee  took  into  their  considera- 
tion the  state  of  the  British  prisoners  in  France  ;  and  100  Bibles  and 
500  Testaments  were,  by  favour  of  the  Transport  Board,  accordingly 
despatched  to  France,  in  August  1811,  for  the  use  of  these  unfortu- 
nate captives.  This  act  of  humanity  was  duly  respected  by  the  French 
Government ;  and  a  letter,  addressed  by  direction  of  the  Minister  of 
Marine,  in  the  month  of  November  ensuing,  reported,  that  the  Bibles 
and  Testaments  designed  for  the  British  prisoners  of  war  in  France, 
had  been  safely  received,  and  should  be  properly  distributed  among 
them.  The  measures  of  which  this  was  the  commencement,  con- 
tinued to  engage  the  attention  of  the  Society  during  the  war  ;  and  sup- 
plies of  the  Sacred  Scriptures  were  afterwards  sent,  on  a  large  scale, 
through  a  similar  indulgence  on  the  part  of  the  Transport  Board,  to 
the  eleven  depots  of  British  prisoners  in  France. 

It  would  be  an  act  of  injustice  to  neglect  the  opportunity  which  the 
mention  of  these  circumstances  affords,  of  bearing  testimony  to  the 
readiness  with  which  not  only  the  Transport  Board,  but  every  de- 
partment of  the  Government  Service,  has  manifested  to  faciUtate  the 
operations  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 

A  similar  tribute  is  due  to  the  East  India  Company,  for  various  acts 
of  accommodation  and  kindness.  In  the  spring  of  the  year  1811,  they 
granted  the  Society  permission  to  ship  a  press,  Tamul  types,  and  pa- 
per, designed  as  a  present  for  the  Missionaries  at  Tanjore,*  free  of 
freight;  and  they  have  acted  towards  the  Society,  on  many  occasions, 
with  a  spirit  of  liberality  and  accommodation,  which  deserves  to  be 
gratefully  and  honourably  recorded. 

Nor  did  the  conductors  of  the  Society  want  either  encouragement  or 
support,  while  prosecuting,  jj^ith  so  much  cost  and  exertion,  this  la- 
bour of  love.  The  zeal  of  the  British  public  kept  pace  with  the  pro- 
gress of  the  notoriety  which  was  given  to  the  plan  and  proceedings  of 
the  Institution ;  and  the  effects  of  that  zeal  were  satisfactorily  dis- 
played in  the  continued  hberality  of  former  contributors,  and  in  the 
addition  of  many  new  and  promising  AuxiUary  Establishments.  These 
!atter  appeared  under  the  respective  designations  of"  the  Swansea," 

*  In  coutiPsion  with  the  Society  for  Promotion  Christian  Knowledge. 


GHAP.  11.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  291 

"  the  Uttoxeter,"  "  the  Bishop  Wearmouth,"  "  the  Neath,"  "  the 
West  Lothian,"  "  the  Rotherham,"  "  the  Uxbridge,"  "  the  Corn- 
wall," "  the  Weymouth,"  "  the  Liverpool,"  "  the  Huddersfield,"  and 
"  the  Montrose  Auxiliary  Bible  Societies ;"  besides  four  respectable 
branches  to  that  of  Manchester,  in  the  towns  of  Bacup,  Knutsford, 
Bury,  and  Warrington. 

Of  these  new  Institutions  many  particulars  might  be  stated,  if  the 
limits  of  this  work  would  permit,  not  uninteresting  to  the  reader,  and 
reflecting  no  httle  credit  on  the  parties  to  whom  their  production  may 
be  instrumentally  ascribed.  Debarred  this  satisfaction,  the  author 
must  content  himself  with  expressing,  in  general  terms,  how  much 
the  cause  was  indebted  to  many  individuals,  whose  services  will  not 
be  known  till  they  are  recompensed  in  the  great  day  of  final  and  uni- 
versal retribution.  The  spirited  exertions  made  by  the  Cornwall  So- 
ciety cannot,  indeed,  with  propriety,  be  passed  over.  This  Society, 
of  which  an  amiable  young  Nobleman,  Viscount  Falmouth,  very 
readily  accepted  the  Presidency,  remitted,  as  its  first  year's  contribu- 
tion, the  sum  of  915/.  Such  a  return  from  a  part  of  the  country  in 
which  the  mass  of  the  population  is  composed  of  the  laborious  and  de- 
pendent classes,  argues  a  degree  of  vigour  and  liberality,  which  claims 
for  the  Cornwall  Bible  Society  no  ordinary  distinction. 

It  may  be  worthy  of  observation,  that  "  the  Swansea  Auxiliary 
Bible  Society"  was  the  first  Establishment  of  that  description,  which 
was  formed  in  Wales ;  and  "  the  Uybridge,"  in  the  county  of  Mid- 
dlesex. 

The  formation  of  the  "  Liverpool  Auxiliary  Bible  Society"  was 
not  accomplished  without  efforts,  in  which  judgment  and  perseverance 
were  put  to  no  ordinary  exercise.  When  the  fact  is  stated,  that  the 
author  was  engaged  in  an  occasional  correspondence  of  nearly  two 
years,  with  a  view  to  this  event,  and  that,  in  the  course  of  that  cor- 
respondence, he  addressed  not  only  the  leading  Clergy,  but  also  every 
Member  of  the  Council,  individually,  the  reader  will  have  little  diffi- 
culty in  conceiving,  what  must  have  been  the  duties  of  those  who  had 
to  organize  the  local  measures,  and  to  bring  about  the  establishment 
of  the  Society.  It  may  not  be  irrelevant  to  observe,  that  those  mea- 
sures were  concerted  with  great  discretion  ;  and  with  a  proper  regard 
to  the  rank  of  Liverpool,  and  the  character  of  the  Institution  with 
which  it  was  about  to  be  connected.  This  remark  apphes  to  the 
proceedings  in  general ;  and  it  may  be  illustrated  by  observing,  that 
the  Mayor  and  the  two  Rectors  subscribed  the  address,  requesting 
the  attendance  of  the  Secretaries  of  the  Parent  Institution,  and  that 


292 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  IPART  11. 


such  marks  of  respect  were  shown  them,  as  nothing  could  have 
prompted  but  a  strong  attachment  to  the  cause  in  which  their  ser- 
vices were  required. 

The  estabhshment  of  a  Bible  Society  at  Liverpool  was,  under  all 
the  circumstances,  an  event  of  considerable  importance.  Liverpool 
had  been  dishonoured  in  the  eyes  of  the  British  nation,  and  of  the 
world,  for  the  share  it  had  taken  in  the  slave-trade,  and  for  the  per- 
tinacious adherence  of  many  of  its  inhabitants  to  the  principles  of 
that  odious  traffic,  when  persons  the  most  interested  in  its  continuance 
had  been  driven,  either  by  conviction  or  by  shame,  to  renounce  it. 
Apart,  therefore,  from  every  consideration  of  the  rank,  wealth,  and 
commercial  influence  of  this  town  and  port,  the  record  of  its  past  oc- 
cupation gave  to  the  establishment  of  a  Bible  Society,  under  the 
allspices  of  the  Mayor,  Clergy,  and  principal  inhabitants  of  the  place, 
no  common  interest  and  effect.  It  ought  to  be  stated,  as  reflecting 
great  credit  on  the  active  benevolence  of  Liverpool,  that,  though  the 
Society  in  that  place  was  formed  only  on  the  25th  of  March,  1811, 
and  under  circumstances  of  great  commercial  distress,  it  was  enabled 
to  present  to  the  Parent  Society,  at  its  seventh  anniversary,  on  the 
1st  of  May,  the  very  liberal  contribution  of  1,800/. 

It  is  deserving  attention,  also,  that  the  Auxiliary  Societies  previously 
in  existence  gave,  as  has  been  intimated,  substantial  proofs,  by  their 
contributions  and  their  Reports,  of  vigorous  and  progressive  exertions 
in  favour  of  the  general  cause.  An  inspection  of  the  returns  as  ex- 
hibited in  the  Annual  Reports  of  the  Parent  Society,  and  of  the  Re- 
ports as  issued  by  the  Auxiliary  Societies  themselves,  will  amply 
justify  this  assertion.  It  would,  however,  be  injustice  to  the  Man- 
chester and  the  Bristol  Societies,  to  omit  recording  their  eminent  ser- 
vices, in  promoting  the  formation  of  other  Auxiliary  Societies.  The 
measures  which  terminated  so  successfully  at  Liverpool  were  consi- 
derably advanced  by  the  Manchester  Society  ;  which,  with  a  zeal  truly 
meritorious,  sent  a  deputation  from  its  own  body  to  the  town  of  Liver- 
pool, in  order  to  endeavour  to  excite  the  co-operation  of  the  clergy 
and  civil  authorities  of  that  place,  in  the  great  and  glorious  cause  of 
divine  truth. 

To  the  Bristol  Society  the  cause  is  indebted,  in  a  great  degree,  for 
the  production  of  the  Cornwall,  and  altogether,  for  that  of  the  Swansea 
Society.  On  the  eff'ect  of  their  exertions,  as  they  respect  Swansea, 
the  Committee  of  the  Bristol  Society  express  their  hope,  that  it  may 
prove  "  but  the  dawning  of  a  light,  which  will  gradually  difi'use  its 
ravs  over  the  whole  Principality  :"  and  it  is  a  pleasing  consideration 


CHA?.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


203 


to  reflect,  that  the  object  of  that  hope,  conceived  under  circumstances 
of  very  faint  encouragement,  has  been  since,  through  the  blessing  of 
God,  substantially  realized. 

Before  dismissing  the  Auxiliary  Societies,  it  will  be  proper  to  re- 
mark, that,  in  addition  to  the  advantage  derived  from  their  contribu 
tions,  they  began  already  to  manifest  their  practical  utility,  by  active 
co-operation  with  the  Parent  Society  in  the  home  distribution  of  the 
Sacred  Scriptures.  It  isscarcely  necessary  to  say,  how  much  better 
qualified  they  were,  both  to  ascertain  the  wants  of  the  poor,  and  to 
apportion  the  degree  of  supply  in  their  several  districts,  than  those 
would  have  been,  who  must  depend  for  their  information  in  these 
matters  upon  merely  written  and  transmitted  statements.  In  thia 
view,  as  well  as  in  others  which  have  been  described,  the  Auxiliary 
Societies  showed  themselves  competent  to  render  essential  service  to 
the  object  of  the  Parent  Institution  :  audit  appeared  very  early  after 
their  formation,  that  they  were  not  lightly  attentive  to  this  part  of 
their  duty.  The  Bristol  Society  was  able  to  report,  at  the  expiration 
of  its  first  year,  a  local  distribution  of  Bibles  and  Testaments  to  the 
amount  of  4,210  ;  and  the  Manchester  and  Salford  Society,  of  7,034. 
On  this  subject,  the  Committee  of  the  latter  Society  make  the  fol- 
lowing just  and  encouraging  remarks  :  "  In  announcing  this  fact,  for 
the  information  of  the  subscribers,  your  Committee  hail  it  with  wel- 
come feelings,  as  an  evidence  of  the  early  prosperity  of  the  Society, 
and  as  an  auspicious  intimation  of  the  final  improvement  Avhich  may 
justly  be  expected  in  the  morals  of  this  great  and  populous  town  ; — 
when  the  vast  extent  of  religious  knowledge  which  promises  to  be 
thus  circulated,  shall  have  become  ripened,  under  the  divine  intluence, 
into  a  source  of  efficacious  Christian  virtue." 

The  close  of  the  Report  from  which  this  extract  is  made,  breathes 
so  generous  a  spirit  of  philanthropy,  and  evinces  so  lively  an  interest 
in  the  welfare  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  that  it  may 
properly  terminate  this  account. 

"  It  now  only  remains  for  your  Committee,  having  come  to  the  con- 
clusion of  their  labours,  to  renew  their  hearty  congratulations,  to 
every  patron  of  good  morals,  in  the  towns  of  Manchester  and  Sal- 
ford, — to  the  advocates  of  brotherly  love  and  human  happiness, — and 
to  the  friends  of  Christianity  generally,  on  the  prosperous  advance- 
ment and  advantageous  influence  already  so  conspicuous  in  the  in- 
fancy of  your  Society,  and  which  promise  to  make  it  a  distinguished 
instrument  in  extending  the  interest  of  religion  and  virtue." 

The  liberal  distribution  made  by  these  and  similar  Societies,  whose 
operations  had  begun  to  take  effect,  will  help  to  account  for  the  in- 

S9 


29,1.  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  \i. 

creased  demand  upon  the  Society's  Depository,  in  its  seventh  year ;  the 
amount  of  Bibles  and  Testaments  issued  being  nearly  100,000  copies. 

While  the  country  at  large  was  thus  evincing  an  attachment  to  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  so  many  places  and  persons  of 
consideration  were  giving  it  their  decided  support,  no  little  industry 
^as  employed  by  those  who  viewed  it  Avith  jealousy  and  alarm,  to 
prejudice  the  public  against  it. 

In  the  summer  of  1810,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wordsworth  made  his  second 
appearance  as  an  opponent  of  the  Society,  in  "  A  Letter,"  of  a 
hundred  and  fifty-seven  pages,  addressed  "  to  Lord  Teignmouth, 
President  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  in  vindication  of 
'  Reasons  for  not  becoming  a  Subscriber  to  that  Institution.'  "  To 
this  elaborate  and  extended  diatribe,  written  with  some  warmth 
of  temper,*  and  calculated,  by  the  station  of  its  author,  the  massive- 
ness  of  its  bulk,  and  the  pomp  and  circumstance  of  its  subscription, — 
implying  that  it  was  composed  within  the  waUs  of  "  Lambeth  Pa- 
lace,"! and  finished  on  "  St.  Peter's  day," — to  produce  no  inconsider- 
able impression. 

To  this  formidable  Letter  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dealtry  rephed,  in  a  rol'ume 
replete  with  sound  information,  sohd  argument^  and  acute  and  elo- 
quent retort. 

"  If"  (says  Mr.  Dealtry,  addressing  Dr.  Wordsworth)  "  from  the. 
157  pages  of  your  pamphlet,  I  were  to  subtract  the  observations  which 
are  merely  personal, — the  discussions  which  are  utterly  irrelevant, — 
the  multiplicity  of  bodings,  which  it  is  not  difficult  to  make  on  all  sub- 
jects,— the  mistakes  in  fact,  and  the  fallacies  m  reasoning, — the  con- 

*  Candou/  disposes  us  to  ascribe  to  this  cause  the  unfairness  of  Dr.  Words 
worth,  in  condemning  both  the  author  and  Lord  Teignmouth  for  not  belonging:  to 
the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  a  Society  which,  according  to 
Dr.  Wordsworth  and  his  associates,  was  chiefly  merilorious  for  keeping  people  in 
the  dark  about  its  very  existence ;  and  which  condemnation  might,  at  the  time 
when  Dr.  Wordsworth  wrote,  have  been  extended  with  equal,  perhaps  more  jus- 
tice, to  that  numerous  assemblage,  both  of  clergy  and  laity,  which  has,  since  the 
Society  has  changed  its  policy,  been  added  to  the  list  of  its  members. 

To  the  same  cause  must  be  imputed  such  unguarded  assertions  as  the  following 
"^Your  new  sect,  made  up  of  all  denominations,  it  is  plain,  when  left  to  its  free 
course,  cannot  tolerate,  but  must  seek  to  proscribe  and  exterminate  the  Church  of 
England.'"     p.  143> 

t  Lambeth  Palace"  is  subscribed  three  times;  viz.  at  the  end  of  the  Advertise- 
ment, of  the  Letter,  and  of  the  Postscript ;  and  the  subscription  to  the  Letter  run* 
thus: 

"Lambeth  Palace, 
^ St.  Peter's  Day,  18lO'\"  ' 


THAP.  IJ  ]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  295 

elusions  without  proof,  and  the  conjectures  without  probability, — I 
cannot  but  remark,  that  the  argument  would  be  shortened,  and  its 
eflect  diminished,  in  a  degree  hardly  calculable."*  This  description 
of  Dr.  Wordsworth's  Letter,  a  description  by  no  means  exaggerated, 
will  account  for  the  length  into  which  Mr.  Dealtry  felt  himself  com- 
pelled to  go  in  his  "  Vindication  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society."  The  discussion  having  been,  for  the  most  part,  controver- 
sial, both  in  matter  and  in  tone,  it  would  answer  no  good  purpose  to 
exhibit  it,  either  in  detail  or  analysis.  Of  Mr.  Dealtry's  "  Vindica- 
tion," however,  it  must  be  said,  that  it  was  a  seasonable  and  masterly 
publication  :  it  took  in  the  whole  scope  of  the  question,  and  sifted  to 
the  bottom  all  the  objections  relevant  an-d  irrelevant  which  Dr. 
Wordsworth  and  others  had  advanced  ;  and  while  it  raised  the  cha- 
racter of  the  writer,  it  contributed  very  greatl}'  to  establish  the  grow- 
ing reputation  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 

Of  Dr.  Wordsworth  it  ought  also,  in  justice,  to  be  said,  that, 
though  the  apprehensions  he  entertained  of  the  Society's  injurious 
tendency,  led  him  to  construct  hypotheses,  insinuate  surmises,  and 
utter  predictions,  for  which  no  reasonable  ground  could  be  assigned, 
his  book  discovers,  in  some  of  its  pages,  the  traces  of  that  candour, 
moderation,  and  piety,  by  which  he  is  known  to  be  characterized. 
The  following  sentiments  will  amply  justif)'  this  representation. 

"  After  all,  let  it  not  be  thought,  my  Lord,  that  1  am  ill-disposed  to 
the  cultivation  of  a  tolerant  spirit,  and  of  charitable  opinions  and 
judgments,  and  friendly  offices  between  Churchmen  and  Dissenters. 
1  am  persuaded,  that  here  also  you  and  I  agree  in  regard  to  the  end; 
and  that  we  difl'cr  as  to  the  lawfulness,  wisdom,  tendency,  and  prac- 
licability,  of  the  means  and  expedients  for  the  accomplishment  of  the 
object  desired.  I  entreat  your  Lordship  to  believe,  that  few  sub- 
jects of  meditation  give  me  more  sincere  delight  and  consolation, 
than  to  reflect  how  much,  in  spite  of  all  our  unhappy  differences  in 
religious  concerns,  there  yet  remains  to  unite  us  with  them,  and  to 
bring  us  back  again  to  the  exercise  and  participation  of  kind  thoughts, 
charitable  judgments,  and  the  intercommunion  and  co-operation  in 
offices  of  friendship  and  brotherhood  towards  one  another,  and  to  the 
community  of  mankind  at  large,  created  by  one  common  Parent,  and 
made  by  him  of  one  blood. t 

As  Mr.  Dealtry's  "  Vindication"  brouglit  the  controversy,  so  far 
i?  Dr.  Wordsworth  was  concerned  in  it,  to  a  close,  the  author  will 


•  Vindication,  &c.  p.  2. 
Letter  to  Lord  Tcigiimouth,  &c.  p.  103 


290  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  H. 

take  his  leave  of  that  excellent  scholar,  diligent  pastor,  and  amiable 
Christian,  by  expressing  his  sincere  regret  that  such  a  man  should 
have  thought  it  his  duty  to  oppose  the  Society ;  and  by  placing  on 
record  the  elegant  and  affectionate  eulogium,  which  his  character 
elicited  from  his  antagonist  and  friend,  Mr.  Dealtry,  more  than  a 
twelvemonth  after  the  controversy  had  subsided. 

"  Contempt  can  never  be  associated  in  my  mind  with  the  name  of 
Dr.  Wordsworth.  An  acquaintance  and  friendship  of  many  years  stand- 
ing, long  since  inspired  me  with  a  sincere  respect  and  regard  for  my 
distinguished  opponent.  And  notwithstanding  our  difference  of  opinion 
upon  this  great  question,  a  question  on  which  we  still  widely  differ, 
I  believe  I  can  assure  Dr.  Marsh,  that  we  never  were  upon  terms  of 
greater  kindness  than  at  present.  Let  me  do  this  justice  to  the  Dean 
of  Bocking.  He  is  a  man  of  learning,  and  piety,  and  talent :  '  he  is  a 
scholar,  I  knoiv  him  to  be  such  ;  and  a  ripe  and  good  one.'  Of  his 
amiable  character,  and  active  benevolence,  no  person  can  think  more 
highly  than  I  do.  Whether  I  contemplate  him  in  the  duties  of  his 
profession,  in  the  circle  of  his  friends,  or  in  the  bosom  of  his  family, 
I  am  sure  to  find  him  in  the  exercise  of  those  thousand  charities, 
which  adorn  the  Christian  character,  which  add  to  the  sum  of  pubUc 
happiness,  and  bless  the  privacy  of  domestic  life.  Erroneous  as  his 
opinions  on  the  subject  before  us  do  certainly  appear  to  me,  I  am  yet 
well  satisfied  that  he  delivered  the  genuine  sentiments  of  his  own 
honest  mind,  that  he  acted  upon  deliberate  conviction,  and  that  he  is 
utterly  incapable  of  being  influenced  by  any  but  the  best  of  mo- 
tives."* 

In  whatever  degree  the  protraction  of  this  controversy  might  occa- 
sion pain  and  inconvenience  to  individuals,  to  the  Society  it  proved  of 
eminent  advantage,  by  making,  not  only  its  existence,  but  also  its 
principles  and  operations,  more  extensively  known ;  and  by  ascer- 
taining the  soundness  of  the  one,  and  the  correctness  of  the  other, 
before  the  impartial  tribunal  of  the  public. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  conductors  of  the  Society  had  the  satisfaction 
to  witness  a  progressive  accession  to  the  number  of  its  friends  and 
supporters  ;  and  to  be  cheered  in  their  labours  by  an  influx  of  testi- 
monies to  its  acceptability  and  usefulness  from  different  parts  of  the 
world. 

They  had  the  pleasure  to  hear,  that  in  some  places  the  Society's 
bounty  appeared  in  a  crisis  of  particular  extremity,  and  was  greeted 
with  the  warmest  expressions  of  gratitude  and  joy. 

*  Examination  of  Dr.  Marsh's  Inquiry,  p.  104 


CHAP.  Ill  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  297 

"  It  is  a  fact,"  (says  a  correspondent  from  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope,)  "  that  for  some  time  past  not  a  single  Dutch  Bible  could  be 
got  for  money ;  and,  what  is  rather  singular,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kicherer 
came  from  Graaff  Reinet,  (nearly  thirty  days  journey  from  Cape 
Town,)  expressly  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  Bibles  and  religious 
books ;  and  was  just  about  returning  into  the  interior,  full  of  dis- 
appointment, when  the  very  seasonable  supply  from  the  Society 
arrived." 

The  affectionate  gratitude  with  which  the  Scriptures  were  received 
by  the  objects  for  whom  they  were  designed,  ministered  also  very 
highly  to  the  encouragement  of  those,  who,  through  evil  report  and 
good  report,  were  prosecuting  this  benevolent  work. 

"  About  a  fortnight  since,"  (says  a  correspondent  at  Plymouth 
Dock,)  "  I  received  200  Testaments  and  50  Bibles,  for  the  poor  sol- 
diers and  sailors,  and  their  families,  in  this  place,  from  the  Britisli 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  It  was  soon  known  ;  and,  in  a  few  days, 
a  great  number  of  soldiers  and  sailors  came  to  obtain  a  Bible  or  Tes- 
tament. Many  poor  soldiers'  and  sailors'  wives  and  widows  came  ; 
and,  with  tears  falling  down  from  their  eyes,  begged  that  I  would  give 
them  a  Bible.  The  scene  was  truly  affecting.  One  poor  sailor's 
widow,  who  was  left  with  four  children,  begged  very  earnestly  for  a 
Bible.  She  appeared,  from  her  language,  to  be  an  Irish  woman. 
She  said,  she  very  much  wished  to  teach  her  children  to  read  the 
Sacred  Scriptures,  but  was  never  able  to  purchase  a  Bible.  Whfn 
I  gave  her  one,  she  cried  aloud,  and  I  really  thought  she  would  have 
fainted:  after  some  time,  she  blessed  God,  who  had  put  it  in  tiie 
heart  of  the  gentleman  to  give  her  a  Bible." 

"  I  was  amply  rewarded  for  my  labour,"  (says  a  distributor  of  the 
Society's  EngUsh  Bibles  and  Testaments  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,) 
"  in  seeing  the  cheerful  countenances  of  many  poor  soldiers,  and 
hearing  them  speak  of  the  kindness  of  God,  and  his  care  for  the 
poorest  of  his  people.  Yet,  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  tell  you  in 
words,  what  they  expressed  by  their  countenances :  tears  of  joy 
flowed  down  their  cheeks ;  they  clasped  their  hands  together,  and 
lifted  up  their  eyes  to  heaven." 

"  When  our  Esquimaux"  (says  the  Missionary  Kohlmeister,  who 
carried  out  the  printed  copies  of  the  Gospel  of  St.  John  to  Labra- 
dor) "  were  first  informed  of  it,"  (viz.  what  had  been  done  for  them,) 
"  they  were  most  deeply  affected,  and  exclaimed,  with  tears  :  '  Jesus 
is  w^orthy  of  thanks,  and  our  friends  are  worthy  of  thanks,  who  love 
us  so  much,  though  they  have  never  seen  us ;  and  have  printed  for 


298  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  II. 

as  the  comfortable  words  of  God,  that  we  might  read  them  in  our 
own  language,  to  our  joy  and  edification.'  " 

In  like  manner,  the  negroes  in  the  West  Indies,  under  the  care  of 
the  pious  Moravian  ministers, — of  whom  it  was  testified,  that  some 
stole  time  from  their  rest,  in  order  to  learn  to  read  the  Bible  ;  and 
others,  to  exercise  themselves  in  reading  it, — united  in  testifying  their 
gratitude  for  the  gift  of  that  "  best  of  all  books  ;"  adding,  "  that 
they  did  not  in  the  least  deserve  such  humane  attention  from  such 
good  men  in  England,  living  at  so  great  a  distance  from  them ;  but 
that  they  would  not  cease  to  pray  the  Lord  to  bless  them,  and  be  their 
eternal  reward." 

AVith  such  evidence  of  the  progress  of  the  Society,  and  so  many 
testimonies  of  its  utihty,  from  rich  and  poor,  bond  and  free,  natives 
and  aliens,  the  Committee  appeared  before  the  great  body  of  its  Mem- 
bers, assembled  this  year,  for  the  first  time,  in  the  spacious  and  com- 
modious hall,  at  Free-Mason's  Tavern,  to  celebrate  the  Seventh  An- 
niversary of  the  Institution. 

Four  Prelates  honoured  the  Meeting  with  their  attendance,  two  of 
whom,  the  Bishops  of  Norwich  and  of  Clonfert,  took  their  seats  as 
visiters,  and  afterwards  became  Members,  and  the  former  of  them  a 
Vice-President,  and  active  promoter  of  the  Society. 

The  Report,  as  prepared  and  delivered  by  the  President,  was  re- 
plete with  interesting  matter  ;  and  the  reflections  with  which  it  con- 
cluded, were  particularly  apposite  and  impi^essive. 

"  It  is  now,"  (said  the  President,)  "  about  two  hundred  and  seventy 
years  since  the  light  of  revelation  shone  with  full  lustre  on  this 
country  ;  for  it  was  then  that  its  inhabitants  first  obtained  the  invalu- 
able privilege  of  perusing  the  Bible  in  their  own  language.  The 
moral  and  religious  effects  which  have  flowed  from  the  use  of  this 
privilege  prove,  what  is  in  itself  most  evident,  the  influence  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures  in  promoting  the  best  interests  of  individuals  and  so- 
ciety ;  and  hence  afford  the  most  solid  ground  of  encouragement  to 
the  circulation  of  them  in  the  greatest  practicable  extent.  It  must 
wot,  however,  be  unnoticed,  that  the  encouragement  thus  held  out, 
points  to  the  performance  of  a  duty,  (for  surely  it  is  a  duty,)  of  pri- 
mary obligation  in  those  who  have  free  access  to  the  waters  of  life, 
to  open  channels  for  conveying  their  streams  to  the  parched  and  de- 
solate portions  of  the  earth  which  they  have  not  yet  pervaded  ;  and 
to  remove  those  obstructions  which  interrupt  their  currency.  To 
what  extent  this  has  been  effected  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Societv,  is  sufficiently  apparent  from  the  present  and  former  Reports 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  299 

of  its  Proceedings :  like  the  great  rivers  of  the  earth,  which  fertilize 
regions  far  distant  from  the  soil  in  which  they  take  their  rise,  it  has 
diffused  the  waters  of  life  to  the  remotest  realms,  and  has  held  out  an 
invitation  to  every  accessible  part  of  the  globe — '  Ho,  every  one  that 
thirsteth,  come  ye  to  the  waters.' 

"  The  establishment  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  will 
undoubtedly  form  a  distinguished  era  in  the  annals  of  the  nineteenth 
century.  It  is  to  the  honour  of  this  country  to  have  produced  a  re- 
ligious Institution  (for  such  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  may 
with  strict  propriety  be  denominated)  the  utility  of  which  has  re- 
ceived the  most  ample  and  gratifying  acknowledgments,  both  at  home 
and  abroad;  an  Institution,  founded  on  a  principle  so  simple,  so  in- 
telligible, and  so  unexceptionable,  that  persons  of  every  description, 
who  profess  to  regard  the  Holy  Scriptures  as  the  proper  standard  of 
of  faith,  may  cordially  and  conscientiously  unite  in  it,  and,  in  the 
spirit  of  true  Christian  charity,  harmoniously  blend  their  commoa 
endeavours  to  promote  the  glory  of  God  ;  an  Institution,  which  has 
excited  the  emulation  of  thousands  to  disseminate  the  knowledge  of 
divine  truth,  and  has  given  birth  to  the  most  extensive  and  respect- 
able Associations  for  the  express  purpose  of  aiding  its  exertions,  and 
co-operating  in  the  promotion  of  its  glorious  object ;  an  Institution, 
which  secures  an  adherence  to  the  integrity  of  its  principles,  by  re- 
gulations so  precise  and  defined  as  not  to  admit  of  dubious  interpre 
tation."  • 

These  sentiments  produced,  as  may  be  supposed,  a  considerable 
effect  on  the  whole  assembly ;  and  both  those  who  had  laboured  in 
the  service  of  the  Institution,  and  those  who  merely  contributed  to 
its  funds,  or  prayed  for  its  welfare,  sympathized  with  each  other  in 
emotions  of  gratitude,  and  unitedly  set  up  their  Ebenezer,  saying, 
*'  Hitherto  the  Lord  hath  helped  us." 

It  would  have  added  to  the  interest  excited  on  that  day,  if  it  could 
have  been  known,  that  at  the  time  when  the  Parent  Society  was  cele- 
brating its  anniversary  triumphs,  the  Philadelphia  Bible  Society  was 
engaged  in  the  same  benevolent  and  delightful  employment.  This 
coincidence  did  not  escape  our  Trans-Atlantic  brethren  ;  and  their 
emotions  on  the  recollection  of  it  were  (as  will  appear  from  the  fol- 
lowing extract)  such  as  became  the  mutual  relation  between  the  two 
Societies. 

"  The  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Parent  Society  is  held  on  this  day  ; 
and  it  is  a  pleasing  and  animating  consideration,  that,  in  our  humble 
sphere,  our  exertions  are  united  with  theirs  to  extend  the  empire  of 
onr  Redeemer;  an  empire  infinitely  more  glorious  and  durable  thaix 


300  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  11. 

any  which  is  acquired  by  arms  and  cemented  by  blood ;  an  empire, 
which  the  knowledge  and  influence  of  the  precious  truth  contained  in 
the  Holy  Scriptures  is  eventually  to  extend,  till  it  embrace  in  its 
peaceful  bosom  all  the  empires  of  the  world,  and  Jesus  Christ  become 
King  of  nations  as  He  is  King  of  saints."* 


-V^^"»ij^- 


CHAPTEll  IIL 


1811—12. 


The  details  brought  forward  at  the  Seventh  Anriiversary  left  a  deep 
impression  in  favour  of  the  Institution.  The  facts  were  numerous 
and  striking ;  and  the  use  which  was  made  of  them  in  the  conclusion 
of  the  Report,  added  considerably  to  their  effect.  Every  heart  ap- 
peared sensible  of  the  truth  and  beauty  of  the  following  reflection. 

"  It  was  justly  said  of  the  divines  who  first  translated  the  Scriptures 
into  English :  '  These,  with  f  acob,  rolled  away  the  stone  from  the 
well  of  life  ;'  and  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  it  may 
truly  be  affirmed,  that  it  has  opened  channels  by  which  the  waters  of 
this  living  spring  have  not  only  flowed  to  numbers  who  thirsted  for 
them  within  the  United  Kingdom,  but  have  been  conveyed  to  the  bar- 
ren and  parched  soils  of  the  remotest  regions.  The  thanks  and  ac- 
knowledgments with  which  the  benevolent  exertions  of  the  Society 
have  been  more  than  repaid,  exhibit  the  combined  expression  of  joy, 
gratitude,  and  piety ;  and  must  excite  correspondent  emotions  in  the 
hearts  of  all  those  who  peruse  them. 

"  The  utility  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  has  been  so 
experimentally  demonstrated,  as  to  occasion  an  expression  of  surprise 
that  its  establishment  should  have  been  deferred  to  so  late  an  era  ;  and 
that  a  nation,  professing  its  belief  in  the  Scriptures,  and  commanding 
at  the  same  time  the  most  favourable  means  of  circulating  them, 
should  have  so  long  delayed  its  collective  efforts  for  their  universal 
dissemination.     But  times  and  seasons  are  in  the  power  of  God  :  and 

*  Third  Report  of  the  Philadelphia  Bible  Society. 


CHAP.  III.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  30J 

those  therefore  to  whom  this  high  duty  has  now  been  assigned,  consi- 
dering themselves  as  his  honoured  instruments  for  making  '  known 
his  way  upon  earth,  and  his  saving  health  amongyiU  nations,'  will  as- 
cribe the  praise  to  Him,  to  whom  alone  it  is  due  ;  with  devout  thanks- 
giving for  his  blessing — without  which  the  best  intentions,  and  most 
persevering  exertions  to  promote  even  his  glory,  would  be  of  no 
avail." 

Influenced  by  these,  and  similar  considerations,  the  conductors  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  resumed,  with  the  commence- 
ment of  the  eighth  year,  the  multifarious  duties  of  their  appointment. 
There  was  every  thing  in  the  retrospect  to  satisfy,  and  in  the  pros- 
pect to  encourage  them.  In  the  language  of  the  Report,  they  could 
"  contemplate  with  heartfelt  satisfaction  what  the  Institution  had  al- 
ready accomplished,  and  look  forward  with  cheering  hope  to  its  future 
and  more  enlarged  employment."  How  far  this  anticipation  was  jus- 
tified by  the  event,  will  appear  as  our  narrative  proceeds. 

The  Berlin  Bible  Society  having,  as  was  mentioned  before,  com- 
pleted their  large  impression  of  the  Polish  Bible,  together  with  an 
additional  number  of  Testaments,  it  became  a  mutter  of  grave  con- 
sideration, on  both  sides  of  the  water,  in  what  manner  they  might  be 
most  extensively  and  beneficially  distributed.  The  demand  for  them 
was  indeed  great ;  and  many  copies  were  speedily  disposed  of  in  War- 
saw, Upper  Silesia,  and  Austrian  Gallicia:  but  the  scarcity  of  specie 
was  so  severely  felt,  that  it  was  evident,  unless  some  measures  of  ac- 
commodation were  adopted,  very  few  of  the  lower  classes  would 
become  possessed  of  a  copy. 

To  meet  a  case  of  such  urgent  and  aflecting  necessity,  the  Com- 
mittee of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  directed  1000  copies 
to  be  distributed  gratuitously,  at  their  expense,  by  the  Berlin  Society. 
Nor  did  their  attention  stop  here.  The  Koningsberg  Committee  had 
approved  their  ?:cal  by  vigorous  exertions  to  supply  the  numerous 
Poles  in  Prussia,  and  by  their  laudable  resolution  to  furnish  some  co- 
pies gratuitously  to  every  Polish  school  in  Lithuania.  Under  these 
circumstances  it  was  judged  expedient  to  associate  that  Committee  in 
the  work  of  distribution :  and  it  was  accordingly  determined,  that  500 
Polish  Bibles,  and  1000  Testaments,  should  be  placed  at  their  dispo- 
sal, for  sale  or  gratuitous  distribution,  at  their  discretion  :  the  pro- 
ceeds from  which  were  to  go  in  aid  of  a  second  impression  of  the  Li- 
thuanian Bible. 

It  now  appeared  also,  that  a  new  edition  of  the  Bohemian  Bible 
had  become  absolutely  necessary.  The  former  impression  was  totally 
exhausted ;  and  application  had  been  made  for  1500  copies  from  twa 

40 


302  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  II. 

quarters  only  in  Bohemia  and  Moravia.  It  was  at  the  same  time 
stated,  that  the  parties  on  whose  behalf  the  application  was  made, 
"  were  extremely  poor."  This  consideration,  added  to  the  low  state 
of  the  Berhn  Society's  resources,  determined  the  Committee  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  to  encourage  a  new  impression  of 
the  Bohemian  Bible,  to  the  amount  of  5000  copies,  by  a  grant  of 
300/. 

The  Stockholm  EvangeUcal  Society,  whose  spirited  exertions  have 
before  been  commended,  continued  to  evince  a  degree  of  progress  in 
its  various  undertakings  which  reflected  great  honour  on  the  wisdom, 
energy,  and  pious  zeal  of  its  conductors.  Before  the  expiration  of 
1811,  this  active  Association  had  printed  four  editions  of  the  Swedish 
New  Testament,  amounting  to  16,000  copies,  together  with  an  edition 
of  the  whole  Bible,  amounting  to  5000  copies,  on  standing  types — a 
thing  never  before  attempted  in  that  kingdom.*  So  great  was  the 
demand  for  both,  that  the  Testaments  had  been  rapidly  disposed  of, 
and  "  the  whole  edition  of  the  Bible  had  been  bespoken  long  before 
it  was  printed."  The  Stockholm  Society  had  therefore  determined 
to  put  a  second  edition  of  the  Bible,  and  a  fifth  of  the  Testament,  to 
press  ;  and  this  determination  was  encouraged,  as  soon  as  it  was  made 
known,  "  together  with  the  lamentable  deficiency  of  means"  for  car- 
rying it  into  immediate  execution,  by  a  grant  of  200/.  from  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 

It  was  indeed  scarcely  possible  to  withhold  or  restrain  the  exercise 
of  liberality  towards  an  Institution  which  appeared  to  unite  the  most 
vigorous  exertions  with  the  most  prudent  administration.  The  con- 
ductors of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  sympathized  with 
them  in  the  feelings  which  dictated  the  following  sentiments  at  the 
close  of  their  Second  Report ;  and  by  that  sympathy  the  grant  above- 
mentioned  was  not  a  little  promoted. 

"  To  give  to  these  poor  petitioners,  who  hunger  and  thirst  for  the 
word  of  life,  but  are  obliged  to  go  away  from  the  Bible  Depositories 
with  weeping  eyes,  because  they  cannot  take  back  to  their  desolate 
cottages  the  heavenly  treasure  which  would  prove  a  comfort  in  their 
afflictions,  your  Committee  pray  and  entreat  all  persons  to  whom  the 
goodness  of  God  has  given  a  better  lot  in  this  changeable  state  of 
mortality,  to  contribute  their  mite  to  the  separate  fund  for  bestowing 

*  "  On  presenting  the  first  copy  of  this  work  to  the  Stockholm  Society,  the  ora- 
tor expressed  himself  in  the  following  terms  :  "  The  work  was  planned  in  England  • 
they  (the  English)  voted  and  presented  the  principal  means  by  which  it  was  exe- 
cuted. In  London  were  the  springs  which  moved  the  greatest  part  of  the  machine 
ja  Stookholm." 


CHAP.  III.]  AIN'D  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


303 


the  word  of  God  gratis  on  the  poor ;  so  that  they,  and  all  the  friends  of 
God  and  man,  may  shortly  see  the  happy  day,  when  the  poorest 
hovel  in  the  land  shall  be  dignified  with  the  book  of  God." 

But  while  primarily  intent  upon  furnishing  the  Sacred  Scriptures 
in  the  Swedish  language,  the  Stockholm  Society  manifested  a  laud- 
able zeal  for  gratifying  the  wishes  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  as  well  as  their  own,  by  extending  a  similar  benefit  to  the 
inhabitants  of  Lapland,  Allusion  has  been  made  to  this  subject,  in 
the  First  Report  of  the  Stockholm  Society :  it  will  now  be  proper  to 
speak  of  it  more  particularly. 

In  the  summer  of  1811,  Bishop  Norden,  having  completed  the  edi- 
tion of  5000  Laponese  Testaments,  at  the  expense  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  despatched  from  Hernosand  to  Stockholm  2500 
copies,  for  the  Swedish  Laplanders,  the  remaining  2500  being  appro- 
priated to  the  Laplanders  residing  within  the  boundaries  of  Norway 
and  Ftussia.  The  Stockholm  Evangelical  Society  proceeded  without 
delay  to  forward  the  proportion  allotted  to  them,  to  the  different  sea- 
ports in  the  vicinity  of  Lapland :  from  whence  they  were  distributed 
in  all  the  parishes  of  Swedish  Lapland,  according  to  a  plan  previously 
settled  by  the  Royal  Chancery  at  Stockholm,  with  the  assistance  of 
the  Consistory  at  Hernosand.  It  ought  to  be  added,  that  the  trans- 
port of  the  books  was  made  at  the  public  expense  ;  and  that  the 
Royal  Chancery  addressed  a  letter  to  the  Committee  of  the  Stock- 
holm Society,  expressing  "  the  pleasure  which  his  Majesty  the  King 
had  felt,  on  hearing  what  had  been  done  for  promoting  a  better 
knowledge  of  the  Christian  religion  among  the  Swedish  Lapland- 
ers." 

Under  the  auspices,  and  by  the  exertions  of  this  active  Society, 
steps  were  taken,  through  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brunnmark,  in  the  com- 
mencement of  1811,  for  ascertaining  the  want  of  the  Sacred  Scrip- 
tures in  the  province  of  Finland.  On  the  9th  of  July,  of  the  same 
year,  a  memorial  was  transmitted  from  Stockholm  to  London,  repre- 
senting that  want  as  extreme  ;  the  Finnish  population  being  estimated 
at  1,300,000,  and  no  edition  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures  having  been 
printed  in  their  language  since  the  year  1776. 

"As  the  quarto  Bible  (the  Bible  printed  in  1776)  was  printed  by 
subscription,  the  whole  edition,  which  was  not  large,  was  soon  sold 
off;  so  that  for  twenty  years,"  (continues  the  memorial,)  "  there 
have  been  no  copies  of  the  Bible  for  sale  ;  and,  according  to  certain 
information  from  Finland,  there  i.*  not  at  present  a  copy  to  be  ob- 
tained at  any  price." 


304  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  11, 

Stimulated  by  this  representation,  the  Comniittee  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  by  a  resolution  of  August  5,  1811,  in- 
structed their  correspondent,  the  Rev.  J.  Paterson,  w,ho  had,  more 
than  two  years  before,  called  their  attention  to  the  subject,*  to  offer, 
in  such  way  as  might  be  deemed  most  acceptable,  the  sum  of  500L 
as  an  inducement  to  the  printing  of  the  Finnish  Scriptures,  and  the 
formation  of  a  Bible  Society  for  the  province  of  Finland.  Thi? 
commission  Mr.  Paterson  executed,  by  the  aid  and  countenance  of 
the  Stockholm  Society,  with  equal  judgment  and  success.  Both  the 
Governor  General  and  the  Bishop  of  Finland  received  the  messenger 
and  his  message  with  the  greatest  cordiality ;  and  the  former,  Count 
Steinheil,  "  with  his  wonted  attention  to,  and  zeal  for,  every  thing 
good  and  noble,  having  made  a  favourable  representation  of  the  mat- 
ter to  the  Court  of  St.  Petersburg,  the  following  answer  was  returned, 
on  the  20th  of  October,  1811,  by  His  Excellency  Mr.  Speransky^ 
Secretary  of  State,  and  Privy  Counsellor. 

"  Having,  in  consequence  of  your  Excellency's  letter,  had  the 
honour,  with  all  due  submission,  to  lay  before  His  Imperial  Majesty 
the  propositions  made  by  the  Rev.  J.  Paterson,  with  a  view  to  the 
printing  of  the  Bible  in  the  Finnish  language ;  His  Imperial  Majesty 
has  not  only  been  graciously  pleased  to  signify  his  approbation  of  the 
offer,  but  also,  desirous  himself  to  contribute  to  the  distribution  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  has  granted,  from  his  own  private  purse,  the  sum  of 
6000  rubles,  to  be  applied  by  your  Excellency  to  this  object." 

The  good  Bishop  of  Finland,  in  transmitting  the  intelligence,  ex- 
pressed his  sympathy  with  the  feelings  of  Count  Steinheil,  in  the  fol- 
lowing pious  and  consolatory  language : 

"  Thus  a  foundation  is  laid  for  a  work,  from  which  religion,  and  the 
Finnish  church  in  particular,  will,  by  the  help  of  the  Lord,  derive  a 
certain  and  lasting  advantage." 

The  facts  which  have  now  been  stated,  were  shortly  after  commu- 
nicated to  the  Clergy  of  the  Diocese  of  Abo,  in  a  circular  letter 
issued  by  the  Ecclesiastical  Consistory  of  that  capital ;  and  in  the 
month  of  March,  1812,  the  circular  appeared  publicly  in  the  Abo 
Gazette. 


»  On  the  7th  of  :\l3rch,  180&,  Mr.  Paterson  wrote  from  Stockholm,  that  he  had 
purchased,  at  the  expense  of  the  British  and  Foreig^n  Bible  Society,  all  the  Fin 
nf'sk  New  Tentamcnis  uhich  were  to  he  procured,  amounting  to  only  111,  for 
distribution;  and  he  adds:  "The  Finnisii  New  Testaments  have  been  received 
with  indescribable  joy ;  and  I  trust,  much  good  will  be  done.'' 


GHAP.  IIl.l  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  g0g 

As  this  document  will  give  authority  to  the  foregoing  statements, 
and  show  the  sentiments  with  which  the  Finnish  people  regarded  the 
friendly  interference  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  the 
author  will  extract  from  it  such  parts  as  bear  upon  that  subject. 

Abo,  March  24,  1812. 

"  The  following  extract  from  the  circular  letter  issued  by  the  Ec- 
clesiastical Consistory  of  this  place  to  the  Clergy  in  the  Diocese  of 
Abo,  certainly  deserves  to  be  made  public  for  the  more  general  infor- 
mation of  our  fellow-citizens. 

'  The  edition  of  the  Finnish  Bible,  which  was  printed  in  the  year 
1776,  having  long  ago  been  completely  exhausted,  and  such  copies  as 
were  occasionally  to  be  procured,  bearing  the  exorbitantly  high  price 
of  from  fifteen  to  twenty  rix  dollars,  it  was  contemplated  as  a  desi- 
rable measure,  that  steps  should  be  taken  for  printing  a  new  edition 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  In  the  mean  time,  the  following  unexpected 
occurrence  took  place.  A  worthy  Member  of  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society,  in  London,  the  Rev.  John  Paterson,  (who  still 
resides  for  the  present  in  Stockholm,  with  a  view  to  assist  in  the  exe- 
cution of  an  edition  of  the  Swedish  Bible  on  standing  types,  through 
the  generous  contribution  of  the  above-mentioned  Society,)  came  to 
Abo,  with  the  offer  of  600/.  sterling,  in  aid  of  a  similar  edition  of  the 
Bible  in  the  language  of  Finland.  The  matter  was  immediately  re- 
ported to  his  Excellency  Count  Steinheil,  the  Governor  General, 
who,  with  his  wonted  attention  to,  and  zeal  for,  every  thing  good  and 
noble,  was  pleased,  without  delay,  to  give  a  favourable  representation 
of  the  above  offer  to  his  Majesty  the  Emperor ;  to  which  his  Excel- 
lency shortly  after  received  the  following  answer  from  his  Excellency 
Mr.  Speransky,  Secretary  of  State  and  Privy  Counsellor,  dated  Pe- 
tersburg, Oct.  20,  1811  ;  a  translation  of  which  he  has  communicated 
to  the  Consistory.' 

Here  follows  the  letter  before  quoted  ;  the  circular  then  resumes  : 

'  Where  is  the  good  and  well-disposed  Finnish  citizen,  who  does 
not  gratefully  bless  this  fresh  proof  of  the  zealous  solicitude  of  his 
Imperial  Majesty  for  the  zeal  and  supreme  welfare  of  his  Finnish 
subjects,  as  well  as  the  indefatigable  and  benevolent  care  of  a  foreign 
nation,  to  disseminate  and  perpetuate,  to  the  latest  age,  even  in  these 
distant  regions,  the  true  knowledge  of  God  and  Jesus  Christ,  by 
means  of  that  word  which  he  hath  revealed  for  our  illumination  and 
salvation  ? 

'By  these  general  assistances,  to  which  we  hope  soon  to  add  the 
equally  noble  contributions  of  our  fellow-citizens,  the  foundation  i« 


306  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  II. 

laid  of  an  undertaking,  which  cannot  but  be  crowned  with  success 
and  the  richest  blessings ;  inasmuch  as  an  edition  of  the  Bible  on 
standing  types  not  only  supplies  the  present  generation,  but  at  the 
same  time  furnishes  the  surest  means  of  putting  the  Scriptures  into 
the  hands  of  the  most  remote  posterity,  at  a  moderate  price,  without 
any  further  expense  than  what  the  paper  and  printing  necessarily  re- 
quire.' " 

In  the  mean  time,  encouraged  by  the  Imperial  Rescript  of  the  20th 
of  October,  1812,  the  parties  at  Abo,  with  whom  the  negotiation  had 
been  opened,  proceeded  to  organize  their  Bible  Society,  under  the 
Presidency  of  his  Excellency  Count  Steinheil.  Having  accomplished 
this  business  early  in  the  spring  of  1812,  they  took  into  their  imme- 
diate consideration  the  object  originally  contemplated,  and  warmly 
recommended  from  every  quarter, — that  of  printing  the  Finnish  Bi- 
ble on  standing  types. 

While  intent  upon  devoting  to  this  object  all  the  means  of  which 
they  were  possessed,  they  found,  as  they  advanced,  that  the  plan  in- 
volved considerable  expense  ;  and  that  it  would  require,  for  its  com- 
pletion, resources  which  it  was  not  in  their  power  to  command. 
Among  other  expedients  to  which  they  had  recourse,  was  an  applica- 
tion to  Government  for  certain  corn  tithes,  originally  designed  for 
printing  the  Scriptures,  but  since  diverted  into  other  channels.  To 
this  application  an  answer  was  received,  which,  while  it  conceded 
most  liberally  the  object  of  the  petition,  accompanied  the  concession 
with  a  declaration  of  sentiments  and  principles,  from  which  both 
sovereigns  and  subjects  may  derive  a  most  important  and  edifying 
lesson. 

Letter  of  the  Emperor  of  Russia,  to  the  Governor  General  of  Finland. 

Wilna,  May  13,  1812. 
"  Being  persuaded  that  religion  is  the  most  powerful  instrument  of 
raising  the  morals  of  a  people,  and  that,  when  maintained  in  purity, 
it  is  the  strongest  band  of  support  to  the  State  ;  and  having  taken  into 
consideration  the  necessity  of  increasing  the  means  of  enabling  our 
faithful  Finnish  subjects  to  gain  a  right  knowledge  of  the  Supreme 
Being,  and  of  the  excellency  of  their  religion,  we  have,  accordingly, 
in  agreement  with  what  a  number  of  respectable  Finnish  citizens  of 
all  classes  have  proposed,  been  graciously  pleased  to  approve  of  the 
printing  of  the  Finnish  Bible  with  standing  types,  as  tending,  in  a  high 
degree,  to  promote  this  end.     As  the  expense  of  such  an  undertaking 


CHAP,  ni.]  AND  FOREIGM  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  3O7 

must  necessarily  exceed  what  could  be  collected  among  the  inhabitants 
themselves,  we  have  therefore,  in  compliance  with  your  humble  re- 
quest, been  graciously  pleased  to  grant  that  part  of  corn  tithes,  which 
was  originally  appropriated  to  printing  the  Holy  Scriptures,  but  which 
in  latter  times  has  been  used  for  State  purposes,  to  be  applied,  for 
five  years,  beginning  with  the  year  1812,  in  aid  of  printing  the  above- 
mentioned  edition  of  the  Finnish  Bible  ;  and  will  beg  you  to  commu- 
nicate this  resolution,  in  the  usual  manner,  to  the  parties  concerned. 
(Signed)  /\LEXANDER.'» 

To  the  above  communication  it  was  added,  that  the  Emperor  had 
been  graciously  pleased  to  permit  the  Finnish  Bible  Society  to  open 
a  subscription  over  all  His  Majesty's  dominions,  where  the  Finnish 
language  is  spoken,  as  also  to  import,  duty  free,  all  the  articles  ne- 
cessary for  the  proposed  edition  of  the  Finnish  Bible. 

From  the  period  of  this  transaction,  so  characteristic  of  a  great  and 
enlightened  Monarch,  we  may  datf  <he  complete  establishment  of  the 
Finnish  Bible  Society.  It  was  not  till  the  month  of  December,  1812, 
that  a  formal  communication  of  this  event  was  made  to  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  The  terms  in  which  the  Finnish  Bible 
Society  express  themselves,  evince  so  decisively  their  conviction  of 
the  necessity  of  such  an  Institution,  and  their  gratitude  to  those  who 
had  done  so  much  to  promote  its  establishment,  that  the  auliior  will 
gratify  the  reader  by  inserting  their  Address  at  length. 

"  From  the  period  at  which  the  darkness  of  Popery  was  dispelled, 
and  the  pure  light  of  heavenly  doctrine  began  to  shine  upon  the  in- 
habitants of  Finland,  it  has  been  the  anxious  care  of  the  ministers  of 
our  Church,  to  provide,  that  the  oracles  of  divine  truth,  or  at  least 
the  principal  parts  of  them,  in  the  vernacular  language  of  the  country, 
might  be  put  into  the  hands  of  the  people.  But,  from  various  diffi- 
culties and  delays,  the  whole  Bible  did  not  appear  in  the  Finnish  lan- 
guage till  a  century  after  the  Reformation  ;  and,  partly  from  the  po- 
verty of  the  majority  of  our  citizens,  partly  from  the  low  state  of 
printing  among  us,  copies  of  the  Scriptures  have  been,  and  continue 
to  be,  much  fewer  than  the  wants  of  the  people  require  ;  and  sell  at 
an  exorbitant  price. 

"  This  scarcity  of  that  most  valuable  and  truly  divine  book,  par- 
ticularly as  affecting  the  lower  classes  of  the  people,  has  been  a 
source  of  grief  to  all  those  who  professed  to  regard  the  gospel  of 
Christ  as  the  only  efficacious  instrument  of  salvation.  But  they 
grieved  in  vain,  till  that  sincere  and  ardent  zeal  for  aiding  and  pro- 
moting the  Christian  religion,  which  had  long  ago  led  you  to  offer 


3Q3  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  II. 

spontaneously  assistance  to  many  nations  of  Europe,  Asia,  and  Ame- 
rica, moved  you  to  exercise  the  same  gratuitous  liberality  towards 
our  nation.  We  have  duly  received  your  donation  of  5501.  This 
gift,  augmented  by  the  munificent  grant  from  his  Imperial  Majesty,  of 
5000  rubles  from  his  private  purse,  and  a  considerable  corn  rent  for 
five  years,  from  the  public  treasury,  and  still  further  increased  by 
the  contributions  of  private  individuals,  will  enable  us,  by  employing 
the  modern  expedient  of  standing  types,  to  reduce  the  expense  to  the 
purchasers,  and  provide  a  periodical  supply  of  copies  for  many  gene- 
rations. Thus  will  the  sacred  oracles,  either  by  gift,  or  at  a  very 
reduced  price,  be  brought  within  the  reach  of  the  poorest  cottager, 
and  our  children's  children  be  illuminated  by  that  word  of  salvation 
which  God  hath  promised  shall  endure  for  ever." 

The  author  has  described  with  more  detail  and  precision  the  rise 
and  establishment  of  the  Finnish  Bible  Society,  because,  in  the  course 
of  those  proceedings,  may  be  observed  the  dawn  of  that  Imperial 
patronage  under  which  the  object  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society  has  since  obtained  such  countenance  and  support  throughout 
the  R-ussian  dominions.  It  was  by  means  of  the  plan  concerted  for 
the  benefit  of  Finland,  that  the  Emperor  Alexander  became  acquainted 
with  an  Institution  which,  from  its  liberal  principles  and  its  philan- 
thropic design,  was  adapted  to  engage  his  attachment,  and  to  furnish 
a  suitable  employment  for  the  energies  of  his  generous  and  enlight- 
ened mind. 

The  first  act  in  which  the  friendship  of  this  Monarch  appeared, 
was  that  of  the  royal  approbation  which  he  gave,  on  the  20th  of  Oc- 
tober, 1811,  to  the  proposal  which  terminated  in  the  estabhshment  of 
the  Finnish  Society  at  Abo.  To  this  succeeded  the  dignified  letter  of 
the  13th  of  May,  1812;  and  these  were  shortly  after  followed  by  an 
order  to  facihtate  the  entrance  and  distribution  of  the  Laponese  Tes- 
taments among  the  Russian  Laplanders :  an  order,  the  execution  of 
which  devolving  officially  on  the  Minister  of  Religion,  Prince  Ga- 
Utzin,  brings  into  notice,  for  the  first  time,  a  name  which  has  since 
derived  so  much  lustre  from  its  connexion  with  the  Russian  Bible  So- 
ciety, and  its  several  branches  and  dependencies  throughout  the  Rus- 
sian  empire. 

From  this  view  of  the  subject  it  should  seem  to  have  been  de- 
signed, in  the  order  of  events,  that  Finland  should  be  the  avenue 
through  which  a  cause  in  whose  promotion  he  was  destined  to  act  so 
conspicuous  a  part,  should  be  introduced  to  the  knowledge  of  the 
Imperial  Alexander ;  and  that  it  was  by  the  gradation  of  measures  as 
above  described,  that  his  mind  should  be  prepared  for  that  august  and 


CHAP.  III!  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  3Q9 

important  determination  which  authorized  the  estabUshment  of  a  Pa- 
rent Bible  Society  in  his  capital,  and  affiliated  Institutions  dependent 
upon  it  throughout  the  whole  of  his  extensive  dominions. 

How  mysterious  are  the  ways  of  Providence,  and  how  superficial 
is  human  sagacity !  The  annexation  of  Finland  to  the  crown  of  Russia 
was  justly  regarded  with  political  jealousy,  as  tending  to  promote  the 
undue  aggrandizement  of  a  power  which  might,  it  was  thought,  be- 
come formidable  to  the  independence  of  Europe.  Yet  was  this  trans- 
action most  auspiciously  overruled,  so  as  to  pave  the  way  for  the  en- 
trance of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  with  all  its  train  of 
moral  advantages,  into  the  Russian  empire.  Such  a  subordination  of 
human  events  to  the  purposes  of  the  divine  administration,  fills  the 
mind  with  devout  astonishment:  "It  is  the  Lord's  doing,  and  it  is 
marvellous  in  our  eyes  !" 

From  Finland  and  the  Russian  empire,  our  attention  is  now  invited 
to  Hungary,  whose  capital,  in  the  course  of  this  year,  became  the  seat 
of  a  Bible  Society.  The  manner  in  which  this  Society  originated 
was  as  follows.  The  steps  of  a  German  Lutheran  clergyman,*  at 
whose  disposal,  on  a  projected  visit  to  his  own  country,  some  German 
Bibles  and  Testaments  had  been  placed,  were  led  to  Presburg.  Here 
he  obtained  the  affecting  intelligence,  that  among  more  than  a  million 
andahalf  ofPro^es^mi?,?,  inhabiting  Hungary,  a  most  distressing  scarcity 
prevailed  of  Bibles  in  the  Hungarian  and  Slavonian  dialects.  It  ap- 
peared, however,  that  a  Professor  of  Slavonic  literature,  "  actuated 
by  zeal  for  propagating  pure  rehgion,  and  putting  the  sacred  volume 
into  the  hands  of  the  Slavonic  po])ulation  in  Hungar}^  notwithstanding 
his  poverty  and  that  of  the  Hungarian  Protestants,  and  the  vast  labour 
attending  the  undertaking — not  deterred  by  these  considerations,  but 
trusting  in  God,  had  set  about  and  accomplished  a  Bohemo-SIavonic 
edition  of  the  Bible.  Of  this  impression  1800  copies  remained  on 
his  hands ;  "  chiefly,"  says  the  Professor,  "  because  our  people,  in 
these  times  of  embarrassment,  weighed  down  by  the  burdens  of  the 
war,  and  plundered  of  their  property,  have  not  the  means  of  pur- 
chasing that  heavenly  treasure,  which  they  yet  so  greatly  desire." 
*'  My  mind,"  he  adds,  "  was  therefore  filled  with  the  greatest  joy, 
and  lightened  of  much  anxiety,  when  you  gave  me  reason  to  hope, 
that  the  honoured  British  Society,  by  a  liberality  and  munificence 
pecuUar  to  that  country,  would  give  me  assistance." 

The  effect  of  this  personal  visit,  and  of  the  correspondence  which 
succeeded  it,  was  the  estabhshment  of  a  Hungarian  Bible  Society,  in 

*  Tbe  Rev.  F.  Leo. 
41 


310 


fllSTORy  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  li. 


the  prospect  of  a  grant  of  500/.  from  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  in  aid  of  so  important  a  work.  The  foundation  of  the  Insti- 
tution was  laid  by  the  prompt  exertions  of  five  Professors,  under  the 
patronage  of  an  illustrious  Protestant  lady,  the  Baroness  De  Zay. 
An  address  was  then  despatclied  to  the  four  Protestant  Superintend- 
ents in  Hungary,  in  which  they  were  requested  to  inform  the  pastors 
and  congregations  under  their  care,  of  the  plan  of  the  Bible  Society, 
and  to  sohcit  subscriptions  on  its  behalf.  Having  adopted  these  mea- 
sures, which,  they  had  reason  to  believe  would  procure  them  sup- 
port, both  from  Protestants  and  Catholics,  the  Professors  who  con- 
ducted the  affairs  of  the  Institution,  determined  to  commence  their 
operations  by  purchasing,  (at  a  very  cheap  rate,)  the  1800  Bohemo- 
Slavonic  Bibles  before  mentioned,  as  a  stock  for  immediate  distribu- 
tion ;  looking  to  the  eventual  erection  of  a  printing-office  at  Presburg, 
as  a  measure  which  should  render  their  establishment  complete. 

It  deserves  attention,  that  this  work  was  begun  at  a  time  in  which 
the  disposition  of  the  Government  coincided  with  the  other  circum- 
stances already  specified,  in  favouring  its  prosecution  and  accomplish- 
ment. "  We  are,"  said  the  Professors,  "  the  more  confident  that, 
with  the  blessing  of  God,  we  shall  attain  our  end,  as  it  has  pleased 
Him,  towards  the  end  of  last  year,  to  incline  the  heart  of  our  most 
gracious  Emperor  and  King  to  favour  the  Protestants  of  Hungary, 
belonging  to  the  Augsburg  Confession,  with  the  privilege  {which  they 
never  enjoyed  before)  of  erecting  a  printing-press  of  their  own;  by 
which  the  operations  of  our  Bible  Institute  will  be  greatly  facih- 
tated." 

So  opportune  was  the  proposal  for  establishing  a  Bible  Society  at 
Presburg ;  and  so  happily  did  circumstances  concur  to  facihtate  its 
reception,  and  eventually  to  ensure  its  success ! 

To  the  British  Christian  the  following  expression  of  gratitude,  oh 
the  part  of  the  Hungarian  Bible  Society,  must  afford  peculiar  satis- 
faction. 

"  Our  Huss  was  the  faithful  disciple  and  constant  follower  of  your 
countryman,  VVickliffe.  From  you  the  first  rays  of  the  light  of  Holy- 
Scripture  penetrated  to  us.  Now,  after  the  lapse  of  four  centuries, 
you  are  preparing  again  to  confer  upon  us  this  gift,  and  to  lay  our 
gratitude  under  new  obligations.  I  say  these  things  from  a  deep 
sense  of  thankfulness,  and  all  my  countrymen  will  make  the  same 
acknowledgment." 

While  Institutions  for  promoting  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures 
were  thus  multiplying  among  the  Protestant  communities  of  Europe, 
no  small  progress  was  made  in  exciting  the  attention  of  Greek  and 


CHAP.  III.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  31  £ 

Catholic  Christians  to  peruse  and  to  propagate  the  records  of  onr 
common  faith. 

Through  the  correspondents  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety at  Malta,  and  through  other  agents  who  voluntarily  embarked 
in  the  service,  both  the  Italian  and  the  modern  Greek  Testaments 
continued  to  circulate,  and  find  thankful  and  diligent  readers,  in 
Malta,  Sicily,  the  Greek  Isles,  and  in  other  places  where  those  lan- 
guages are  familiarly  known.  So  highly  was  the  modern  Greek  Tes- 
tament esteemed,  that  persons  of  various  ranks  and  occupations 
showed  an  eagerness  to  procure  it ;  and  even  common  sailors  were 
stated  to  have  travelled  a  journey  of  many  days,  in  order  to  obtain 
possession  of  a  copy.  It  added  not  a  httle  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
Society  to  know,  that  the  Archimandi'ita,  or  Chief  of  the  Greek 
church  in  Malta,  highly  approved  of  these  Testaments ;  and  when 
recommending  their  perusal  to  his  flock,  from  the  pulpit,  took  occa- 
sion to  extol  "  the  zeal  and  ardour  which  the  Enghsh  had  shown  to 
circulate  the  word  of  the  Lord  in  every  part  of  the  world — an  object, 
in  his  estimation,  the  most  useful  in  which  men  could  engage."  The 
impression  made  on  many  members,  both  of  the  Greek  and  the  Catholic 
church,  resident  in  the  Levant,  was  equally  manifest  and  encouraging. 
Among  these  appeared  some  enlightened  men,  who  sympathized  with 
Pius  the  Sixth*  in  his  veneration  for  the  lively  oracles  of  God,  and 
his  desire  to  promote  their  universal  distribution.  With  that  Pontiff 
they  professed  to  believe,  "  that  the  Bible  was  the  proper  instrument 
to  maintain  in  the  faith  those  Christians  who  are  scattered  abroad  5 
to  establish  those  who  are  wavering  or  falling  off;  and  to  bring  about 
the  propagation  of  the  Christian  religion,  and  lay  open  to  mankind 
the  way  of  sanation."  The  declaration  of  these  sentiments  was 
happily  elicited  by  the  introduction  of  the  modern  Greek  Testaments 
among  the  population  of  the  Levant.  The  Testaments  were  pro- 
nounced "  most  necessary  and  most  holy  books  :"  tlieir  transmission, 
"  on  any  terms,"  was  classed  with  the  greatest  acts  of  "  piety  and 
charity  ;"  and  the  generous  plan  in  which  their  dispersion  originated, 
was  considered  as  indicating  "  the  determination  of  the  Lord  to  com- 
municate the  brightness  of  his  light,  through  the  medium  of  his  word , 

*  The  words  of  Pope  Pius  are  very  eiriphatical : — 

lUi  enim  sunt  foutes  uberrirai,  qui  cuiqle  patere  debent,  ad  hauriendara  et 
piorum  et  doctriiias  sanctitatem." 

"  For  they  are  the  exuberant  fountains,  to  which  every  individual  oug^ht  to  have 
access,  tliat  he  may  derive  from  them  sound  doctrine  and  pure  morality." 

lirtpf  of  Pirn  VI.  to  Martini,  Archbishop  of  Florence. 


312  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  II. 

and  thereby  to  disperse  the  darkness  and  reform  the  corruptions 
which  prevailed  in  the  Levant." 

A  similar  event  attended  the  introduction  of  the  Italian  Testaments 
into  the  island  of  Sicily.  The  rapidity  of  their  distribution  at  Mes- 
sina exceeded  all  expectation,  from  the  anxious  and  pressing  desire 
manifested  by  persons  of  almost  every  rank  in  society  to  obtain  them. 
"  I  have  had  at  my  house,"  said  the  gentleman  to  whom  the  copies 
were  consigned,  "  from  the  prince  to  the  poor  labourer,  sohciting 
them ;  and  have  also  received  letters  and  messages  from  people  of 
the  first  respectability  in  this  place,  begging  to  be  favoured  with  this 
inestimable  volume :  in  short,  they  have  met  with  a  most  extensive 
circulation." 

An  objection  was  indeed  taken  by  some  of  the  clergy  to  the  trans- 
lation which  was  distributed.  For  this  the  Society  might  have  been 
prepared,  as  the  version  which  they  adopted  was  that  of  Diodati ;  and 
it  ought  neither  to  have  surprised  nor  disappointed  them,  had  it  been 
displaced  to  make  way  for  an  edition  printed  under  the  authority  of 
the  Roman  Catholic  church.  Apprehension  was  however  entertain- 
ed, that  the  effect  of  this  objection  might  be  the  entire  suppression  of 
the  Sci-iptures.  But  the  event  was  otherwise.  At  a  meeting,  in 
which  the  Bishop  of  Messina  presided,  there  being  a  difference  of 
opinion  on  the  subject,  it  was  resolved  to  refer  the  text  of  the  So- 
ciety's Testament  for  examination  to  several  of  the  most  learned 
among  the  clergy.  The  result  of  this  examination  was  so  favourable, 
that  the  Bishop  Avas  pleased  to  permit  the  Testaments  to  be  retained 
by  the  persons  who  possessed  them,  and  to  allow  the  further  distri- 
bution of  them  without  qualification  or  restraint. 

We  have  had  occasion  to  describe,  as  effects  of  those  exertions 
which  it  is  the  chief  object  of  this  History  to  record,  the  excitement 
of  a  more  than  ordinary  attention  to  the  Holy  Scriptures  in  certain 
parts  of  Catholic  Germany,  and  the  expression  of  cordiality  and  af- 
fection from  the  members  of  that  communion  towards  their  brethren 
of  the  Protestant  confessions.  In  what  manner  this  awakened  zeal 
for  distributing  and  perusing  the  Scriptures  operated,  on  the  one  hand, 
has  been  already  developed  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Ratisbon  Bible 
Institution.  The  sphere  of  this  Institution  continued  progressively 
to  enlarge,  and  the  demand  upon  it  increased  with  the  increasing  sup- 
plies which  its  depository  was  enabled  to  furnish. 

Nor  was  there,  on  the  other  hand,  less  evidence  of  the  growth  and 
diffusion  of  that  liberal  spirit  which  displayed  itself  so  honourably  in 
certain  members  of  the  Catholic  church,  from  whose  writings  extracts 
have  been  produced.     It  is  truly  pleasing  to  observe  the  progress  of 


CHAP.  III.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  3^3 

this  conciliatory  disposition,  keeping  pace  with  the  efforts  which  were 
made  to  circulate  the  Scriptures,  and  justifying  the  assertion  of  an  able 
advocate,  that  "  the  spirit  of  the  Bible  appears  to  have  gone  forth 
with  the  letter  of  it.*'*  Among  the  documents  which  attest  the  truth 
of  these  observations,  the  author  cannot  forbear  adducing  an  admira- 
ble Letter,  compendious  indeed,  but  comprehensive,  addressed  by  a 
Catholic  Professor  of  Divinity  in  Bavaria — "  to  all  the  Members  of 
the  London  Bible  Society." 

"  As  it  is  your  noble  employment  to  spread  the  Book  of  Books,  and 
more  especially  the  New  Testament,  among  all  nations,  without 
having  any  thing  else  in  view  than  eternal  life,  which  consists  in  the 
knowledge  of  the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ  whom  he  has  sent ; 
and  as  you  proclaim  nothing  but  God  in  Christ, — I  salute  you  most  cor- 
dially, wishing  you  complete  success  in  all  your  undertakings,  and  re- 
commending myself  to  your  united  intercessions." 

It  should  seem  from  this  and  other  documents  of  a  similar  descrip- 
tion, that  Christians  of  different  persuasions  found  a  sensible  approx- 
imation towards  each  other,  as  they  mutually  approached  the  oracles 
of  God,  The  Catholic  and  the  Protestant,  being  led  to  contemplate 
their  connexion  with  the  Saviour  as  a  privilege  in  which  they  mu- 
tually participated,  learnt  to  rise  above  those  prejudices  which  in- 
volved them  in  contention,  and  to  disdain  those  restraints  which 
would  keep  them  asunder.  The  sentiments  of  many  in  each  com- 
munion had  now  begun  to  manifest  this  favourable  change  ;  and  their 
feelings  towards  each  other  may  be  collected  from  the  following  de- 
claration of  a  Roman  CathoUc  priest  in  Bavaria,  in  his  liberal  and  ani- 
mated address  to  the  Members  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety : — "  United  to  Christ,  we  are  united  to  each  other  :  neither  con- 
tinents, nor  seas  ;  neither  various  forms  of  government,  nor  differ- 
ent outward  Confessions  of  religion,  can  separate  us  :  ail  these  things 
pass  away — ^but  love  abideth." 

While  affairs  were  proceeding  thus  successfully  in  Europe,  an 
equal  degree  of  prosperity  attended  the  plans  of  the  Society  in  India. 

We  have  seen  in  the  year  1810  a  new  order  of  things  arise  in  that 
seat  of  idolatry  and  imposture  ;  and  we  greeted  the  prospect  of  light 
breaking  in  upon  the  benighted  inhabitants  of  our  Asiatic  dominions, 
through  the  translation  and  dispersion  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  We 
are  now  to  trace  the  progress  of  those  measures  upon  which  such 

*  See  an  excellent  speech  of  the  Rev.  W.  Newman,  at  the  Third  Anniversary  o( 
the  Colchester  and  East  Essex  Auxiliarj'  Bible  Society. 


3J4  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  II. 

pleasing  expectations  were  founded ;  and  to  observe  the  steps  by 
which  they  advanced  towards  that  state  of  maturity  which  has  ren- 
dered them  so  great  a  blessing,  not  only  to  the  peninsula  of  India,  but 
generally  to  the  nations  of  the  East. 

The  Corresponding  Committee  at  Calcutta,  under  whose  adminis- 
tration the  affairs  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  in  India, 
and  the  funds  appropriated  for  that  department  were  placed,  evinced 
uncommon  activity  in  the  discharge  of  their  trust,  and  had  the  satis- 
faction to  find  their  exertions  crowned  with  transcendent  success. 
Among  the  steps  which  they  took  for  exciting  attention  to  the  objects 
of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  was  that  of  reprinting  1000 
copies  of  the  first  five  Annual  Reports,  for  the  purpose  of  distribution 
throughout  India  ;  and  so  advantageous  an  impression  had  been  made 
on  the  public  mind,  by  this  and  similar  expedients,  that,  in  the  course 
of  the  year  1810,  donations  were  received  in  India  alone  to  the 
amount  of  73,499  rupees,  besides  2,160  subscribed  towards  founding 
the  library  for  the  use  of  translators. 

The  distribution  of  the  Tamul  and  Portuguese  Scriptures  among  the 
Christians  in  Tanjore  and  Tranquebar,  took  place  at  the  commence- 
ment of  1811,  and  literally  realized  the  expectation  encouraged  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Brown:  it  diffused  "joy  and  gladness  through  a  wide 
region."  Fifteen  addresses  from  native  catechists  and  schoolmasters 
were  transmitted  to  Calcutta  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kohloff  of  Tanjore,  and 
eighteen  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  John  of  Tranquebar  ;  all  tending  to  prove 
(in  the  language  of  the  former  of  these  excellent  ministers)  that  "  the 
kind  supply  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures  furnished  by  the  Corresponding 
Committee  had  not  only  been  an  acceptable  present,  but  it  had  been 
the  cause  of  abundant  thanksgivings  to  God,  through  Jesus  Christ  our 
Saviour,  from  many  who  loved  and  esteemed  the  word  of  God,  and 
who  were  desirous  to  know  the  saving  truth  it  contained,  and  to  use 
it  for  the  benefit  of  their  souls." 

It  is  worthy  of  observation,  and  is  a  circumstance  which  will  en- 
hance the  value  of  this  distribution,  that  these  catechists  describe  the 
want  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  as  that  which  "  themselves,  and  a  great 
many  others,  had  been  labouring  under  for  a  long  time  :"  that  "  some 
of  them  had  been  ten,  and  others,  twenty-four  years,  employed  in 
teaching  the  saving  truths  of  the  Gospel,  but  hitherto  had  not  enjoy- 
ed the  happiness  of  possessing  the  sacred  books  of  the  Old  Testament ; 
and  thereby  had  often  been  deprived  of  the  satisfaction  of  receiving 
the  instruction  and  comfort  which  they  had  longed  for,  by  reading 
those  sacred  booke." 


CHAP.  HI]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  315 

There  is  something  so  truly  amiable  in  the  pastoral  simplicity  with 
which  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  John  performed  his  part  in  this  service  of 
love,  that  the  author  will  give  it  as  described  by  himself.* 

"  In  the  whole  month  of  December  we  had  such  heavy  rains,  that 
the  country  catechists  and  schoolmasters  could  not  arrive  at  Christmas, 
when  it  was  first  proposed  that  the  distribution  of  the  Bibles  should 
take  place  :  wherefore  a  Sunday  in  January,  which  fell  on  the  Epiph- 
any, was  appointed  for  that  valuable  present ;  which  made  it  indeed 
one  of  the  most  festival  and  joyful  ones  in  the  year.  Wheh  I  had 
preached  in  the  Malabar  church,  on  the  different  means  of  promoting 
the  salutary  knowledge  of  Christ  Jesus,  (mentioning  in  particular  the 
Bible  Society  and  the  Bengal  Committee,  together  with  the  generous 
subscription,)  they  all  came,  from  the  church  to  my  house,  and  re- 
ceived these  spiritual  treasures  ;  after  which  they  fell  on  their  knees, 
and  the  eldest  among  them  addressed  so  heartfelt  and  grateful  a 
prayer  to  our  gracious  Lord,  that  he  would  reward  all  the  authors  of 
this  valuable  gift  with  the  riches  of  his  grace,  that  all  who  were  pre- 
sent were  much  edified." 

Among  the  persons  who  thankfully  received  the  gift  of  a  Bible  on 
this  interesting  occasion,  were,  "  a  Roman  Catholic  priest"  and  "  a 
pious  clerk"  of  the  same  communion.  The  former  of  these  was 
stated  to  have  been  in  the  habit  of  "  recommending  the  reading  of 
the  Holy  Scriptures  in  his  Malabar,  Portuguese,  and  French  dis- 
courses from  the  pulpit ;"  and  the  other  is  introduced,  requesting  that, 
•'  in  that  most  blessed  season  in  which  this  sacred  treasure  was  dis- 
tributed gratis  by  the  humanity  and  charity  of  the  honourable  Bible 
Society,  to  many  thousands  of  people  in  Europe  and  in  this  country, 
he,  though  a  Roman  Catholic,  might  be  made  an  object  of  their 
charity." 

These  facts  are  more  worthy  of  notice,  because  they  corroborate 
the  remarks  which  have  been  made  on  the  indication  of  an  improved 
spirit  in  many  members  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church,  both  as  it  re- 
spects their  regard  for  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  their  charity  towards 
the  members  of  the  Protestant  Church. 

The  reader  may  be  reminded,  before  quitting  this  scene,  that  the 
ground  on  which  it  is  laid,  viz,  both  Tanjore  and  Tranquebar,  was 
under  the  peculiar  care  and  superintendence  of  the  venerable  Society 
for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge.  To  that  Institution  the  pious 
Missionaries  who  have  laboured  in  this  field,  were  under  the  great- 
est obligations.  It  took  cognizance  of  them  when  they  were  little 
known,  and  aided  them  when  they  were  ill  supported ;   and  it  is  en- 

*  The  letter  is  dated  Tranqwebar,  Jan.  '24, 1811. 


316 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  11. 


titled  to  the  praise  and  satisfaction  of  having  enabled  those  good  sol 
diers  of  Jesus  Christ  to  keep,  for  nearly  a  century,  a  difficult  post  in 
an  enemy's  country.  The  circumstances  of  this  spiritual  warfare 
having,  through  the  blessing  of  God,  taken  a  favourable  turn,  it 
is  matter  of  joy  to  reflect,  that  these  meritorious  individuals  have 
thus  been  supphed  with  the  means  and  the  hopes  of  being  more  ex- 
tensively and  usefully  employed.  It  will  not  therefore  be  supposed, 
that  a  reference  to  the  venerable  Society  before-mentioned,  under 
whose  'direction  they  are  placed,  has  been  made  with  any  otlier 
desi«-n,  than  to  lead  the  reader  to  observe  the  friendly  bearings  of 
the  two  Societies  towards  each  other;  and  to  demonstrate,  with 
how  little  judgment,  propriety,  and  feeling,  those  have  acted,  who 
have  taken  so  much  pains  to  sow  the  seeds  of  dissension  between 
them. 

Such  were  the  successes  of  the  Corresponding  Committee  in  the 
commencement  of  1 8 11 .  Impressed  with  joy  and  gratitude  for  these 
auspicious  results,  they  addressed  a  letter  to  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  congratulating  the  members  of  it  on  "  the  diffusion  of 
their  spirit  in  India,  as  well  as  their  general  success  in  other  parts  of 
the  world."  The  conclusion  ivas  in  these  remarkable  words  :  "  We 
do  earnestly  join  them  in  beseeching  Almighty  God  '  to  inspire  con- 
tinually' OUR  CHRISTIAN  BRETHREN  OF  ALL  DENOMINATIONS  '  WITH 
THE  SPIRIT  OF  TRUTH,  UNITY,  AND  CONCORD  ;'  AND  TO  '  GRANT  THAT 
ALL  THEY  THAT  DO  CONFESS  HIS  HOLY  NAME,  MAY  AGREE  IN  THE 
TRUTH  OF  HIS  HOLY  WORD,  AND  LIVE  IN  UNITY  AND  GODLY  LOVE.'  "* 

This  Letter,  which  was  dated  January  15,  1811,  proved  the  har- 
binger of  intelligence  of  still  greater  importance  ;  and  it  should  have 
appeared  as  though  it  was  intended  to  prepare  the  Society  for  that 
more  interesting  communication  with  which  it  was  so  soon  ailer  to  be 
gratified  from  the  same  quarter. 

The  purport  of  this  observation  will  appear  from  the  following 
particulars. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1811, — the  Anniversary  of  that  occasion  on 
which  the  Rev.  D.  Brown  preached  his  memorable  sermon, — the 
Rev.  H.  Martyn,  with  whose  name,  qualifications,  and  labours,  the 
reader  has  been  made  in  some  degree  acquainted,  resumed  the  sub- 
ject which  his  senior  had  brought  forward ;  and,  encouraged  by  the 
success  which  had  attended  that  effort,  made,  from  the  same  pulpit,  a 
direct,  argumentative,  and  affecting  "  Appeal  on  behalf  of  900,000 
Christians  in  India,  who  were  in  want  of  the  Bible."  In  this  ad- 
mirable discourse  the  preacher  unfolded  the  principles  of  Christian 

*   Euglish  Liturgy. 


CHAP.  HI]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  ^ll 

philanthropy ;  described  the  plan  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society  ;  enumerated  the  four  classes  of  Portuguese,  Tamul,  Malay- 
alim,  and  Cingalese  Christians,  amounting  to  900,000 ;  and  urged,  in 
the  most  serious  and  importunate  terms,  the  duty  of  supplying  them 
with  the  Holy  Scriptures.  Adverting  to  the  mother  country  in  her 
religious  care  for  India,  the  preacher  thus  justly  and  eloquently  ex- 
claims : 

"  What  a  splendid  spectacle  does  she  present !  Standing  firm 
amidst  the  overthrow  of  the  nations,  and  spreading  wide  the  shadow 
of  her  wings  for  the  protection  of  all,  she  finds  herself  at  leisure, 
amidst  the  tumults  of  war,  to  form  benevolent  projects  for  the  best 
interests  of  mankind.  Hef  generals  and  admirals  have  caused  the 
thunder  of  her  power  to  be  heard  throughout  the  earth :  now  her 
ministers  of  religion  perform  their  patt,  and  endeavolir  to  fulfil  the 
high  destinies  of  heaven  in  favour  of  their  country.  They  called  on 
their  fellow-citizens  to  cheer  the  desponding  nations  with  the  book  of 
the  promises  of  eternal  life,  and  thus  afford  them  that  consolation  from 
the  prospect  of  a  happier  world  which  they  have  little  expectation 
of  finding  amidst  the  disasters  and  calamities  of  this.  The  summons 
was  obeyed.  As  fast  as  the  nature  of  the  undertaking  became  un- 
derstood, and  was  perceived  to  be  clearly  distinct  from  all  party-busi- 
ness and  visionary  project,  great  numbers  of  all  ranks  in  society,  and 
all  persuasions  in  religion,  joined  with  one  heart  and  one  soul,  and 
began  to  impart  freely  to  all  men  that,  which,  next  to  the  Saviour,  is 
God's  best  gift  to  man. 

"  The  example  first  set  by  a  few,  has  produced,  as  you  will  per- 
ceive by  their  Report,  a  holy  emulation  through  the  land.  Auxiliary 
Societies  are  forming  from  town  to  town,  to  take  charge  of  their 
respective  vicinities,  and  to  aid  the  Parent  Institution.  It  is  now 
time  that  we  should  step  forward :  shall  every  town  and  hamlet  in 
England  engage  in  the  glorious  cause,  and  the  mighty  empire  of 
India  do  nothing  ?" 

The  interest  excited  by  the  delivery  of  this  sermon  from  the  pul- 
pit, and  its  subsequent  circulation  in  print,  co-operating  with  exer- 
tions of  a  more  private  and  confidential*  description,  accelerated  the 

*  The  nature  and  effect  of  these  private  exertions  nnay  be  inferred  from  the  fol- 
lowing extract  of  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  David  Brown  to  Lord  Teignmouth,  dated 
February  21,  181L 

"  Your  Lordship's  letter  of  August  1 1,  1810,  with  another  from  Mr.  Owen  of  the 
7th  of  August,  reached  me  in  a  very  critical  moment.  The  private  communica- 
tion of  these  letters  to  some  of  our  chosen  leaders,  gave  decision  and  triumph  to 
our  operations  " 


318  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  U. 

accomplishment  of  an  object  most  important  to  British  India,  and 
possibly  to  all  Asia, — the  formation  of  a  Society  at  Calcutta,  on  the 
plan  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  in  aid  of  its  ope- 
rations as  directed  to  Hindoostan.  This  event  took  place  on  the 
21st  of  February,  1811,  at  the  College  of  Fort  WiUiam.  The  chair 
was  occupied  by  that  early,  zealous,  and  persevering  friend  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  the  late  Rev.  David  Brown.  The 
unanimity  and  zeal  so  strikingly  manifested  by  all  who  were  present 
at  the  Meeting,  were  truly  delightful.  "  It  was"  (said  Mr.  Brown,) 
"  the  most  gratifying  sight  I  ever  witnessed:  'They  were  all  with 
one  accord  in  one  place.'  " 

Intelligence  of  this  Establishment,  which  united  in  the  hst  of  its 
patrons,  conductors,  and  supporters,  some  o£  the  most  distinguished 
European  residents  at  Calcutta,  was  (as  has  been  intimated)  regu- 
larly notified  by  its  President,  J.  H.  Harrington,  Esq.  in  a  very 
luminous,  able,  and  detailed  address  to  the  President  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  It  appeared  from  Mr.  Harrington's  Let- 
ter, that,  with  a  A'iew  to  assure  the  Governor  General  in  Council  of 
the  Society's  strict  adherence  to  its  object,  it  was  wished  to  invest  the 
chief  Secretary  with  the  otfice  of  President ;  but  his  important  duties 
having  prevented  him  from  accepting  that  trust,  he  consented  to  be- 
come a  Vice  President,  and  undertook  to  communicate  to  the  Govern- 
ment regular  information  of  the  Society's  proceedings.  This  precau- 
tioti  was  judiciously  taken.  Itevinced,onthepart  of  the  members  of  the 
Society,  a  consciousness  of  rectitude  in  their  motives,  and  a  persua- 
sion of  the  political  safety  and  even  expediency  of  their  undertaking  ; 
and  it  was  calculated  (in  the  language  of  Mr.  Harrington)  "  to  stifle 
the  voice  of  objection  from  those  who  are  ready  to  take  alarm  at 
every  attempt,  however  legitimate  and  unexceptionable,  to  propagate 
Christianity  in  India." 

The  object  to  which  the  institution  of  the  Calcutta  Auxiliary  Bible 
Society,  had  a  primary  and  more  immediate  respect,  was,  the  supply 
of  the  "  Christians  in  India,"  as  enumerated  and  described  by  Mr. 
Martyn,  in  the  sermon  before  cited.  "  It  will  be"  (says  Mr.  Har- 
rington) "  a  work  of  years  to  supply  the  demand  which  now  exists 
for  the  word  of  God  among  the  different  denominations  of  Indian 
Christians  ;  and  it  must  be  our  constant  duty  to  watch  for  and  meet 
any  future  demand,  as  it  may  arise.  Whether  we  shall  ever  attempt 
more  than  this,  must  depend  upon  circumstances  ;  and  especially  upon 
the  continued  zeal  with  which  our  Institution  may  be  supported." 

It  is  obvious,  from  this  definition  of  the  limits  within  which  the 
employment  of  the  Calcutta  Auxiliary  Bible   Society  would,  for 


CHAP.  III.j  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  319 

a  period  at  least,  be  confined,  that  the  Corresponding  Committee 
would  neither  be  superseded,  nor  abridged,  in  its  functions,  by  this 
new  and  most  important  Establishment,  Under  this  persuasion,  the 
Secretary  of  that  Committee  transmitted,  in  their  name,  a  copy  of 
the  proceedings  at  Fort  WilUam  on  the  21st  of  February,  as  officially 
communicated  to  them  ;  congratulating  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society  on  this  accession  of  strength  to  their  cause  in  India ;  and 
pledging  themselves,  by  the  co-operation  which  they  expected  from 
the  new  Institution,  and  the  encouragement  and  support  given  by  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  in  their  Secretary's  letter  of  the 
7th  of  August,  1810, — "to  promote,  to  the  utmost  of  their  power, 
the  object  of  the  Society,  the  dispersion  of  the  knowledge  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  by  circulating  them  among  all  nations  and  languages  ; 
and  which,  through  the  blessing  of  God,  they  hoped  would  be  accom- 
plished in  due  time." 

The  view  which  the  Corresponding  Committee  in  Calcutta  took  of 
their  situation  and  functions,  appeared  to  the  conductors  of  the  Pa- 
rent Institution  in  London  to  be  strictly  correct ;  and  the  measures 
adopted  in  both  places  were  regulated  by  the  spirit  of  this  common 
determination.  The  Rev.  Mr,  Brown  continued  to  act  in  the  capa- 
city of  Secretary  to  the  Corresponding  Committee ;  as,  since  the 
event  of  his  lamented  decease,  his  successor,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thoma- 
son,  has  done  :  and  the  operations  of  the  two  Societies  (for  such  in 
effect  they  are)  have  harmonized  most  efficaciously  ;  while  the  boun- 
daries between  them,  as  they  respect  employment,  responsibility, 
and  funds,  have  been  most  exactly  and  conscientiously  maintained. 

It  only  remains  to  state,  that  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
immediately  on  the  receipt  of  the  intelligence  above  detailed,  pro- 
ceeded to  a  grant  of  1000/.  in  favour  of  the  Calcutta  Auxiliary  Bible 
Society  ;  and  raised  their  annual  contribution  to  the  Corresponding 
Committee  from  2000/.  to  4000/.  for  the  current  year :  thereby  jus- 
tifying the  confidence  reposed  in  them  by  their  diligent  fellow-labour- 
ers in  the  East,  and  redeeming  efiectually  the  pledge  they  had  given 
of  continued  "  encouragement  and  support." 

In  the  United  States  of  America,  the  operations  of  the  existing  So- 
cieties, and  the  establishment  of  new  ones,  proceeded  with  increased 
alacrity  ;  and  the  publicity  given  to  the  object  of  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society  through  various  channels,  by  its  Trans-Atlantic 
associates,  augmented  progressively  the  number  of  its  friends  and 
supporters  on  that  portion  of  the  Western  continent. 

The  distribution  of  the  Scriptures  was  performed,  by  the  several 
Societies  which  had  atttained  sufficient  maturity  to  enter  upon  active 


320  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  U. 

measures,  with  great  liberality,  judgment,  and  eflfect.  Some  estimate 
may  be  formed  of  the  accuracy  with  which  this  assertion  is  made,  by 
an  attention  to  the  following  statement  of  the  Philadelphia  Bible  So- 
ciety. 

"  The  whole  number  of  Bibles  and  New  Testaments  distributed  by 
this  Society  since  it  was  organized,  (about  two  years  and  a  half  ago,) 
is  5422.  And  as  it  has  been  a  rule  of  distribution  from  the  lirst,  not 
to  give  a  copy  of  the  Scriptures  where  one  was  possessed ;  and  as 
very  many  of  the  copies  have  been  for  the  use  of  families,  there  is 
reason  to  believe,  that,  through  the  immediate  agency  of  this  Society, 
the  words  of  eternal  life  are  now  read  or  heard  by  at  least  8000 
souls,  who,  three  years  since,  were  strangei's  to  this  inestimable 
blessing." 

It  appeared  also  to  these  Societies,  as  they  prosecuted  their  in- 
quiries into  the  state  of  the  population  comprehended  within  their 
respective  districts,  "  that  more  individuals  and  whole  families  were 
without  a  Bible,  than  had  been  generally  supposed." 

It  is  also  worthy  of  observation,  that  the  disposition  of  the  poor  in 
America  to  possess  the  Scriptures,  corresponded  with  that  which  has 
already  been  noticed  in  Europe  and  in  the  East.  They  are  described 
as  receiving  the  Bibles  presented  to  them,  with  "  gratitude  ;  and,  in 
not  a  few  cases,  with  tears  of  joy.'' ^ 

As  the  American  Societies  had  derived  their  origin  from  the  exam- 
ple of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  as  they  had  been 
encouraged,  in  the  infancy  of  their  operations,  by  some  portion  of 
pecuniary  aid  from  its  funds,  their  progress  appears  to  have  been 
stimulated  by  the  accounts  of  its  successful  exertions,  and  by  the  tes- 
timonies of  that  parental  regard  with  which  it  had  fostered  their  in- 
cipient effort.  This  conduct,  on  the  part  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  had  further  the  tendency  to  promote  that  reciprocation 
of  amicable  sentiment  and  cordial  affection  which  ought  to  subsist 
between  the  followers  of  Christ  in  every  part  of  the  world.  Such 
was  its  effect  on  the  several  American  Societies  :  and  the  managers 
of  the  Charleston  Bible  Society  may  be  considered  as  interpreting 
the  sentiments  of  their  sister  Institutions,  when  they  state,  that, 
"  though  they  had  never  been  insensible  to  the  benevolent  labours  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  both  at  home  and  abroad,  they 
were  pecuharly  affected  by  its  hberality  to  the  Bible  Societies  in  the 
United  States ;  and  that  they  regarded  it  not  only  as  honourable  to 
the  Christian  name,  and  auspicious  to  the  common  cause,  but  as  a 
new  call  to  imitate  the  career  of  their  Trans- Atlantic  brethren." 
Such  a  spirit  of  genuine  catholicisip  distinguished  the  intercourse 


CHAP.  III.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  321 

between  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  in  London  and  the 
kindred  Institutions  throughout  the  American  States.  The  Bible  was 
in  each  case  the  harbinger  of  peace  ;  and  the  progress  of  truth  made 
way  for  the  triumphs  of  charity. 

While  the  foreign  connexions  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety were  thus  increasing  both  in  extent  and  in  operation,  its  native 
strength,  and  domestic  influence,  were  receiving  proportionate  aug- 
mentation. The  spirit  which  had  gone  forth  in  the  preceding  year, 
continued  to  display  itself  in  different  parts  of  the  United  Kingdom 
with  prodigious  effect;  and,  in  Britain  alone,  fifty-three  new  Socie- 
ties, with  their  several  Branches,  were  added  to  the  number  of  its 
Auxiliary  Institutions. 

Of  these  new  Societies,  fourteen  comprehended  twelve  entire 
counties :  and  among  them  were  the  Episcopal  See  of  Norwich,  and 
the  University  of  Cambridge.  Several  of  the  remainder  were  erect- 
ed in  stations  of  considerable  importance  :  and  they  united  in  their 
patronage.  Her  Royal  Highness  the  Princess  of  Wales ;  the  Dukes 
of  Gloucester,  Bedford,  Buccleugh,  Grafton,  and  Manchester ;  the 
Marquisses  of  Buckingham,  Cornwallis,  Hertfort,  and  Huntley ;  the 
Earls  of  Bristol,  Cardigan,  Carysfort,  Chatham,  Coventry,  Derby, 
Dysart,  Glasgow,  Hardwicke,  Moira,  Northesk,  Orford,  Sandwich, 
Temple,  and  Yarmouth ;  Viscounts  Barnard,  Dudley  and  Ward,  Fal- 
mouth, Grimston,  Hampden,  Hinchinbrook,  Kirkwall,  Milton,  and 
Proby  ;  Lords  Anson,  Boston,  Braybrooke,  Carrington,  Gardner, 
Grenville,  Henniker,  Mahone,  and  Riversdale  :  names  altogether  new 
to  the  Society — with  three  of  its  tried  Episcopal  Patrons,  the  Bi- 
shops of  Durham,  Sahsbury,  and  Norwich  ;  and  many  other  persons 
of  distinction,  property,  and  influence.  When,  in  addition  to  what 
has  been  stated,  it  is  considered,  that  the  total  of  these  Societies  em- 
braced a  large  proportion  of  at  least  thirty  counties ;  that  among 
them  were  to  be  enumerated  places  of  such  rank  and  population  as 
York  and  Plymouth,  Aberdeen  and  Halifax,  Glasgow*  and  Bath ;  not 


*  In  the  "  Address"  issued  by  the  Glasgow  Society,  on  occasion  of  its  regular 
formation,  there  is  a  passage  which  dates  its  real,  though  unpublished  existence, 
from  a  period  antecedent  to  the  existence  of  any  other  Auxiliary  Bible  Society. 

"  Immediately  upon  the  arrival  of  the  tidings,  that  a  Society  had  been  formed  in 
London,  of  which  the  exclusive  object  was,  the  circulation,  throughout  the  whole 
world,  of  the  pure  word  of  God,  without  note  or  comment,  the  late  David  Dale, 
Esq.  delighted  with  the  grandeur  and  simplicity  of  the  idea,  entered  into  it,  as  al! 
who  knew  him,  might  have  expected,  with  his  whole  heart.  He  immediately  remit- 
ted a  subscription  worthy  of  his  usual  benevolence:  he  spoke  of  the  Institution  tc 


322  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PARTH. 

to  mention  other  towns  of  no  mean  consequence  :  it  will  be  manifest, 
that  an  extraordinary  accession  was  brought  by  these  new  Establish- 
ments to  the  Society's  numerical  strength,  local  influence,  and  gene- 
ral respectability. 

To  investigate  the  circumstances  by  which  Institutions  so  nume- 
rous and  powerful  were  produced  within  so  short  a  period  of  time, 
would  be  a  grateful,  and  in  many  respects,  not  a  very  difficult  em- 
ployment to  the  author  of  this  History,  were  it  compatible  with  the 
limits  of  his  proposed  undertaking.  He  may,  however,  be  permit- 
ted, from  his  own  experience,  to  say,  that  if  the  veil  which  covers 
them,  were  in  all  cases  withdraAvn,  few  transactions  would  be  found 
to  demonstrate  more  effectually  the  wisdom  of  persevering  in  a  good 
cause,  and  depending  upon  the  blessing  of  Providence,  than  the  his- 
tory of  those  exertions  which,  promoted  by  feeble  instruments,  and 
fluctuating  through  various  vicissitudes  of  opposition  and  encourage- 
ment, terminated  at  last  so  successfully  in  the  establishment  of  these 
local  and  Auxiliary  Societies.  The  greater  part  of  this  information 
must  be  unavoidably  withheld  ;  and  the  little  which  it  may  be  thought 
expedient  to  communicate,  must  be  confined  to  those  Institutions 
which,  either  from  the  sphere  they  occupy,  or  the  influence  they 
possess,  are  entitled  to  particular  consideration. 

The  first  in  order  of  the  Auxifiary  Societies  which  it  is  proposed 
to  select  for  more  particular  description,  is,  the  Bedford  and  Bedford- 
shire Auxiliary  Bible  Society.  This  Institution,  so  distinguished  for 
the  splendour  of  its  patronage,  the  harmony  of  its  proceedings,  and 
the  systematic  efticiency  with  which  its  operations  have  been  con- 


oihers,  who  instantly  caught  the  same  ardour,  and  expressed  it  in  tlie  same  way: 
and  thus,  under  his  auspices,  a  Society  was  at  length  formed,  (a  meeting  of  the 
friends  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  having  been  called  for  this  pur- 
pose by  public  advertisement,)  which  appointed  a  Treasurer,  a  Secretary,  and  s^ 
Committee  of  management,  kept  regular  books,  and  continued  to  hold  its  stated 
and  occasional  Meetings  for  several  years.  In  this  way,  Mr.  Dale  naturally  came 
to  be  recognized  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  as  their  Treasurer  and 
general  agent  for  Glasgow,  and  the  west  of  Scotland  :  in  which  capacity  he  conti- 
nued to  act,  till  his  lamented  death.  For  some  time  after  this,  the  Meetings  of  the 
above-mentioned  Society  continued  to  be  regularly  held;  till,  other  schemes  com- 
ing to  be  suggested,  for  aiding  the  Parent  Institution,  they  were  allowed,  although 
contrary  to  the  wishes  of  some  of  its  Members,  to  fall  into  discontinuance.  It  never 
was  however  formally  dissolved ;  and  the  Glasgow  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  may 
therefore  be  justly  considered  as  the  revival,  on  a  larger  scale,  of  an  Institution 
which  formerly  existed ;  and  which,  from  the  date  of  its  commencement,  July, 
1805,  appears  to  have  been  the  first  Society  of  the  kind  in  the  kingdom." 


CHAP,  Ill.l  ANn  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  3^ 

ducted,  was  established  at  Bedford,  on  the  28th  of  November,  l&ll, 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Duke  of  Bedford,  Lord  Lieutenant  of  the 
county,  who  honoured  the  Meeting  by  presiding  on  that  occasion. 

His  Grace,  in  opening  the  business  of  the  day,  deUvered  his  senti- 
ments on  the  general  merits  of  the  question,  in  a  manner  equally  dig- 
nified and  impressive.  He  began  by  observing,  that,  on  receiving  an 
apphcation  to  accept  the  office  of  President  to  the  proposed  AuxHiary 
Society,  he  had  thought  it  his  duty,  before  he  engaged  in  a  step  of  so 
much  importance,  maturely  to  investigate  the  nature,  plan,  and  ge- 
neral principles  of  the  Institution  which  he  was  called  upon  to  sup- 
port ;  and  that,  after  the  fullest  consideration  which  he  was  able  to 
give  to  the  subject,  his  mind  was  strongly  impressed  with  the  im- 
portance of  the  object,  and  the  obligation  on  his  part  to  give  it  his 
most  cordial  and  unqualified  approbation  and  support.  His  Grace 
stated  it  as  his  opinion,  that  it  was  to  the  dissemination  of  the  Scrip- 
tures we  were  to  look,  in  order  to  reclaim  the  vitious,  instruct  the 
ignorant,  and  administer  consolation  to  the  afflicted ;  and  declared  it 
to  be  his  conviction,  that  sound  policy  and  the  support  of  religion 
were  invariably  the  same  : — that  what  His  Majesty  had  once  expressed 
on  this  subject,  was  deeply  engraven  on  his  mind,  namely,  "  that  he 
hoped  to  see  the  day  when  every  poor  man's  child  in  his  dominions 
should  be  able  to  read  bis  Bible:"  in  this  sentiment  his  Grace  most 
heartily  concurred  ;  and  with  this  view  he  had  thought  it  incumbent 
on  him  to  countenance  the  measures  taken  for  extending  the  blessing 
of  religious  education  among  the  lower  classes  of  Society. 

The  late  Samuel  Whitbread,  Esq.  M.  P.  for  Bedford,  bore  his  tes- 
timony to  the  excellence  of  the  Scriptures ;  and  urged  the  propriety 
of  their  general  circulation,  in  a  manly  and  energetic  address.  The 
following  extract  will  enable  the  reader  to  form  some  judgment  of  the 
eloquent  manner  in  which  this  lamented  individual  exerted  himself  in 
favour  of  the  Institution. 

"  I  cannot  express  the  great  delight  and  satisfaction  I  feel,  that  I 
have,  this  day,  for  the  first  time  in  the  course  of  my  life,  seen  pub- 
licly realized  the  great  maxims  of  the  Gospel.  I  have,  for  the  first 
time,  heard  acknowledged  that  great  incontrovertible  truth,  without 
the  recognition  of  which  human  wisdom  is  vain,  that  the  Gospel  of 
Christ  is  able  to  stand  alone — that  it  requires  not  the  assistance  of 
man  to  make  it  penetrate  into  the  heart  of  man  ;  and  that  from  the 
propagation  of  divine  knowledge  by  Jesus  Christ,  down  to  the  pre- 
sent day,  it  is  the  Gospel,  and  the  Gospel  alone,  which  is  designed  to 
speak  to  the  heart,  and  thereby  raise  the  soul  to  everlasting  glory," 


324  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  II. 

"  It  has  been"  (added  Mr.  Whitbread)  "  one  great  object  of  my 
life,  to  direct  men  to  that  great  precept  in  Holy  Writ,  '  Search  the 
Scriptures' — to  discuss  them  for  themselves  ;  they  were  designed  to 
be  searched  by  every  man  for  himself,  that  each  might  exercise  his 
own  judgment  on  the  momentous  truths  therein  contained.  Gentle- 
men, I  am  speaking  from  the  sincerity  of  my  heart,  from  conviction, 
from  the  experience  of  a  life  not  short,  not  inactive,  that  in  the  Gos- 
pel is  contained  the  compendium  of  all  wisdom,  as  well  as  the  ever- 
lasting source  of  immortal  happiness  ;  and  that  if  a  man  be  truly  in 
heart  a  Christian,  if  he  have  courage  to  acknowledge  himself  such  by 
word  and  deed,  if  he  will  proceed  to  transact  all  his  public  and  pri- 
vate concerns  with  the  maxims  of  the  Gospel  in  his  hand,  and  en- 
graved on  his  heart,  the  wisdom  of  the  wisest,  who  do  not  act  on  that 
system,  will  be  confounded  before  him." 

The  reader  has  already  been  made  acquainted  with  the  failure  of 
an  application  from  certain  clergy  in  Colchester  and  the  vicinity,  for 
the  patronage  of  Bishop  Randolph  to  the  plan  of  an  Auxiliary  So- 
ciety. The  circumstances  of  the  applicants  were,  in  consequence 
of  that  failure,  rendered  not  a  little  critical  and  embarrassing.  Re- 
spect for  their  Diocesan  forbade  them  to  proceed  in  direct  contradic- 
tion to  that  judgment  which  their  own  application  had  elicited.  At 
the  same  time,  the  cause  in  which  they  had  embarked,  was  of  too 
great  importance  to  be  sacrificed  to  considerations  of  mere  prudence 
and  decorum  :  they  had  unanimously  determined  to  give  their  support 
to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  ;  and  nothing  had  been  ad- 
vanced, in  the  rescript  of  the  Bishop,  to  justify  a  departure  from  this 
deliberate  and  recorded  determination.  The  line  of  duty  therefore 
appeared  to  lie  between  the  immediate  establishment  of  an  Auxiliary 
Bible  Society  and  the  abandonment  of  the  design  altogether.  Such 
at  least  were  the  sentiments  of  that  part  of  the  clerical  Committee 
with  which  the  measures,  so  unhappily  discouraged,  had  originated. 
The  clerical  Committee  was  accordingly  dissolved ;  and  the  members 
of  it  who  retained  their  attachment  to  the  cause,  mutually  covenanted, 
jn  coincidence  with  that  opinion  which  the  author,  at  their  instance, 
had  expressed — "  to  aid  the  Society  by  individual  Subscriptions,  and 
to  wait  for  a  more  favourable  opportunity  of  giving  it  collective  sup- 
port by  a  local  and  Auxiliary  Establishment."* 

It  deserves  to  be  mentioned,  to  the  honour  of  the  Dissenters,  whose 
zeal  for  the  cause  was  only  restrained  by  their  deference  to  the  mem- 

*  The  author's  Letter  to  the  Rev.  P.  Yorke. 


CHAP.  III.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  c^^o 

bers  of  the  Established  Church,  that  they  acquiesced  very  readily 
in  that  moderate  proposition  ;  which,  though  it  did  not  extinguish  their 
hopes  of  witnessing  an  Auxiliary  Society,  visited  them  at  least  with 
disappointment  and  delay.  If  the  Dissenters  of  Colchester  and  East 
Essex  had  been  actuated  by  sectarian  feelings,  rather  than  by  a  con- 
scientious desire  to  promote  the  dissemination  of  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
they  might  have  availed  themselves  of  a  crisis  so  favourable  to  their 
interest,  and  cliallenged  with  impunity  that  pre-eminence,  which  those 
to  whom  it  appertained,  and  had  been  constantly  offered,  did  not  feel 
themselves  at  liberty  to  assert.  But,  with  a  degree  of  candour  and 
forbearance  which  will  surprise  those  only  who  are  unacquainted 
with  their  general  conduct,  the  former  resigned  themselves  to  the  dis- 
posal of  the  latter,  and  spontaneously  declined  taking  any  other  steps 
than  those  which  should  enable  them  to  afford  an  unostentatious,  but 
not  ineffectual  co-operation. 

Such  was  the  state  at  which  things  had  arrived  in  February,  1810. 
From  that  period  till  the  summer  of  181 1,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town 
and  vicinity,  who  felt  an  interest  in  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, and  regretted  their  inability  to  localize  it  among  themselves, 
neglected  no  means  by  which  they  might  testify  their  attachment  to 
the  Institution,  and  keep  alive  that  spark,  which  they  hoped  would 
one  day  kindle  into  a  flame,  and  both  animate  and  enlighten  their  dis- 
trict. For  this  purpose,  lists  of  subscribers  were  formed  in  those 
circles  with  which  the  principal  friends  of  the  Society  were  connected, 
a  local  agent  was  appointed,  a  depository  for  Bibles  and  Testaments 
opened,  and  every  thing  was  done  which  might  concentrate  the  dissi- 
pated feeling,  and  turn  the  circumstances  of  present  constraint  to  the 
best  and  most  profitable  account. 

The  time,  however,  seemed  now  arrived,  when  the  reason  of  that 
constraint  might  be  considered,  if  not  to  have  absolutely  ceased,  yet 
to  have  materially  declined  ;  and  the  altered  circumstances  to  justify, 
on  the  part  of  those  who  had  submitted  to  it,  a  correspondent  altera- 
tion in  their  decision  and  their  conduct. 

In  the  interval  of  nearly  eighteen  months,  much  had  occurred  to 
change  the  aspect  of  the  question,  and  to  render  the  merits  of  the 
Society  more  clear  and  notorious.  The  different  pubhcations  to  which 
the  writings  of  Dr.  Wordsworth  and  others  gave  occasion,  had  done 
much  to  elucidate  the  principles  of  the  Institution,  and  to  rescue  it 
from  the  many  injurious  and  unfounded  imputations  with  which  it  had 
been  assailed.  The  dissemination  of  its  Annual  Reports  had  thrown 
still  more  light  upon  its  design,  and  furnished  unanswerable  testimonies 
of  its  practical  utility.     Add  to  these  the  increase  of  Auxiliary  Soci- 

43 


326  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  II, 

eties  ;  a  circumstance  which,  more  than  any  other,  attested  the  ap- 
probation with  which  both  its  object  and  its  proceedings  were  regarded 
through  no  inconsiderable  portion  of  the  country.  It  might  there- 
fore be  presumed,  that  much  of  the  prejudice  against  the  Society  had 
abated,  even  in  those  minds  in  which  it  had  most  strongly  existed ; 
and  that  a  candid  neutrality  might  be  looked  for,  even  where  decided 
encouragement  was  not  to  be  expected. 

Influenced  by  these  considerations,  and  unable  any  longer  to  deny 
to  themselves  and  their  neighbours  the  privilege  of  sharing  in  a  work 
of  such  extensive  beneficence,  the  friends  of  the  Society  in  this  in- 
tei-dicted  sphere,  resolved  to  make  an  effort  which,  without  occa- 
sioning offence,  might  lead  eventually  to  the  full  accomplishment  of 
their  wishes.  With  this  view  they  arranged  a  plan  for  constituting 
an  Auxiliary  Society  on  such  a  principle  as,  by  selecting  the  patrons 
and  officers  from  laymen  exclusively,  should  devolve  the  responsibihty 
of  its  measures  upon  the  laity,  and  leave  to  the  clergy  the  unencum- 
bered privilege  of  silent  and  discretionary  co-operation.  Of  the  So- 
ciety thus  constituted,  Horatio  Cock,  Esq.  a  gentleman  of  sound  prin- 
ciples and  acknowledged  integrity,  kindly  accepted  the  office  of  Pre- 
sident ;  while  that  of  Secretaries  was  undertaken  by  some  excellent 
individuals,  whose  disinterested  zeal,  and  indefatigable  activity,  de- 
serve the  highest  commendation. 

The  success  of  this  establishment,  which  was  effected  in  July, 
1811,  induced  the  clerical  members  of  it  to  determine  upon  giving  it 
somewhat  more  than  a  tacit  and  circuitous  encouragement. 
;  They  had  approved  their  respect  for  the  opinion  of  their  Diocesan — 
an  opinion  in  which  they  could  not  acquiesce — by  suspending  exertions 
which  a  sense  of  duty  would  not  allow  them  to  abandon.  In  that  pe- 
riod of  intermission,  they  had  aided  the  formation  of  a  District  Com- 
mittee, in  connexion  with  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Know- 
ledge ;  and  evinced,  in  that  transaction,  a  degree  of  zeal  and  liberality, 
which,  if  equalled,  was  certainly  not  exceeded,  by  that  of  their  bre- 
thren who  ranked  with  the  opponents  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society. 

Convinced,  therefore,  that  they  had  satisfied  every  claim  which  a 
deference  to  their  Ecclesiastical  Superior  could  lay  to  their  respect- 
ful forbearance,  they  felt  that  it  was  time  to  attend  to  claims  from 
another  quarter,  and  to  assert,  in  a  decorous  manner,  the  exercise 
of  that  judgment  of  which  no  human  authority  was  competent  to 
divest  them.  In  order  to  this,  the  Rev.  Philip  Yorke,  Rector  of 
Horksley;  the  Rev.  W.  Ward,  Rector  of  Myland ;  the  Rev.  W. 
Dakins,  Rector  of  St.  James's ;  and  the  Rev.  John  Bull,  Curate  of 


CHAP.  HI.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  327 

St.  Peter's,  united  with  the  committee  of  the  Colchester  Society,  in 
requesting  the  attendance  of  the  Secretaries  of  the  Parent  Institution 
at  the  first  Anniversary,  on  the  10th  of  December,  1811  ;  and  in 
further  sohciting  the  author  to  preach  recommendatory  sermons,  on 
the  Sunday  immediately  preceding,  at  the  churches  of  St.  Peter  and 
St.  James.  The  object  of  these  applications  was  granted,  in  each 
instance  ;  and  both  at  the  Church  and  the  Town-Hall,  the  Mayor  of 
the  town,  H.  Smytbies,  Esq.  and  the  Earl  of  Chatham,  Commandant 
of  the  District,  gave  the  Society  the  benefit  of  their  countenance  and 
decided  support. 

Thus,  after  two  years  of  conflict  and  trial,  and  through  vicsisi- 
tndes  of  difficulty  which  nothing  but  the  happiest  union  of  prudence 
and  zeal  could  have  overcome,  the  friends  of  the  British  and  Foreio^a 
Bible  Society  had  the  satisfaction  to  see  the  object  of  their  wishes, 
their  labours,  and  their  prayers,  auspiciously  accomplished.  The 
Auxiliary  Society  struck  root  at  this  first  Anniversary ;  and  from  that 
period  down  to  the  present,  it  has  approved  itself  one  of  the  brio'htest 
ornaments  and  the  steadiest  supporters  of  the  Parent  Institution. 

The  design  of  establishing  an  Auxihary  Society  for  Nonvich  and 
the  county  of  Norfolk  had  been  long  entertained  by  some  zealous 
and  highly  respectable  individuals,  long  before  the  amiable  Bishop 
of  that  diocese  had  become  publicly  connected  with  the  Parent  Insti- 
tution. It  will  not  offend  those  who  co-operated  in  these  incipient 
measures,  to  particularize,  as  peculiarly  distinguished  in  preparino- 
and  maturing  them,  Joseph  John  Gurney,  Esq.  a  member  of  that 
religious  communion  which,  in  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
as  well  as  in  so  many  other  works  of  public  usefulness,  has  shown 
itself  among  the  first  in  activity,  and  the  last  in  pretensions.  The 
attendance  of  the  bishop  of  Norwich  at  the  seventh  Anniversary  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  his  Lordship's  acceptance 
of  the  office  of  a  Vice-President  of  the  Institution,  determined  the. 
movers  in  the  business  at  Norwich  to  press  the  matter  to  a  conclusion  • 
and  the  Bishop  having  consented  to  patronize  the  proposed  Auxihary 
Society,  it  was  accordingly  formed  in  the  great  hall  of  St.  Andrew, 
on  the  11th  of  September,  1811.  This  event  v.-as  rendered  remark- 
able, among  other  things,  by  the  appearance  of  a  Bishop,  for  the  first 
time,  at  a  meeting  for  the  formation  of  an  Auxiliary  Bible  Society. 

In  proposing  the  resolutions  upon  which  the  Auxiliary  Society  was 
to  be  founded,  the  Bishop  dchvered  his  sentiments  on  the  general 
subject,  with  much  candour,  neatness,  and  decision. 

His  Lordship  observed,  that  it  had  rarely  fallen  to  his  lot  to  be 
present  at  a  meeting,  having  for  it?  object  the  promotion  of  a  cause 


32S  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  U 

60  deeply  interesting  to  the  best  feelings  of  the  human  heart,  and  so 
truly  consonant  with  the  soundest  dictates  of  the  understanding. 
When  he  looked  around  him,  and  saw  so  many  enlightened  Christians 
of  different  ranks  and  persuasions — Clergymen  of  the  church  of  Eng- 
land, and  Dissenting  Ministers — when  he  saw  such  men  step  forward 
together  in  the  establishment  of  an  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  to  assist 
and  co-operate  with  the  Parent  Institution,  he  could  not  but  view  it 
as  the  most  beneficent  scheme  that  could  enter  into  the  mind  of  man. 
The  object  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  was  simply  and 
solely  to  disseminate  the  Holy  Scriptures,  without  note  or  comment, 
through  every  town  and  village  in  the  kingdom,  and  to  extend  the 
blessings  of  the  Gospel  to  every  nation  tinder  heaven  ;  and  he  would 
appeal  to  every  man  who  heard  him,  whether  such  an  Institution  did 
not  forcibly  call  to  its  support  the  exertions  of  every  pious  Christian 
— of  all  who  wish  well  to  the  public  peace  and  welfare,  and  to  the 
present  and  future  happiness  of  mankind.  He  would  only  add,  in 
recommendation,  that  all  who  subscribed  to  it  would  be  entitled  to 
the  privilege  (and  a  glorious  privilege  it  was)  of  ranking  among 
the  patrons  of  an  Institution,  the  beneficial  effects  of  which  had  been 
felt  both  here  and  in  almost  every  corner  of  the  globe. 

The  unanimity  of  the  meeting  was  greatly  promoted  by  the  truly- 
Christian  spirit  which  his  Lordship  manifested  in  every  part  of  the 
proceedings  ;  but  more  especially  by  his  liberal  acknowledgment  of 
"  the  particular  satisfaction  which  it  gave  him  to  know,  that  his  elec- 
tion to  the  office  of  President  bad  met  with  the  approbation  of  so  pi- 
ous and  sensible  a  man  as  the  Dissenting  Minister"*  who  had  seconded 
the  motion  for  his  Lordship's  appointment  to  that  station.  The  scene 
was  indeed,  throughout,  one  continued  display  of  catholic  sentiment 
and  charitable  feeling  :  sects  and  parties  lost  for  a  time  their  invidi- 
ous distinctions  :  and  Episcopalians  and  Anti-Episcopalians  united  to- 
gether, under  the  auspices  of  a  Bishop  of  the  Established  Church,  in 
a  solemn  resolution  to  distribute  their  common  Scriptures,  and  to  pro- 
mote conjointly  the  spiritual  instruction  of  all  mankind. 

On  the  evening  of  this  interesting  day,  the  first  advances  were  made 
towards  effecting  at  Ipswich  a  similar  establishment  for  that  town,  and 
the  county  of  Suffolk.  From  what  passed  at  an  interview  with  two 
benevolent  individuals,  Mr-  John  Shewell  and  Mr.  John  Head,  both 
members  of  tlie  Society  of  Friends,!  the  author  was  enabled  to  take 

♦  The  Rev.  J.  ICinghorn. 

t  The  former  of  these  is  one  of  the  present  Secretaries  of  the  Suffolk  Auxiliary 
Bible  Society  ;  the  lutter  terminated  very  suddenly  a  most  useful  life,  before  the  re- 


CHAF   111  j  AND  FOREIGN  FIBLE  SOCIETY.  329 

a  step  which  cleared  the  difficulties  at  that  time  obstructing  the  efforts 
of  these  valuable  labourers,  and  made  way  for  tlie  entrance  of  those 
into  the  field,  whose  talents,  station,  and  character,  might,  in  a  human 
interpretation  of  the  phrase,  be  expected  to  command  success.  Fore- 
most in  the  ranks  stood  the  Rev.  Thomas  Cobbold,  Vicar  of  St.  Mary 
Tower,  a  man  approved  by  long  service  in  the  Church,  and  by  tried 
attachment  to  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge.  With 
a  resolution  which  no  sophistry  could  shake,  and  an  equanimity  which 
no  violence  could  disturb,  he  maintained  the  part  he  had  taken,  both 
against  public  and  private  assailants,  till,  by  the  blessing  of  God  on 
his  persevering  efforts,  and  those  of  his  associates,  a  Society  was  es- 
tablished in  the  Shire  Hall  at  Ipswich,  on  the  10th  of  December, 
1811,  for  the  county  of  Suffolk,  under  the  same  Episcopal  auspices, 
and  with  the  same  diffusion  of  Christian  harmony,  which  had  distin- 
guished the  Establishment  at  Norwich.  The  Meeting  was  called  by  a 
requisition,  to  which  twenty-six  Clergymen  (the  greater  part  of  whom 
were  beneficed)  affixed  their  signatures ;  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Cobbold 
took  the  chair,  at  the  request  of  the  Bishop,  and  under  the  written  as- 
surance of  his  Lordship  that  he  would  have  "  a  particular  satisfaction 
in  being  represented  by  a  Clergyman  whose  steady  and  judicious  at- 
tachment to  our  excellent  EstabHshment  rendered  him  a  peculiarly 
proper  person  to  promote  tlie  success  of  an  Institution  so  inseparably 
connected  with  the  best  interests  of  that  Establishment." 

It  added  greatly  to  the  interest  of  this  Meeting,  and  tended  not  a 
little  to  exalt  the  character  of  the  Society,  that  the  late  Sir  William 
Dolben,  for  many  years  representative  of  the  University  of  Oxford^ 

turu  of  the  Second  Anniversary.  The  Value  which  the  Suffolk  Society  attached  t» 
the  spivices  of  tliis  cxcellciit  man,  will  appear  from  the  following  record  of  their 
sentiments  in  the  Second  Annual  Report;  a  record,  to  the  truth  of  which,  from  his 
own  knowledge  of  both  the  parties  mentioned,  the  author  desires  to  bear  an  alFcc- 
iionate,  as  he  can  a  conscientious,  tcbtiiuony. 

"  I'he  Committee  cannot  conclude  their  Report,  without  expressing  their  regret 
at  the  great  loss  the  Society  has  sustained,  during  the  course  of  the  present  year, 
in  being  deprived  of  the  assistance  of  two  of  its  most  active  and  able  member?, 
Captain  Sabine,  and  the  late  ever  to  be  lamented  Mr.  John  Head.  The  loss  of  the 
former,  whom  the  fate  of  war  has  called  to  serve  his  king  and  coniitry  in  Canada,  we 
bope,  is  but  temporary,  and  that  he  may  hereafter  resume  his  active  and  useful 
services.  But  the  loss  of  the  latter  is  irreparable;  and  the  only  consolation  we  can 
derive  under  it,  is,  that  we  trust  he  is  gone  to  receive  the  recompense  of  his  piojs 
labours  in  abetter  state.  We  cannot  better  sum  up  the  character  of  this  excel- 
lent man,  than  in  the  appropriate  words  of  Job;  Wlien  the  eye  saw  him,  it  nave 
wibicss  unto  him;  because  he  delivered  the  poor  that  cried,  and  the faikci less,  and 
him  that  had  none  to  help  him.  The  blessinrf  of  him  thiU  uxts  ready  to  perish  came 
upon  him,  and  h&  cmtsed  the  widoxv's  heart  to  sing  for  joy:' 


330  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  II. 

one  of  the  earliest  and  most  steady  promoters  of  the  abolition  of  the 
slave  trade,  and  then  in  the  eighty-fifth  year  of  his  age,  addressed  the 
conductors  in  a  letter  of  warm  commendation  ;  and  that  the  celebrated 
abolitionist,  Thomas  Clarkson,  Esq.  was  both  the  bearer  and  reader 
of  it  to  the  assembly. 

The  following  sentiments,  expressed  in  that  letter,  will  be  received 
with  additional  interest,  when  it  is  considered  that  the  venerable 
author  of  them  is  no  longer  numbered  among  the  living. 

"  I  earnestly  request  you  to  offer  my  unfeigned  respects  to  the 
venerable  and  patriotic  Society  now  assembled  at  Ipswich  for  the  glo- 
rious purpose  of  disseminating  the  words  of  eternal  life  throughout 
the  known  world  :  for  making  '  their  sound  go  forth  into  all  lands,  and 
their  words  unto  the  ends  of  the  world.'  It  does  indeed  appear  to  me 
(looking  at  the  generous  co-operation  of  those  who  have  thought  pro- 
per to  separate  themselves  from  the  Established  Church  with  those 
who  remain  in  it)  to  be  the  opening  of  that  blessed  epoch  foretold  in 
the  Scriptures,  when  we  shall  be  '  one  fold  under  one  Shepherd, 
Jesus  Christ  the  righteous.'  " 

The  formation  of  the  Cambridge  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  originated 
in  the  zeal  of  certain  junior  Members  of  the  University,  who,  de- 
spairing of  seeing  that  object  accomphshed  through  the  exertions  of 
their  seniors  and  superiors,  determined  to  try  what  could  be  effected 
by  a  decorous,  but  persevering  employment  of  their  own. 

Such  an  Establishment  at  Cambridge  had,  indeed,  long  "  been  con- 
templated by  many  Members  of  the  University  as  a  most  desirable 
object.  While  multitudes  in  almost  every  part  of  the  kingdom  were 
active  in  expressing  their  approbation  of  a  Society  whose  only  object 
is  that  of  distributing  copies  of  the  Scriptures,  without  note  or  com- 
ment, into  every  country  of  the  known  world,  it  was  reasonably  to  be 
expected,  that  the  Universities,  which,  in  conjunction  with  the  King's 
Printer-,  enjoy  the  exclusive  privilege  of  printing  the  Bible,  would 
not  be  among  the  last  in  promoting  the  most  effectual  means  of  its  dis- 
tribution."* 

The  only  declaration  however  which  appeared,  of  a  corporate  de- 
scription, in  favour  of  the  Society,  was,  the  resolution  by  which  the 
Master  and  Seniors  of  Trinity  College  presented  its  funds,  on  the  day 
of  the  National  Jubilee,  with  a  donation  of  fifty  guineas.  The  value 
of  this  testimony  was  greatly  enhanced  by  the  following  sentiments, 
expressed  in  their  name,  on  a  subsequent  occasion,  through  the  Rev. 

*  Sec  Report  of  the  rormation  of  the  Cambridge  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  p.  I, 


CHAP.  III.]  ^ND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  331 

G.  King,  at  that  time  a  senior  Fellow  of  the  College,  and  now  Pre- 
bendary of  Ely. 

"  The  Master  has  again  commissioned  me,  in  the  name  of  our  So- 
ciety, to  express  our  lively  sentiments  of  gratitude  for  the  very  flat- 
tering attention  with  which  the  Committee  have  honoured  us  in  this 
instance  ;  and  to  convey  our  most  cordial  wishes  for  the  increasing 
prosperity  and  success  of  an  Institution  which,  considering  the  mag- 
nificence of  its  design,  the  extent  of  its  objects,  the  incalculable  good 
it  is  now  doing,  and  which,  under  the  blessing  of  the  Almighty,  it  may 
continue  to  promote,  to  the  unspeakable  happiness  of  the  most  distant 
generations,  can  never  be  too  highly  admired,  or  too  warmly  sup- 
ported." 

So  strong  and  decisive  a  testimony  from  such  a  quarter  was  con- 
strued as  a  favourable  omen  of  future  progress  ;  and  a  hope  was  en- 
tertained, that  the  University  might  be  induced  to  follow  the  example 
of  one  of  its  principal  colleges  ;  and,  by  a  grant  from  its  chest,  to  con- 
fer  on  the  Society  the  important  sanction  of  a  complete  academical 
recognition.  Among  those  who  cherished  this  hope,  and  professed 
their  willingness,  should  circumstances  encourage  him,  to  attempt  its 
accomplishment,  was  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Pearson,  Master  of  Sidney 
College.  A  sudden,  and,  to  appearance,  immature  death,  removed 
this  candid  and  amiable  man  ;  and  with  him  the  project  of  moving  the 
University  in  favour  of  the  Society  was  suffered  to  expire. 

It  will  be  obvious,  from  what  has  been  stated,  that  if  no  direct 
efforts  towards  an  Establishment  had  been  made,  much  had  been  done 
to  prepare  the  way  for  their  success,  whenever  it  should  be  judged 
expedient  to  make  them.  The  quantity  of  feeling  on  the  side  of  the 
Society,  though  scattered,  was  by  no  means  inconsiderable  ;  and 
nothing,  in  fact,  was  wanted,  but  some  engine  of  sufficient  potency  to 
draw  it  forth,  and  to  give  it  a  due  and  effectual  concentration.  Such 
an  engine  was  at  length  produced,  and  that  in  a  quarter  from  which 
it  was  least  expected. 

Towards  the  close  of  November,  181 1,  a  few  Undergraduates  con- 
ferred together  on  the  measures  which  it  might  be  proper  to  adopt, 
with  a  view  to  promote  the  establishment  of  an  Auxiliary  Bible 
Society.  At  first,  their  meetings  were  private,  their  members  few, 
and  their  proceedings  altogether  confidential.  But  as  their  design 
was  made  known,  their  number  acquired  considerable  augmentation  ; 
and  their  measures  put  on  an  appearance,  which  seemed  to  those  of 
their  Seniors  with  whom  they  communicated,  to  call  for  the  exercise 
of  no  ordinary  delicacy  and  discretion. 


332  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  II. 

The  progress  of  that  zeal  which  diffused  itself  so  widely,  was  not 
a  little  accelerated  by  the  effect  of  a  Sermon,  preached  before  the 
University  by  the  Rev.  Charles  Simeon ;  towards  the  close  of  which 
the  preacher  adverted,  in  terms  of  decorous,  but  grave  reprehen- 
sion, to  the  delay  of  his  Academical  brethren,  in  joining  the  standard 
of  the  Bible  Society. 

The  passage  referred  to  was  as  follows  : 
*'  Here  let  us  pause  a  moment,  to  reflect,  what  stress  our  Reform- 
ers laid  on  the  Holy  Scriptures,  as  the  only  sure  directory  for  our  faith 
and  practice,  and  the  only  certain  rule  of  all  our  ministrations.  They 
have  clearly  given  it  as  their  sentiment,  that,  to  study  the  word 
©f  God  ourselves,  and  to  open  it  to  others,  is  the  proper  labour  of  a 
minister ;  a  labour  that  calls  for  all  his  time  and  all  his  attention  :  and 
by  this  zeal  of  theirs  in  behalf  of  the  inspired  volume  they  were 
happily  successful  in  bringing  it  into  general  use.  But,  if  they  could 
look  down  upon  us,  at  this  time,  and  see  what  an  unprecedented  zeal 
has  pervaded  all  ranks  and  orders  of  men  among  us,  for  the  dissemi- 
nation of  that  truth  which  they,  at  the  expense  of  their  own  lives, 
transmitted  to  us,  how  would  they  rejoice,  and  leap  for  joy  !  Yet, 
methinks,  if  they  cast  an  eye  on  this  favoured  spot,  and  saw,  that, 
while  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  thus  exalted  in  almost  every  other 
place,  we  are  lukewarm  in  his  cause,  and  while  thousands  all  around 
us  are  emulating  each  other  in  exertions  to  extend  his  kingdom 
through  the  world,  we,  who  are  so  liberal  on  other  occasions, 
have  not  yet  appeared  in  his  favour,  they  would  be  ready  to  rebuke 
our  tardiness,  as  David  did  the  indifference  of  Judah,  from  whom  he 
had  reason  to  expect  the  most  active  support ;  '  Why  are  ye  the  last 
to  bring  the  king  back  to  his  house,  seeing  the  speech  of  all  Israel  is 
come  to  the  king,  even  to  his  house  ?'  But  I  am  persuaded,  that  there 
is  nothing  wanting  but  that  a  suitable  proposal  be  made  by  some  per- 
son of  influence  among  us  ;  and  we  shall  soon  approve  ourselves 
worthy  sons  of  those  pious  ancestors  :  I  would  hope  there  is  not  an 
individual  among  us,  who  would  not  gladly  lend  his  aid,  that  the  word 
of  the  Lord  may  run  and  be  glorified,  not  in  tills  kingdom  only,  but, 
if  possible,  throughout  all  the  earth." 

Such  sentiments,  delivered  with  the  earnestness  of  manner  which 
characterizes  this  zealous  and  most  useful  preacher,  could  not  fail  to 
produce  a  very  serious  impression  :  and  to  its  influence,  in  concur- 
rence with  other  co-operating  causes,  may  be  ascribed  the  rapid  in- 


CHAP.  HI]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  333 

crease  of  the  Juvenile  Association,  and  that  state  of  ripeness  in  their 
preparatory  measures,  which  occasioned,  both  in  their  own  breasts 
and  those  of  their  superiors,  the  perplexity  already  described. 

It  was  in  this  crisis  that  the  author,  having  been  minutely  informed 
of  all  which  had  taken  place,  made  a  visit  to  the  University,  and 
conferred  with  the  principal  friends  of  the  Institution  upon  the  best 
means  of  turning  the  laudable  zeal  of  the  Juniors  to  the  most  profit- 
able account.  It  was  immediately  perceived  that  something  must  he 
done  without  further  delay,  or  every  thing  might  be  lost :  and  it  was  not 
more  evident  to  the  Seniors  than  to  the  Juniors  themselves,  that,  as 
well  for  the  credit,  as  for  the  good  oi  the  cause,  the  conduct  of  the 
business  should  be  transferred  from  the  latter  to  the  former  ^  and  the 
whole  undertaking  be  devolved  on  those  who,  by  their  age,  their  sta- 
tion, and  their  authority,  were  qualified  to  bring  it  to  an  orderly  and 
successful  termination.  On  these  principles  the  author  negotiated 
with  the  Vice-Chancellor  and  the  Deputy-Mayor  for  their  permission 
to  hold  a  pubhc  Meeting  in  the  Town-Hall ;  and  he  had  the  satisfac- 
tion of  witnessing,  within  the  compass  of  a  very  few  hours,  the 
definitive  arrangement  of  that  plan  of  operations,  which,  through 
many  vicissitudes  of  hope  and  fear,  was  carried  into  effect  on  the 
1 2th  of  December,  1811,  and  added  the  important  name  of  Cambridge 
to  the  list  of  Auxiliary  Bible  Societies. 

The  proceedings*  which  took  place  on  that  memorable  occasion 
are  before  the  pubhc ;  and  some  judgment  may  be  formed  of  their 

*  In  the  account  of  these  proc^dings,  as  accredited  by  Professor  Parish,  the 
following  report  is  given  of  the  introduction  of  the  business,  which,  as  it  exhibits 
the  conduct  and  sentitnents  of  some  distinguished  individuals,  it  may  not  be  im- 
proper to  insert  in  this  place. 

"On  the  12th  of  December,  at  about  half  past  eleven,  the  Earl  of  Hardwicke 
entered  the  Town-Hall,  which  had  been  crowded  at  an  early  hour,  and,  upon  the 
motion  of  Lord  Francis  Osborne,  seconded  by  Dr.  Jowett,  was  unanimously 
requested  to  take  the  chair. 

"His  Lordship  opened  the  business  of  the  day,  by  stating,  that  he  had  not 
attended  the  Meeting  from  any  consideration  of  his  official  situation,  either  in  the 
University  or  the  County  ;  but  he  was  happy  to  meet  his  friends  and  neighbours, 
as  a  Cambridgeshire  gentleman,  to  promote  so  beneficial  an  object.  He  had, 
indeed,  but  lately  examined  with  attention  the  statements  respecting  the  Bible 
Society  ;  but  they  had  produced  in  his  own  mind  such  conviction,  that  he  had  felt 
equal  surprise  and  regret,  when  he  found  that  a  contrary  opinion  was  held  by  some 
individuals,  and  particularly  by  one,  for  whose  literary  attainments  he  had  the 
highest  respect,  and  whose  society  he  had  never  enjoyed  vrilhout  deriving  instruc- 
tion from  his  conversation.  He  was  glad  that  individual  was  not  present,  that 
there  might  be  nothing  but  harmony  and  unanimity  in  the  Meeting.  His  Lordship 
stated,  that,  during  the  earlier  period  of  the  Bible  Society,  his  official  duties  hart 

44 


B34 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  H. 


character  and  effect,  by  the  perusal  of  that  interesting  record.  But 
to  appreciate  the  scene  in  which  the  fire  of  a  Clarke,  the  brilliancy 
of  a  Dealtry,  the  pathos  of  a  Simeon,  and  the  simplicity  of  a  Parish, 
were  associated  with  the  ponderous  sense,  searching  argumentation, 
and  colloquial  majesty  of  a  Milner,  would  require  to  have  been  pre- 
sent, and  to  have  witnessed  their  united  influence  on  a  numerous 
auditory  of  different  ranks  and  ages,  electrified  with  pleasure,  and 
worked  up  to  the  highest  pitch  of  Christian  exultation.  Such  was 
the  scene  exhibited  on  the  12th  of  December,  1811,  "a  day  to 
which"  (in  the  language  of  the  above-mentioned  record)  "  succeed- 
ing generations,  when  every  distinction  between  Christian  brethren 
shall  be  annihilated,  will  look  back  with  joy  and  gratulation." 

The  accomplishment  of  this  object,  so  honourable  to  the  parties 
with  whom  it  originated,  as  well  as  to  those  by  whom  it  was  conducted 
to  its  issue,  was  not,  however,  effected  without  experiencing  a  very 
formidable  and  decided  opposition.  This  opposition  proceeded  from 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Marsh,  Margaret  Professor  of  Divinity  ;  a  person  of  cob^ 


called  hira  to  Ireland,  where,  as  he  was  happy  to  state,  from  his  own  knowledge, 
many  respectable  Roman  Catholic  Clergyraen  were  anxious  to  distribute  the  Bible. 
His  Lordship  next  adverted  to  Dr.  Buchanan's  Christian  Researches  iu  the  East, 
which  had  opened  to  our  view  so  ample  a  field  for  the  exercise  of  benevolence,  par- 
ticularly among  the  Syrian  Christians. 

"  The  Earl  of  Hardwicke  then  read  the  following  extract  of  a  letter,  dated 
December  9,  addressed  by  his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  Gloucester  to  the 
Right  Rev.  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Bristol: 

'"  As  1  am  a  warm  friend  of  the  "  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  ;■"  as  I  am 
anxious  to  see  the  Auxiliary  Society  established,  being  convinced  that  this  Insti- 
tution, so  far  from  being  injurious  to  the  Established  Church,  must  be  of  essential 
utility  to  it;  I  cannot  refuse  offering  a  donation  :  and  if  at  the  Meeting  it  should  be 
proposed  to  make  me  the  President  of  the  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  I  could  not 
certainly  decline  such  a  proposal,  which  must  be  considered  as  a  flattering  distinc- 
tion. 1  have  now  to  request  of  your  Lordship  to  have  the  goodness  to  state  to  the 
Meeting  the  impossibility  of  my  being  present,  but  to  convey  the  assurance  of  the 
warm  interest  I  take  in  the  success  of  the  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  and  to  men- 
tion my  intention  of  sending  a  donation  of  fifty  guineas  to  the  Institution.' 

"  His  Lordship  concluded  by  stating,  that  he  should  not  expatiate  further  on  the 
objects  of  the  Bible  Society,  which  the  Secretaries  from  the  Parent  Society,  who 
had  favoured  the  Meeting  with  their  presence,  were  so  much  more  able  to  explain." 

"  Lord  Francis  Osborne  then  rose,  and  stated  to  the  Meeting,  that  he  entirely 
concurred  in  the  sentiments  of  the  Noble  Earl,  except  in  one  part.  He  wished 
that  all  who  object  to  this  Society  were  present,  particularly  the  learned  Professor 
alluded  to.  He  would  not  pretend  to  place  himself  on  a  level  with  that  gentleman, 
either  in  natural  endowments  or  literary  attainments;  but  on  this  point  he  should 
have  no  fear  fully  to  meet  his  objections,  to  which  a  complete  answer  might  be 
^iven,  even  by  a  child,  provided  only  that  child  were  a  Christian." 


CHAP.  III.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  335 

siderable  learning,  dexterous  abilities,  and  profoundly  versed  in  the 
tactics  of  controversy.  In  an  Address  to  the  Senate,  the  Professor 
contrasted  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  with  the  Society  for 
Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  and  contended,  that  the  latter  was 
entitled  to  exclusive  encouragement  and  support.  The  opening  of 
the  Professor's  Address,  though  sufficiently  ingenious,  and  adapted  to 
ensnare  the  unwary,  was  certainly  constructed  too  much  on  the  model 
of  a  recruiting  advertisement,  to  be  worthy  of  a  cause  wherein  ac- 
curacy of  statement  and  dignity  of  manner  were  peculiarly  required. 

'*  We  have  at  present"  (says  the  Professor)  ^^two  very  extensive 
Bihle  Societies,  the  one  founded  in  1699,  the  other  in  1804.  Both  of 
our  Archbishops,  and  all  our  Bishops,  (with  the  Prince  Regent  at  the 
head,)  are  Members  of  the  former :  neither  of  the  two  Archbishops, 
and  only  a  small  proportion  of  the  Bishops,  are  Members  of  the 
latter." 

From  the  constitution  of  the  two  Societies,  and  their  respective 
objects,  the  Professor  contends,  that  "  our  encouragement  of  the  an- 
cient Bible  Society  must  contribute  to  the  welfare  of  the  Established 
Church ;"  while,  "  our  encouragement  of  the  modern  Society,  not 
only  contributes  nothing  to  it  in  preference  to  other  churches,  but 
may  contribute  even  to  its  dissolution." 

To  this  Address,  which  formed  the  text-work  for  much  of  what  was 
said  on  the  12th  of  December,  a  reply  was  produced  by  the  Right 
Hon.  N.  Vansittart,  now  Chancellor  of  His  Majesty's  Exchequer ; 
and  iOOO  copies  of  it  were  printed,  on  the  recommendation  of  His 
Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  Gloucester,  and  distributed  among  the 
persons  assembled  at  the  formation  of  the  Cambridge  Auxiliary  So- 
ciety. 

For  this  reply  from  a  Member  of  the  University  of  Oxford,  the 
cause  was  indebted  to  the  somewhat  indiscreet  zeal  of  the  author  of 
the  Address  ;  and  the  occasion  of  it  is  thus  explained  by  Mr.  Vansit^ 
tart,  in  the  introduction  of  his  Letter. 

"  Dear  Sir, 
"  I  beg  to  return  you  my  best  acknowledgments  for  the  communi- 
cation of  your  Address  to  the  Senate  of  Cambridge  ;  which  I  the  more 
strongly  feel  as  a  mark  of  your  kind  attention,  as  I  have  not  the  ho^ 
nour  of  belonging  to  that  University,  and  as  it  is  a  considerable  time 
since  I  have  been  so  fortunate  as  to  have  had  an  opportunity  of  meet- 
ing you.  You  were  perhaps  not  aware  that  you  were  sending  your 
Address  to  a  Member  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society ;  but 
J  accept  as  a  proof  of  kindness  your  candid  and  friendly  admonition, 


336  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  H. 

which  affords  me  an  opportunity  of  justifying  myself  to  you  as  a 
Church  of  England  man,  for  contributing  my  assistance  to  that  Insti- 
tution. I  never  indeed  before  thought  it  necessary  to  offer  any  apo- 
logy for  so  doing ;  for  though  I  was  aware,  before  I  engaged  in  the 
Society,  that  it  had  been  represented  as  dangerous  to  the  church,  it 
appeared  to  me  that  this  charge  had  been  so  completely  refuted,  that 
it  is  with  no  less  surprise  than  regret  that  I  now  learn  that  you  still 
think  it  well  founded." 

Of  the  reply  itself,  it  may  be  affirmed,  in  general,  that  it  contains, 
witliin  a  small  compass,  a  clear  and  satisfactory  refutation  of  the 
charges  advanced  by  the  learned  Professor  against  the  principle  and 
tendency  of  the  Institution.  The  style  is  chaste,  the  sentiments  are 
pious  and  liberal;  and  the  Letter  is  characterized  throughout  by  such 
a  tone  of  candour  and  urbanity,  as  either  to  make  the  reader  forget 
that  he  is«perusing  a  controversial  pamphlet,  or  to  induce  him  almost 
to  be  in  love  with  controversy.  But  H  will  be  necessary  to  advert  to 
a  few  particulars. 

The  Professor  had  described  the  Society  as  deficient  in  patronage. 
On  this  topic  Mr.  Vansittart  thus  observes  :  "  Among  the  Vice-Presi- 
dents are  already  numbered  one  of  the  Archbishops  of  Ireland,  and 
five  English,  and  two  Irish  Bishops.  I  doubt  whether  the  Society  for 
Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  which  now,  as  you  observe,  enjoys 
the  countenance  of  the  whole  Episcopal  Bench,  was,  at  so  short  a  pe- 
riod from  its  formation,  honoured  with  the  support  of  so  large  a  body 
of  the  Prelates  ;  and  I  should  hope  the  time  might  not  be  far  distant, 
when  the  two  Societies  may  equally  flourish  under  the  general  patron- 
age of  them  all."  To  the  objection  against  the  principle  of  associ- 
ating with  Dissenters,  and  its  probable  injuriousness  to  the  interest  of 
the  Church,  the  Right  Honourable  author  thus  judiciously  replies : 
"  The  co-operation  of  Churchmen  and  Dissenters  in  religious  matters, 
so  far  as  they  can  conscientiously  co-operate,  seems  to  me  one  of  the 
most  efficacious  means  of  lessening  both  the  political  and  religious  evils 
of  disse7it.  It  dispels  prejudices,  promotes  candoijr  and  good  will,  and 
must  prepare  the  mind  for  the  reception  of  that  truth  which  every 
one  perceives  to  be  no  less  the  object  of  those  who  differ  from  him 
than  his  own  :  from  such  a  communication  the  Church  of  England  has 
nothing  to  fear,  and  every  thing  to  hope  ;  as  holding  {in  otir  judgment 
at  least)  that  middle  line  of  truth  in  which  all  opposite  opinions  have 
a  natural  tendency  to  coincide."  "  And  is  that  truth"  (Mr.  Vansit- 
tart asks)  "  more  likely  to  be  acknowledged  and  embraced,  by  minds 
embittered  by  mutual  jealousy  and  aversion,  or  by  such  as  have  been 


CHAP.  III.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  33- 

previously  softened  by  conciliation  ?"  With  regard  to  the  measure 
recommended  by  the  Professor, — that  all  Churchmen  should  with- 
draw from  the  Society,  and  leave  it  wholly  in  the  hands  of  the  Dis- 
senters— Mr.  Vansittart  shows,  that  it  is  fraught  with  inevitable  mis- 
chief. "  If  any  thing  can  make  the  Society  dangerous,  this  must  do 
it ;  because  there  can  then  be  no  check  to  any  sectarian  spirit  which 
might  introduce  itself,  and  which  must  be  unavoidably  irritated  by  so 
harsh,  and  I  think,  so  unjust  an  indication  of  jealousy."  One  of  two 
consequences,  Mr.  Vansittart  contends,  must  result  from  such  a  pro- 
ceeding ;  either  the  reduction  of  the  Society  to  utter  insignificance, 
an  evil  sorely  to  be  deprecated,  or  the  future  administration  of  it  in 
nearly  the  same  manner  as  before,  by  augmented  zeal,  activity,  and 
exertion  on  the  part  of  the  Dissenting  interest.  "  This  latter  alterna- 
tive" (he  observes)  "  is  to  transfer  to  Dissenters  all  the  honour  and 
influence  of  whatever  has  been  done,  and  whatever  may  be  done,  by  an 
Institution,  the  dawn  of  which  is  so  glorious,  but  which  is  visibly  rising 
into  brighter  day.  Shall  it  be  said,"  (asks  Mr.  Vansittart)  "  that  the 
Dissenters  alone  have  carried  the  word  of  God  to  every  nation 
under  heaven  ?  Or  shall  the  Church  of  England  continue  to  claim  the 
leading  part  in  this  important  work  ?  And  can  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land stand  so  secure  upon  a  narrow  and  exclusive  policy,  as  by  de- 
serving THE  blessings  AND  UNITING  THE  PRAYERS  OF  ALL  PEOPLE, 
NATIONS,   AND  LANGUAGES  ?" 

To  the  general  tendency  of  the  Professor's  advice  Mr.  Vansittart 
opposes  the  following  admirable  statement  and  most  salutary  counsel. 
"  The  existence  of  dissent  will  perhaps  be  inseparable  from  religious 
freedom,  so  long  as  the  mind  of  man  is  liable  to  error:  but  it  is  not 
unreasonable  to  hope,  that  hostility  may  cease  where  perfect  agreement 
cannot  be  established.  If  we  cannot  reconcile  all  opinions,  let  us 
endeavour  to  unite  all  hearts." 

These  arguments,  Mr.  Vansittart  observes,  had  induced  him  to 
consider  his  taking  a  part  in  the  concerns  of  the  Bible  Society,  not 
only  consistent  with,  but  a  proof  of,  the  sincerity  and  warmth  of  his 
attachment  to  the  Church  of  England  ;  and  "  far  from  repenting''''  (he 
adds)  "  of  what  I  have  done,  I  feel  convinced  I  shall  least  of  all  re- 
pent of  it  as  I  approach  that  state  in  which  the  distinction  of 
churchman  and  dissenter  shall  be  no  more." 

The  effect  produced  by  this  seasonable  and  masterly  reply  to  the 
specious  and  plausible  Address  of  the  Margaret  Professor,  was  such, 
as  from  the  pecuhar  circumstances  of  its  author — a  Layman,  an 
Oxonian,  and  a  Privy  Counsellor — and  the  excellence  of  its  compo- 
sition, might  have  been  naturally  expected  ;  and  though  it  did  not  get 


338  HISTORy  OF  THE  BRITISH  [f  ART  II. 

into  circulation  sufficiently  early  to  influence  the  decision  of  the  12th 
of  December,  yet  it  tended  materially  to  justify  the  proceedings  of 
that  day,  and  to  increase  the  estimation  and  influence  of  the  Cam- 
bridge Auxiliary  Society  in  the  eyes  of  the  greater  part  of  the  king- 
dom. 

Te  author  cannot  dismiss  this  interesting  transaction,  without  ob- 
serving how  greatly  the  cause  was  assisted  by  the  prompt  and  steady 
resolution  of  the  Earl  of  Hardwicke,*  who  consented,  without  hesita- 
tion, to  preside  at  the  proposed  Meeting;  and  whose  conduct  in  the 
chair  was  characterized  by  firmness,  candour,  and  moderation.  To 
His  Highness  the  Duke  of  Gloucester,  His  Grace  the  Duke  of  Bed- 
ford, and  Lord  Francis  Osborne,  a  similar  testimony  is  due.  Their 
acquiescence  in  the  plan  Avas  immediate  and  cordial ;  and  to  the  influ- 
ence of  their  unequivocal  declaration  in  its  favour,  it  stands  unques- 
tionably indebted  for  much  of  its  success. 

Nor  can  the  author  reconcile  it  to  his  sense  of  duty,  to  omit  record- 
ing the  honourable  tribute  which  was  paid  to  the  conduct  of  the 
Juniors  by  peisons  whose  names  will  be  found  to  be  not  more  identi- 
iied  with  the  best  learning  than  with  the  most  exact  discipline  of  the 
University. 

Of  these,  the  late  excellent  and  accomplished  Dr.  Jowett,  in  the 
introduction  to  the  printed  Report  of  the  Proceedings  on  the  12th  of 
December,  thus  expresses  himself,  when  describing  the  measures 
adopted  by  the  Juniors  with  a  view  to  the  establishment  of  an  Aux- 
iliary Bible  Society. 

"  Among  their  Seniors  there  were  some  who  were  apprehensive 
of  the  effects  of  their  ingenuous  ardour.  It  was  feared,  lest  by  a 
sort  of  tumultuous  petitioning,  they  might  attempt  to  intimidate  such 
as  were  not  favourable  to  their  wishes. 

"  Nothing,  however,  of  this  kind  came  to  pass.  They  never  met 
m  a  greater  number  than  thirteen ;  and,  sensible  of  the  impropriety 


*  In  the  year  1802,  the  Anniversary  Sermon  for  the  Society  at  Dublin  for  Dis- 
countenancing Vice,  was  preached  at  Dublin  before  the  Earl  of  Hardwicke,  at  that 
time  Lord  Lieutenant  of  Ireland,  and  Patron  of  the  Society.  In  the  Report  of 
that  year  the  Society  speak  of  the  dissemination  of  the  Scriptures  over  the  whole 
kingdom  as  the  first  of  their  objects,  and  that  in  the  progress  of  which  they  were 
principally  interested.  This  fact  will  both  illustrate  the  reference  which  the  Noble 
Earl  made  to  his  own  experience  when  he  stated,  that  "  during  the  earlier  period 
of  the  Bible  Society,  his  official  duties  had  called  him  to  Ireland,  where,  as  he  was 
happy  to  state,  from  his  own  knowledge,  many  respectable  Roman  Catholic  Cler- 
gymen were  anxious  to  distribute  the  Bible.'* 

Cambridge  Report- 


CHAF.  111.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  339 

of  large  combinations,  they  elected  a  Committee  of  four  to  receive 
the  names  of  such  persons  as  approved  of  their  views.  In  a  short 
time,  they  collected  upwards  of  two  hundred  names.  But  they  were 
not  ambitious  of  taking  the  lead  ;  their  sole  object  was  to  find  among 
their  Seniors  persons  who  would  conduct  the  institution  of  an  Aux- 
ihary  Bible  Society.  With  this  view,  they  waited  upon  the  Vice- 
Chancellor,  and  several  persons  of  considerable  standing  in  the  Uni- 
versity. The  Vice-Chancellor  received  them  in  a  gracious  manner, 
and  did  not  object  to  a  Meeting  of  their  whole  body,  provided  they 
could  obtain  from  any  of  the  Colleges  the  use  of  a  Hall.  But  such 
Meeting  was  never  held  by  the  Undergraduates.  They  were  per- 
fectly satisfied  when  they  heard  that  the  cause  in  which  they  had,  with 
so  much  honour  to  themselves,  engaged,  was  at  length  vmdertaken  by 
several  gentlemen  of  the  University,  the  county,  and  the  town." 

The  Rev.  Professor  Parish  (to  whom,  throughout  the  business,  a 
degree  of  praise  belongs,  which  is  withheld  only  from  a  respect  to  his 
modesty)  attested  the  correct  demeanour  of  these  honourable  youths 
in  the  following  eulogium  : 

"  Nor  is  it  the  Institution  alone,  but  the  first  promoters  of  it,  whom 
I  vtould  recommend  to  this  high  patronage.  I  mean  the  Junior  Stu- 
dents of  the  University,  who  have  shown  such  a  noble  zeal.  Zeal, 
indeed,  is  natural  to  youth  ;  but  when  have  we  seen  it  so  unanimously 
exerted  in  such  a  cause  ?  When  have  we  seen  in  young  men  such 
chastised  and  self-denying  zeal  ?  No  ardent  spirit  desiring  distinction 
for  himself;  but  all  with  one  consent  seeking  only  that  the  cause 
might  be  in  the  hands  of  such,  among  their  Seniors,  as  might  best 
conduct  it  to  a  prosperous  issue.  I  can  assure  the  Noble  Lord  in  the 
Chair,  that  I  am  persuaded  the  strictest  disciplinarian  in  the  Univer- 
sity cannot  fix  a  single  fault  on  any  individual  among  the  warm  and 
ingenuous  proposers  of  this  Institution." 

In  this  testimony  the  Rev.  Mr.  Simeon  decidedly  concurred  ;  and 
the  Dean  of  Carlisle  added  his  tribute  of  commendation  in  these  very 
explicit  and  emphatical  terms :  "  I  shall  never  scruple  to  repeat  with 
peculiar  delight,  that  it  is  to  the  everlasting  honour  of  the  Undergra- 
duates, that  the  ardour  of  youth,  in  the  best  of  causes,  has  been  di- 
rected by  the  most  signal  and  extraordinary  spirit  of  wisdom  and  mo- 
deration." 

To  this  detailed  narrative  of  the  circumstances  which  charac- 
terized the  origin  and  completion  of  the  Cambridge  Auxiliary  Bible 
Society,  it  would  be  easy  to  add  many  interesting  particulars  from 
sources  altogether  of  a  private  and  confidential  description  ;  the  dis- 
closure of  which  would  exhibit  some  retiring  characters  to  deserved 


340  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  II. 

admiration  :  but  they  have  their  present  reward  in  the  success  of  their 
exertions ;  and  they  shall  be  more  effectually  recompensed  at  the  re- 
surrection of  the  just. 

The  Hertfordshire  Meeting  had  in  it  this  remarkable  feature,  that 
it  displayed  the  union  of  two  gentlemen  of  great  consideration,  Wil- 
liam Baker,  Esq.  and  Thomas  Plummer,  Esq.  who,  for  a  series  of 
years,  had  stood  opposed  to  each  other  as  public  men,  but  who  found 
in  this  cause,  for  the  first  time,  a  ground  of  honourable  and  harmo- 
nious coalition.  This  topic  was  adverted  to  with  equal  feeling  and 
propriety  by  the  Chairman,  in  acknowledging  a  vote  of  thanks  for 
his  conduct,  which  had  been  respectfully  and  affectionately  moved  by 
his  pohtical  and  parliamentary  opponent.  "  I  cannot  refrain"  (said 
Mr.  Baker)  "from  expressing  the  delight  I  experience  in  seeing,  at 
the  close  of  a  long  political  life,  one  meeting  of  unanimity.  It  has 
been  my  lot  to  witness  many  of  dissension :  I  have  been  opposed  to 
gentlemen  near  me  on  questions  of  great  interest  to  public  men,  when 
both  sides  considered  themselves  as  engaged  in  the  right  cause.  It 
rejoices  my  heart  to  find,  at  last,  that  there  is  one  subject  on  which  we 
can  all  agree  ;  and  that  this  subject  is  the  dispersion  of  the  Scriptures. 
They  are"  (added  Mr.  Baker)  "  the  only  solace  of  affliction  in  this 
life,  and  afford  the  only  ground  of  hope  for  the  life  to  come." 

Next  to  that  which  has  been  described  as  forming,  by  its  peculia- 
rity, the  most  interesting  feature  in  the  Hertfordshire  Meeting,  was 
the  brilliant  display  of  sound  argument  and  impressive  eloquence,  on 
the  part  of  Mr.  Dealtry,  upon  being  appointed  Secretary  to  the 
County  Auxiliary  Bible  Society.  In  the  course  of  this  Speech,  Mr. 
Dealtry  combated,  with  great  seriousness,  and  with  irresistible  effect, 
the  various  objections  against  the  principles  of  the  Institution.  The 
author  regrets  the  necessity  he  is  under  of  confining  himself  to  the 
following  extract : 

"  To  me,  indeed,  the  whole  range  of  argument  for  the  dispersion 
of  the  Scriptures,  whatever  else  we  distribute,  appears  to  he  witliiu 
a  very  narrow  compass.  If  these  records  are  indeed  the  revelation 
of  God,  and  expressly  intended  to  make  us  wise  unto  salvation,  where 
IS  the  Christian  that  shall  dare  to  arrest  their  progress?  The  pretence, 
that  the  free  circulation  of  the  Bible  can  do  no  harm,  what  does  it 
amount  to  ?  That,  in  the  most  important  of  all  concerns,  Infinite  Wis- 
dom has  devised  means  ill  adapted  to  their  end !  That  man  is  wiser 
Ihan  his  Maker !  That  God  is  not  to  be  trusted  with  the  declaration 
of  his  own  will,  in  this  world,  which  his  hands  have  made  ! 

"  Are  we  commanded  to  make  the  Gospel  known  to  every  crea- 
^tore?  Let  us  have  the  Christian  courage  to  do  so,  and  leave  the 


CHAP.  EII.)  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  34^ 

consequences  to  God.  Is  there  a  member  of  tHe  Church  of  England, 
who  can  reasonably  entertain  apprehensions  for  the  EstabUshment 
from  the  widest  dispersion  of  the  Scriptures  ?  As  a  Minister  of  that 
Church,  I  beg  leave  to  say  that  I  fear  not  the  test ;  she  is  not  built 
upon  a  foundation  of  sand,  but  upon  the  firm  basis  of  the  everlasting 
Gospel.  She  has  no  need  to  hide  herself  in  darkness :  her  goodly 
proportions  are  then  best  discerned,  her  pillars  and  her  towers  are 
then  seen  to  the  fairest  advantage,  when  reflecting  back  the  full  blaze 
of  the  light  of  truth." 

At  the  Meeting  for  the  establishment  of  the  Huntingdonshire  Aux- 
iliary Bible  Society,  under  the  Presidency  of  His  Grace  the  Duke  of 
Manchester,  Viscount  Hinchinbrook  occupied  the  Chair:  and  con- 
siderable interest  was  given  to  the  transactions  of  the  day  by  a  sensi- 
ble and  animated  address  in  favour  of  the  cause  in  general,  on  the 
part  of  Lord  Carysfort.  His  Lordship,  after  the  business  had  pro- 
ceeded a  considerable  length,  rose,  and  expressed  his  desire,  that 
this  Meeting  should  not  separate  without  his  stating  his  cordial  appro- 
bation of  the  measures  proposed  for  adoption.  "  The  circumstances 
of  the  world,"  he  observed,  are  "  such,  at  present,  as  to  promise 
more  success  than  has  hitherto  attended  endeavours  of  this  kind. 
The  scourge  of  war,  the  destruction  of  many  kingdoms,  and  the  dan- 
gers which  threaten  those  that  remain,  must  impress  the  minds  of 
thinking  men  with  the  vanity  of  human  greatness,  the  folly  of  its  wis- 
dom, and  the  inefficacy  of  its  counsels.  This  nation  has  long  stood 
on  a  lofty  eminence ;  it  has  resisted  the  gigantic  usurpation  of  the 
enemy,  not  so  much  by  force  of  arms,  as  by  maintaining  a  reverence 
for  God,  and  a  reliance  on  his  protection  ;  not  presuming  to  boast  of 
strength  and  merit,  but  ever  looldng  to  him  to  dispose  all  our  af- 
fairs according  to  his  wisdom.  Not  to  go  into  all  the  topics  which 
this  occasion  would  naturally  suggest,  permit  me  to  make  one  obser^ 
vation — that  no  policy  is  so  good  as  true  religion.  We  are  all  chil- 
dren of  one  common  Father :  he  has  not  given  to  his  children  differ- 
ent rules  for  their  direction  ;  no,  he  has  given  but  one,  and  that  for 
all  mankind  ;  the  Bible  contains  a  code  of  laws  for  the  whole  human 
race.  The  undertaking,  which  we  are  met  this  day  to  patronize, 
seems  to  be  dictated  by  the  true  spirit  of  charity,  by  which  the  Sa- 
viour of  mankind  wished  to  connect  all  the  world.  What  can  be 
more  pleasing  than  to  see  the  Bible  held  out,  without  distinction  of 
parties,  in  all  languages  ?  What  can  be  a  higher  aim  than  to  connect 
men  in  brotherly  love  ?  May  the  time  soon  arrive  when  all  those 
disputes,  certainly  not  proceeding  from  the  spirit  of  religion,  which 
45 


342  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  11. 

have  so  long  agitated  tlie  minds  of  men,  shall  for  ever  cease,  and  har^ 
mony  and  peace  prevail !" 

From  the  rank  which  York  holds  in  the  British  Empire,  as  an 
ArcIiiepisGopal  city,  the  capital  of  the  north,  the  second  city  in  the 
kingdom,  and  a  county  of  itself, — -justice  requires  that  its  Auxiliary 
Bible  Society  should  not  be  overlooked  in  that  selection  to  which  the 
author  is,  by  the  limits  of  his  History,  confined. 

The  Meeting  at  which  this  Society  was  established,  took  place  on 
the  19th  of  January,  1812.  It  had  been  convened  by  the  Lord 
Mayor,  the  Right  Hon.  Lawrence  Dundas,  in  consequence  of  a  Re- 
quisition to  that  effect,  signed  by  thirty-one  clergymen  and  laymen  : 
and  his  Lordship,  who  had  agreed  to  accept  the  office  of  President, 
testified  his  further  respect  for  the  Institution,  by  occupying  the  chair 
on  the  occasion. 

The  sentiments  expressed  by  various  speakers  of  high  respecta- 
bility were  congenial  with  those  principles  of  piety  and  liberality 
which  form  the  basis  of  the  Parent  Society  and  all  its  Auxiliaries. 
It  was  pleasing  to  observe  the  exertions  of  the  clergy,  and  members 
of  the  Establishment,  sustained,  as  they  were,  in  this  benevolent 
work,  by  two  distinguished  members  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  the 
one  in  an  oral,  the  other  in  a  written  and  transmitted  address. 

"  You  are  now  convened"  (wrote  Mr.  Lindley  Murray)  "  on  one 
of  the  most  interesting  subjects  that  can  occupy  the  attention  and 
labours  of  men  who  are  concerned  for  the  happiness,  both  here  and 
hereafter,  of  their  fellow-creatures.  To  be  instrumental  in  con- 
veying to  the  dwellings  of  ignorance  and  prejudice,  of  vice  and 
superstition,  of  hopeless  poverty  and  distress,  the  light  and  efficacy, 
and  cheering  hopes  of  Christ,  are  surely  objects  of  incalculable  mo- 
ment, and  worthy  of  our  most  serious  and  ardent  exertions.  By  the 
Institution  proposed  to  us,  we  shall  not  only  convey  the  truths  and 
supports  contained  in  the  Gospel  to  numbers  in  our  neigbourhood,  but 
extend  them,  perhaps,  to  many  in  the  remotest  parts  of  the  earth. 
What  a  field  is  this  for  our  benevolence  ;  and  how  powerfully  does 
it  plead  for  a  liberal  and  cordial  co-operation  of  all  Societies  of 
Christians  !'' 

"  I  feel  disposed"  (said  the  late  Mr.  Henry  Tuke)  "  to  express 
the  gratification  which  I  experience  on  seeing  so  large  and  respectable 
a  Meeting  of  my  fellow-citizens  on  the  present  occasion ;  and  par- 
ticularly with  the  union  of  Christians  of  various  denominations  in  this 
o-reat  cause.  May  we  not  compare  the  various  sects  of  Christians  to 
the  different  tribes  of  ancient  Israel  ?  We,  like  them,  may  have  some. 


CHAP,  lil.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  343 

different  views,  and  separate  interests  ;  but  we  acknowledge  one  God 
and  one  Lord,  even  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  We  profess  to  be  go- 
verned by  the  same  laws,  which  are  contained  in  the  Holy  Scriptures  ; 
and  though  we  may  not  unite  in  the  construction  of  some  of  these  laws, 
yet,  when  we  consider  in  how  large  a  proportion  of  them  the  profess- 
ors of  Christianity  are  agreed,  and  consequently,  how  small  is  the 
part  in  which  we  differ,  there  is  much  cause  for  us  to  feel  as  brethren, 
and  to  unite,  as  has  frequently  been  the  case,  in  defence  of  our  com- 
mon faith ;  or  when  a  common  cause,  like  the  present,  interests  our 
feelings.  This  spirit  of  brotherly  love  has  been  greatly  promoted  by 
the  union  of  all  sects  in  the  establishment  of  the  Bible  Society,— it  has, 
I  am  persuaded,  already  lessened,  and  will  still  more  lessen,  the  dif- 
ferences which  exist  among  us,  and  happily  soften  those  asperities 
which  have  too  often  arisen  from  the  defence  of  our  peculiar  opin- 
ions." 

But  it  is  due  to  the  Rev.  W.  Richardson,  ami  the  feelings  of  those 
who  co-operated  with  him  on  this  occasion,  to  notice  the  degree  in 
which  his  activity  and  devotedness  to  the  cause,  uniting  with  the  high 
respectin  which  he  is  deservedly  held,  contributed  to  the  accomplish- 
ment of  this  important  undertaking.  Early  in  the  year  1811,  Mr. 
Richardson  remitted  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  the  sum 
of  IGIL  being  the  amount  of  a  private  subscription,  and  a  collection 
made  at  his  church,  in  behalf  of  the  Institution.  The  zeal  and  libe- 
rality of  his  flock,  on  that  occasion,  are  thus  affectingly  described  by 
himself. 

"  The  eagerness  to  give,  that  was  shown  by  the  religious  part  of 
my  congregation  ;  by  those  who  stood  in  the  aisles  ;  and  even  by  the 
Children  of  some  charity  schools,  was  wonderful.  They  seemed  to  be 
afraid  of  being  passed  by  ;  and  loaded  the  dishes  of  the  collectors  with 
such  a  quantity  of  pence,  that  they  were  obhged  to  empty  them  into  a 
basket,  before  they  could  finish  the  collection." 

At  the  formation  of  the  Society,  Mr.  Richardson  took  that  part 
which  be  supposed  would  be  expected  from  "  an  old  servant  of  the 
Church,  who,  from  a  residence  of  forty  years,  was  become,  as  it  were, 
the  father  of  the  York  Clergy  j  having  survived  every  one  whom  he 
found  there  at  his  coming :"  and  shortly  after  its  establishment,  re- 
commended it,  in  a  discourse,  which,  for  just  sentiment,  vigorous  rea- 
soning, and  sound  historical  information,  has  not  been  surpassed  by 
any  composition  of  equal  length,  which  has  been  written  in  recom- 
mendation of  the  Society. 

The  Staffordshire  Auxihary  Bible  Society  was  distinguished,  not 
more  by  the  illustrious  patronage  under  which  it  was  formed,  than  by 


344  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  I  PART  11, 

the  attachment  to  to  the  cause,  which  its  patrons  discovered,  and  by 
the  able  addresses  which  were  dehvered  at  its  formation.  On  that 
occasion,  Thonnas  Lister,  Esq.  a  Magistrate  of  high  character,  and 
sitting  as  the  representative  of  Viscount  Anson,  dehvered  a  speech 
from  the  chair,  which,  by  its  good  sense,  temperate  reasoning,  and 
liberal  spirit,  produced  on  the  minds  of  the  auditory  a  very  con- 
siderable effect.  The  sentiments  of  the  Noble  Viscount  were  stated 
by  a  venerable  and  highly-esteemed  Clergyman,  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Whitby,  in  a  manner  which  reflected  much  honour  upon  both.  The 
following  was  the  substance  of  that  statement : 

"  Little  more  than  three  months  have  elapsed  since  I  received  from 
our  present  worthy  High  Sheriff  the  Seventh  Report  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society.  The  simphcity  of  the  principle  upon  which 
this  Society  is  founded,  the  excellence  of  its  constitution,  the  magnifi- 
cence and  sublimity  of  its  object,  together  with  its  unparalleled  suc- 
cess, struck  my  mind  very  powerfully ;  the  more  so,  from  observing 
that  this  Society  opposed  itself  to  no  other  Society,  but,  sincerely 
wishing  full  and  complete  success  to  every  one  established  for  the  same 
glorious  purpose,  pursued  its  original  plan  steadily,  and  without  de- 
viation, and  from  which  it  has  in  no  instance  departed.  Under  this 
impression,  I  transmitted  the  Seventh  Report  to  the  Noble  Viscount, 
well  knowing  that,  if,  upon  consideration,  the  principle,  plan,  and 
object  of  the  Society  obtained  the  approbation  of  his  excellent  under- 
standing, and  of  his  sound  and  discriminating  judgment ;  or  if  it  con- 
tained any  thing  likely  to  increase  the  quantity  of  human  happiness,  or 
to  diminish  the  quantity  of  human  misery,  of  even  a  single  individual, 
such  a  Society  would  be  sure  to  find  a  firm  advocate  in  his  truly 
Christian  spirit,  and  a  cordial  supporter  in  his  large,  liberal,  and 
friendly  heart.  Within  a  few  days  after  this,  I  had  the  satisfaction  to 
hear,  that  Viscount  Anson  fully  approved  the  plan  of  the  Parent  So- 
ciety ;  and  that  he  was  already  Vice  President  of  an  Auxiliary  Bible  So- 
ciety, established  in  Norfolk,  of  which  the  Bishop  of  the  diocese  was 
President :  and  I  had  the  further  satisfaction  of  hearing  the  Noble 
Viscount  ask,  Whether  a  Society  of  a  similar  kind  could  not  be  form- 
ed in  this  county — or  words  to  that  effect.  From  this  suggestion, 
communicated  by  me  to  a  few  friends,  originated  the  Staffordshire 
Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  which,  under  the  Divine  blessing,  is  this  day 
established  ;  and,  by  the  Divine  blessing,  may  it  long  continue  to 
flourish  and  abound  ! 

"  To  this  benevolent  Nobleman  are  we  indebted,  not  only  for  the 
first  suggestion;  but  for  his  countenance,  patronage,  recommenda- 


CHAP.  III.)  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  345 

tion,  and  personal  exertion,  from  the  point  of  its  commencement  to 
that  of  its  completion. 

"  Considered  as  founder,  parent,  ami  patron,  the  friends  of  the 
then  proposed  Society  commissioned  me,  as  their  Secretary,  to  re- 
quest Viscount  Anson's  permission  to  nominate  him  to  the  office  of 
President,  when  the  Society  was  formed.  To  this  application,  made 
in  their  name,  the  Noble  Viscount,  with  his  usual  complacency,  rea^ 
dily  assented.  And  I  firmly  believe,  that  no  person  can  have  a  more 
clear  and  distinct  view  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  in  its 
principle,  constitution,  object,  operation,  bearings,  and  result,  than 
this  Noble  Lord  ;  or  can  be  more  anxious,  by  his  personal  influence  and 
exertion,  to  give  it  full  effect,  both  at  home  and  abroad  :  and  this  from 
a  conviction,  that  the  Sacred  Scripture,  the  pure  word  of  God,  as  re- 
corded in  our  Bible,  contains  not  only  the  words  of  eternal  life,  but 
whatsoever  things  are  true,  honest,  just,  pure,  lovely,  and  of  good 
report, — and  that,  in  its  practical  effects,  it  has  a  decided  tendency  to 
promote  peace  on  earth,  and  good  will  among  men." 

But  the  circumstance  which  gave  to  the  Staffordshire  Meeting  the 
greatest  lustre,  was,  the  appearance  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Gisbornej 
so  generally  and  justly  celebrated  for  his  writings  in  favour  of  religion, 
morality,  and  social  happiness  :  and  a  speech  from  that  gentleman,  in 
which  acute  argument,  happy  illustration,  and  polite  irony,  were  most 
ingeniously  and  successfully  displayed.  The  following  specimen  will 
enable  the  reader  to  judge  what  he  hag  to  expect  from  a  perusal  of 
the  whole. 

"  The  charges  advanced  against  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, at  different  periods  of  its  progress,  were  they  not  likely  to  be 
occasionally  mischievous,  might  furnish  considerable  entertainment. 
At  one  time  it  was  clamorously  alleged, '  Notes,  and  comments,  and  in- 
terpretations, will  be  inserted  into  your  Bibles  ;  you  will  undermine 
the  Church  of  England,  by  the  expositions  which  you  will  interweave 
into  the  Sacred  Volume.' — '  It  is  impossible  ;'  replied  the  Society,  '  it 
is  a  fundamental  law  of  our  constitution,  that  neither  note  nor  com- 
ment shall  ever  be  added.'  Then  succeeds  an  accusation  from  the 
opposite  quarter  of  the  sky,  *  Why  do  you  send  forth  the  Scriptures 
without  an  interpretation  ?  The  Established  Church  will  be  ruined 
by  your  dispersion  of  the  Bible  without  note  or  comment !'  I  leave 
these  two  classes  of  objectors  to  settle  accounts  each  with  the  other- 
For  the  overthrow  of  the  Bible  Society  both  classes  are  equally  anx- 
ious. And  when  they  have  determined  whether  it  will  be  more  con- 
ducive towards  the  effecting  of  the  shipwreck,  that  the  wind  should 
blow  from  the  east,  or  that  it  should  blow  from  the  west,  or  that  it 


346  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  U 

should  blow  from  the  east  and  the  west  at  once,  it  will  then  be  suffi- 
ciently early  for  the  pilots  of  the  vessel  to  deliberate  what  measures 
may  be  needful,  in  order  to  avoid  the  rocks  on  the  one  side,  and  the 
quicksands  on  the  other." 

It  would  carry  the  author  beyond  the  bounds  which  it  behoves  him 
to  observe,  were  he  to  enumerate  the  various  meetings  in  which  the 
cause  of  the  Society  was  ably  pleaded,  and  to  point  out  the  several 
addresses  which  deserve  to  be  commemorated  with  honour.  It  were, 
however,  an  unpardonable  omission,  to  pass  over  in  silence  the  Meet- 
ing at  Buckingham,  in  which  the  late  Marquis  (supported  by  certain 
members  of  his  family,  among  whom  was  the  present  Marquis,  then 
Earl  Temple)  presided,  with  so  much  dignity,  sensibility,  and  can- 
dour. With  an  extract  from  the  speech  of  that  illustrious  Nobleman, 
delivered  under  the  manifest  presentiment  of  approaching  dissolu- 
tion,— a  presentiment  which  Avas  but  too  fatally  justified,— this  part 
of  our  subject  shall  for  the  present  be  closed. 

The  Noble  Marquis  commenced  his  address  in  terms  of  equal 
modesty  and  decision. 

"  Before  I  proceed  to  open  the  business  of  this  day,  or  indeed  to 
say  one  word  on  the  important  subject  on  which  we  are  met,  I  am 
compelled  to  state  the  reluctance  with  which  I  take  the  chair  on  the 
present  occasion  ;  which,  God  knows,  is  founded  on  no  other  ground 
than  a  sense  of  my  own  insufficiency,  compared  with  the  advantages 
which  are  held  forth  to  us  by  the  talents  of  many  respectable  gentle- 
men, of  every  description  and  profession,  whom  I  see  about  me.  At 
the  same  time,  if  it  has  been  thought  by  any  person  in  this  assembly, 
that  my  presence  Jn  the  chair  can  be  useful,  I  know  that  my  time  can- 
not be  employed  more  to  my  personal  satisfaction,  and  certainly  not 
so  well,  in  any  other  way,  as  in  endeavouring  to  promote  the  good 
work  which  I  have  the  honour  to  recommend.  I  say,  good  work; 
for,  of  all  the  important  duties  that  can  be  submitted  to  an  assembly 
of  Christians,  none  can  be  of  more  importance  than  that  of  diffusing, 
as  widely  as  possible, — for  the  instruction  of  the  poor, — of  the  most 
ignorant,  as  well  as  the  more  enlightened,  that  word  of  God,  which 
gives  to  us  the  surest  comfort  in  this  life,  and  the  brightest  hopes  for 
the  life  to  come." 

"  It  would  be  wrong,"  (adds  the  Marquis,)  "  were  I  to  conceal, 
that  doubts  and  jealousies  respecting  this  Society  have  been  enter- 
tained by  many  respectable  persons — perhaps  too  timid — perhaps 
too  cautious.  From  whatever  cause,  certainly  doubts  have  been 
entertained ;  jealousy  has  been  manifested,  as  to  the  objects  which 
the  Society  has  in  view.     These  doubts  may  be  answered  in  one 


CHAP.  III.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  347 

word,  which  is,  that  the  first  fundamental  principle  of  the  Parent 
Institution  is,  that '  the  Bibles  and  Testaments,  to  be  circulated  by  this 
Society,  shall  be  without  note  or  comment ;  and  those  in  the  lan- 
guages of  the  United  Kingdom,  of  the  authorized  versions  only.' 
The  proposition,  therefore,  is  not  to  disseminate  opinions,  notes,  and 
comments  ;  opinions  which  it  is  perfectly  right  and  fit  that  every 
zealous  and  good  Christian  should  daily  and  diligently  study;  but 
which,  under  the  particular  circumstances  attending  the  variety  of 
sentiments  entertained  in  this  free  and  enlightened  country,  it  is 
doubtless  wise,  that  a  Society,  wishing  to  extend  its  benefits  to  every 
denomination  of  Christians,  should  avoid,  and  confine  its  attention 
simply  and  entirely  to  the  word  of  God ;  leaving  to  learned,  pious, 
and  devout  minds,  such  as  the  mind  of  every  Christian  ought  to  be, 
the  task  of  reading,  judging,  and  commenting  for  itself,  by  the  best 
use  of  those  faculties  with  which  it  has  pleased  God  to  endow  them, 
and  by  the  best  application  of  those  duties  which  Providence  has 
imposed  upon  them.  Now,  with  this  security,  it  should  seem,  that  a 
reasonable  doubt  would  hardly  exist  in  the  mind  of  any  individual, 
that  the  principles  of  this  Society,  instead  of  opposing,  are  in  perfect 
unison  with,  the  first  and  brightest  principle  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, which  asserts  the  sufficiency  of  the  Bible,  and  casts  her  cause 
on  divine  truth  alone.  But  when  I  look  around  me,  and  see  this 
Meeting  attended,  I  may  say,  by  almost  every  thing  that  is  respect- 
able among  our  Parochial  Clergy  about  us,  some  of  the  most  respect- 
able Ministers  that  exist  in  the  Establishment  of  this  Country,  that 
alone  were  a  pledge,  (were  such  a  pledge  necessary  to  this  Meeting,) 
that  the  Resolutions  of  this  Society  must  be  what  they  ought  to  be  : 
but  this  is  not  all ; — we  know  that  there  is  scarcely  a  corner  in  the 
country,  to  which  these  Resolutions  have  been  extended,  but  they 
have  been  encouraged  by  many  of  the  most  respectable  Bishops  and 
Parochial  Clergy ;  and  their  assistance  and  testimony  have  been 
given  to  these  Meetings,  from  one  end  of  the  kingdom  to  the  other. 
Under  these  circumstances,  I  conceive  I  should  be  misspending  our 
time  in  obviating  any  further  objections  of  this  kind  that  have  been 
suggested." 

The  following  was  the  conclusion  :  and  it  would  be  insulting  the 
religious  taste  and  sensibility  of  the  reader  to  attempt  any  eulogium 
upon  a  passage  which  proclaims  so  affectingly  its  own  commendation. 

"  I  am  happy  to  see  the  day,  when  Christians  of  all  persuasions 
can  meet  in  one  room,  with  one  common  object  in  view, — that  of  ex- 
tending the  pure  word  of  God,  as  far  as  possible,  to  all  ranks  and 
descriptions  in  this  country,  and  to  different  nations  abroad.     We 


348  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  11. 

shall  one  day  meet  altogether  in  a  situation  where  there  will  be  no 
distinction  of  sect  or  party,  except  that  of  those  who  have  discharged 
their  duty  to  the  best  of  their  ability  and  judgment,  according  to  the 
rules  of  those  sacred  writings  which  I  hope  will  soon  be  universally 
extended.  Let  me  conclude  what  I  have  to  say,  in  a  few  very 
impressive  words,  selected  from  those  writings  ;  the  passage  is  very 
short,  and  I  trust  you  will  forgive  me  in  urging  your  attention  to 
it.  It  is  in  the  Epistle  of  St.  Paul  to  the  Romans,  chap.  x.  verses  14 
to  16.  '  For  there  is  no  difference  between  the  Jew  and  the  Greek ; 
for  the  same  Lord  over  all  is  rich  unto  all  that  call  upon  him.  For 
whosoever  shall  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lrord  shall  be  saved.  How, 
then,  shall  they  call  on  him  in  whom  they  have  not  believed  ?  And 
how  shall  they  believe  in  him  of  whom  they  have  not  heard  ?'  Such 
are  the  promises  of  God  to  those  who  call  upon  him ;  it  is  our  duty  to 
assist  their  prayers  and  their  call,  by  providing  the  means  under 
which  nations,  even  to  the  ends  of  the  earth,  may  hear  that  Gospel 
'  whose  sound  is  gone  forth  into  all  the  earth,  and  its  word  unto  the 
end  of  the  world.'  " 

From  the  specimens  which  have  been  produced,  it  will  be  natural 
to  infer,  that  the  combined  effect  of  so  many  and  powerful  Auxiliaries, 
established  in  the  course  of  this  year,  must  have  been  very  consider- 
able ;  and  that  the  cause  in  which  they  were  severally  enhsted,  must 
have  derived,  from  their  accession,  a  vast  increase,  both  of  influence 
and  support.  Such  was  the  fact ;  and,  in  taking  our  leave  of  them, 
we  may  apply  to  them  collectively  the  terms  of  felicitation,  in  which 
one  of  their  number  was  so  judiciously  celebrated. 

"  We  congratulate  the  country  on  this  triumph  of  Christian  mode- 
ration ;  we  congratulate  the  church,  that  so  many  among  its  most  dis- 
tinguished members,  and  its  most  sincere  and  devoted  adherents, 
have  acted  in  a  manner  so  consonant  to  its  genuine  principles ;  we 
congratulate  the  Dissenters  on  having  softened  the  asperities  and 
jealousy  of  dissent — on  having  cordially  received  the  hand  that  has 
been  held  out  to  them  in  Christian  amity ;  and  we  congratulate  every 
denomination  of  Christians,  on  having  united  in  the  glorious  and  irre- 
proachable work  of  disseminating  the  Scriptures  of  God."* 

While  the  country  at  large  were  thus  evincing  their  attachment  to 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  its  Committee  and  Officers 
were  incessantly  occupied  in  carrying  forward  such  measures  as 
regarded  both  the  external  aggrandizement  of  its  means,  and  the  pro- 
gressive accomplishment  of  its  end. 

»  Report  of  the  ForniatioB  of  the  Staffordshire  Auxiliary  Bible  Society. 


CHAP.  III-l  AND  FOREIGi\  BIBLE  SOCIETy. 


349 


With  a  view  to  the  former,  they  had  recourse,  among  other  expe- 
dients, to  the  preparation  and  issue  of  directions  for  organizing  Aux- 
iUary  Bible  Societies,  Branch  Societies,  and  Bible  Associations,  (now 
springing  up  with  a  sort  of  wild  luxuriance,)  on  a  plan  which  might 
ensure  uniformity  of  principle,  and  give  to  the  whole  incorporation 
both  the  appearance  and  the  efficiency  of  system.  In  this  department 
of  their  labour,  they  received  material  assistance  from  one  of  their 
Members,  Richard  Phillips,  Esq.  but  as  the  services  of  that  gentleman 
will  come  under  our  consideration  in  a  future  stage  of  this  History, 
the  author  will  reserve,  to  that  occasion,  both  an  exposition  of  the 
plan,  and  a  specification  of  the  share  which  he  had  in  producino-  it, 
and  in  adapting  it  to  the  purposes  of  general  adoption. 

On  the  latter  object  referred  to,  the  attainment  of  the  Societ}''s 
end,  its  Committee  and  Officers  were  at  all  times  conscientiously  in- 
tent ;  and  the  record  of  their  exertions  bears  honourable  testimony 
to  the  zeal,  fidelity,  and  perseverance,  with  which  they  continued  to 
pursue  it.  It  is  material  to  observe,  that  the  foreign  object,  though, 
from  its  magnitude,  naturally  predominating  in  their  councils,  was  not 
suffered  to  exclude  a  due  attention  to  claims  of  a  domestic  nature. 
They  felt  the  obligation  to  succour  the  near  as  well  as  the  remote  ; 
and,  while  stretching  the  arms  of  their  benevolence  to  the  extremities 
of  the  earth,  they  did  not  forget  to  include  within  their  embraces 
those  by  whom  they  were  more  immediately  surrounded,  and  whose 
spiritual  improvement  it  was  their  first  duty  to  consult. 

The  partial  distribution  of  Enghsh  Bibles  and  Testaments,  had  al- 
ready produced  a  very  discernible  effect :  it  had  awakened  an  atten- 
tion to  the  subject,  which  appeared  to  be  increasing  ;  and  many  were 
now  seen  to  manifest  a  desire  for  a  Bible,  who  had  hitherto  been  in- 
sensible of  its  value,  or  even  ignorant  of  its  contents. 

Such  a  state  of  public  feehng,  uniting  Avith  the  claims  created  by 
new  Auxiliary  Societies,  whose  number  and  activity  were  continually 
augmenting,  produced  a  demand  for  copies  of  the  English  Scriptures, 
which  no  means  in  the  possession  of  the  Parent  Society  could  enable 
it,  in  any  reasonable  proportion,  to  supply.  Recourse  was  therefore 
had  to  such  extraordinary  expedients  as  might  add  considerably  to  the 
current  stock,  and  keep  the  Depository  in  a  condition  to  answer  the 
growing  and  importunate  applications  with  which  it  was  besieged. 

The  Universities  were  urged  to  lend  their  co-operation ;  which 
tbey  effectually  did,  by  adding  to  the  number  of  their  presses,  and 
providing  for  larger  periodical  dehveries.  Messrs.  Eyre  and  Strahan, 
his  Majesty's  printers,  were  also  induced  to  put  into  exercise  the 
powerp  of  their  patent ;  and  a  liberal  engagement  was  entered  into 
46 


350  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  IL 

M-ilh  them,  from  which  great  expectations  were  formed  with  regard 
to  the  increase  of  the  general  supply, — expectations,  which,  it  is 
pleasing  to  add,  have  been  very  amply  and  satisfactorily  justified. 

These  extraordinary  measures,  which  had  been  rendered  indispen- 
sable by  the  influx  of  orders  from  subscribing  individuals,  and  from 
Auxiliary  Societies,  were  further  stimulated  by  the  discoveries  suc- 
cessively made  of  a  want  of  the  Scriptures  existing  at  home,  in  a  de- 
gree which  could  not  have  been  conceived,  and  which,  but  for  au- 
thentic assurances  of  the  fact,  would  not  have  deserved  to  be  credited. 
When  it  was  declared  that,  upon  a  statistical  inquiry  of  the  Bishop  of 
Durham,  through  the  means  of  his  Parochial  Clergy,  6,026  families 
in  his  diocese  were  found  to  be  destitute  of  a  Bible, — when  it  was 
further  proclaimed,  upon  the  authority  of  the  Norwich  and  Norfolk 
Auxiliary  Bible  Societies,  that,  upon  the  most  moderate  calculation, 
at  least  10,000  families  in  that  county  were  supposed  to  be  in  the 
same  truly  lamentable  condition, — there  wanted  no  other  evidence  to 
prove  that  the  deficiency  of  Bibles,  throughout  the  entire  kingdom, 
must  form  a  tremendous  aggregate  ;  and  that  it  would  become  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  to  make  preparation  for  demands 
on  its  Depository,  at  one  period  or  other,  in  nearly  the  same  pro- 
portion. 

The  completion  of  the  French  stereotype  Bible,  in  the  summer  of 
1811,  enabled  the  Society  to  add  to  the  boon  which  it  had  already 
conferred  on  the  French  prisoners  of  war,  in  furnishing  them  with 
the  New  Testament,  by  presenting  to  such  of  them  as  were  disposed 
to  profit  by  the  gift,  a  copy  of  the  entire  Scriptures,  in  their  own  lan- 
guage. In  this,  and  similar  ways,  the  activity  of  the  Society  con- 
tinued to  be  exercised ;  and  regularly,  as  new  channels  of  communi- 
cation were  opened,  the  stream  of  its  liberality  was  poured  in,  and 
the  waters  of  life  were  conveyed  to  all  who  were  tliirsting  to  receive 
them.  It  would  swell  the  bulk  of  these  volumes  unnecessarily,  to 
specify  minutely  the  editions  printed  from  time  to  time,  and  the  va- 
rious distributions  which  were  made  to  different  parts  of  the  king- 
dom, and  of  the  world.  But  it  may  answer  the  purpose  of  elucida- 
tion, to  exhibit  a  summary  view  of  the  issue  made  from  the  London 
Depository  only,  in  the  course  of  the  year,  independently  of  the  re- 
turns of  Bibles  and  Testaments  made  to  the  several  Auxiliary  Soci- 
eties for  local  purposes. 

*'  Copies  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  in  various  languages,  have  been 
circulated  as  follows ; 


CH.\F.  III.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY  35J 


In  EUROPE. 

**  To  the  British  Prisoners  of  War  in  France. 

"  To  the  French  and  other  Prisoners  of  War  in  Great  Britain. 

"  To  Prisoners  of  War  returning  home  in  cartels. 

*'  To  Guernsey  and  Jersey. 

"  To  the  Poor  in  Denmark,  Holstein,  Norway,  Prussia,  Germany, 
Hungary,  Poland,  Silesia,  and  Livonia. 

*'  To  some  poor  Protestant  Congregations  in  France  and  Austria, 

"  In  Spain  and  Portugal. 

"  At  Gibraltar,  Maliorca,  Malta,  Sicily,  Naples,  Zante,  Constanti- 
nople, and  the  Greek  Islands. 

"  To  the  Foreign  Soldiers  and  their  Children  at  the  Royal  York 
Hospital,  Chelsea. 

"  To  the  Lock  Hospital  and  Asylum,  the  Fever  and  the  Middlesex 
Hospitals. 

"  To  sundry  Workhouses  and  Infirmaries. 

"  To  Mendicants  applying  at  the  Office  in  Westminster. 

"  To  various  Gaols,  under  the  direction  of  the  Sheriffs  or  other 
Officers,  and  to  Convicts  embarked  for  New  South  Wales. 

"  To  Poor  Foreigners  in  various  parts  of  Great  Britain  and  Ire- 
land. 

"  To  Foreign  Troops  in  the  United  Kingdom,  and  those  at  the  Ge- 
neral Hospital  at  Lisbon. 

"  To  Troops  embarking  for  Foreign  Stations. 

**  To  Soldiers  and  Seamen,  by  sale  at  reduced  prices. 

"  To  the  Hibernian  Sunday  School  Society,  Wone-half  of  the  cost 
prices.     And  to  poor  Schools  in  Ireland,  gratis. 

"  To  the  Poor  in  Ireland,  at  very  reduced  prices,  2000  Bibles  and 
4500  Testaments. 

hi  AMERICA. 

*'  To  Albany,  at  the  disposal  of  the  Bible  and  Common  Prayer  Book 
Society. 

"  To  various  parts  of  Canada. 

"  To  the  Esquimaux  Christians  in  Labrador. 

"  To  Chili,  Buenos  Ayres,  Carthagena,  Demarara,  Surinam,  and 
the  Bay  of  Honduras. 

"  To  Antigua,  and  other  West  India  Islands. 

"  To  Bermuda  and  Newf«wndland. 


352 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITI6H  [PART  11. 


In  AFRICA. 
"  To  the  Colonists  and  the  Troops  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 
"  To  the  Hottentot  Congregations,  and  to  the  Slaves  in  various 
parts  of  South  Africa. 

"  To  Sierra  Leone  and  its  Vicinity. 

In  ASIA. 
''•  To  Bengal,  the  Island  of  Bourhon,  Aleppo,  and  Smyrna." 

While  the  Society  was  thus  strengthening  its  foundations,  enlar- 
ging its  means  of  usefulness,  and  approving  itself  to  the  good  opinion 
of  Christians  in  different  parts  of  the  world  by  offices  of  the  purest 
philanthropy,  the  preposterous  question  was  very  warmly  agitated 
before  the  British  public,  whether  it  ought  to  exist  at  all ;  or  whether, 
if  it  must  continue  to  exist,  it  should  not  be  abandoned  altogether  to 
dissenting  support  and  sectarian  administration. 

In  an  enterprise  at  once  so  unnatural  and  so  hopeless  as  that  of 
subverting  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  it  is  not  to  be  won- 
dered at  that  they  who  undertook  it  should  not  be  very  scrupulous  in 
the  choice  of  their  measures,  or  very  consistent  in  their  manner  of 
directing  them.  Having  a  warfare  to  carry  on,  in  which  theory  must 
be  opposed  to  fact,  hypothesis  to  testimony,  and  vague  probability  to 
determinate  experience,  there  was  little  chance  of  success  without 
the  use  of  those  stratagems,  unhappily  too  much  resorted  to  in  con- 
troversy, by  which  truth  and  reason  are  insensibly  compromised  in  a 
8tru<^gle  for  victory  and  triumph.  Whatever  may  be  conceded  to  the 
motives  of  the  opponents,  it  were  difficult  to  imagine  an  apology  for 
the  manner  in  which  their  opposition  was,  for  the  most  part,  conduct- 
ed. Any  ground,  and  every  ground,  was  taken,  which  seemed  to 
promise  but  a  temporary  advantage  ;  and  it  was  indifferent  to  them, 
whether  they  argued  as  reasoners  or  sophists,  as  protestants  or  pa- 
pists, provided  they  might  but  impugn  the  merits,  and  obstruct  the 
progress,  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 

After  these  general  remarks,  which,  considering  to  whom  they  apr- 
ply,  are  not  made  without  much  regret,  the  author  will  satisfy  him- 
self with  briefly  describing  the  course  which  the  controversy  took, 
as  it  was  resumed  in  the  commencement  of  1812  ;  and  exhibiting  only 
so  much  as  may  be  necessary  to  vindicate  the  Institution  from  the 
leading  objections  with  which  it  was  assailed. 

In  the  month  of  January,  1812,  Professor  Marsh,  whose  "  Address 
to  the  Senate"  had  been  so  severely  canvassed  at  the  Meeting  for  the 


CHAP.  HI]  AISD  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  353 

establishment  of  the  Cambridge  Society,  and  so  completely  refuted  in 
the  "  Letter"  of  Mr.  Vansittart,  produced  his  promised  strictures  on 
the  principles  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  in  an  elabo- 
rate Pamphlet,  entitled,  "  An  Inquiry  into  the  Consequences  of  neg- 
lecting to  give  the  Prayer-Book  with  the  Bible,  interspersed  with  Re- 
marks on  some  late  Speeches  at  Cambridge,  and  other  important 
Matter  relative  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society." 

Much  of  this  publication  was  devoted,  as  the  title  professes,  to  ani- 
madversions on  the  speeches  delivered  at  the  Cambridge  Meeting, — 
particularly  those  of  Dean  Milner,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dealtry :  and 
still  more  to  the  unnecessary  task  of  contending  for  the  excellence  of 
the  Liturgy ;  its  essential  connexion  with  the  fabric  of  our  Establish- 
ment ;  and  the  impropriety,  the  inconsistency,  and  the  danger  of  all 
attempts,  on  the  part  of  professing  Churchmen,  to  bring  it  into  neg- 
lect, contempt,  and  iinal  disuse.  As  nobody  disputed  all  this,  and  no 
part  of  the  deprecated  mischiefs  was  either  intended  by  the  members 
of  the  Society,  or  hkely  to  arise  out  of  its  natural  operation,  it  was 
not  easy  to  account  for  the  Professor's  adopting  such  a  line  of  argu- 
ment, and  accompanying  it  with  insinuations  and  appeals  which  could 
have  applied  only  to  the  wildest  oppugners  of  our  Liturgy,  and  our 
Ecclesiastical  Establishment,  without  imputing  to  him  something  like 
a  want  of  candour,  and  of  fair  and  ingenuous  discrimination. 

The  grounds  upon  which  the  Professor  had  objected  to  the  Societ}' 
in  his  "  Address,"  were  miscellaneous  ;  that  which  he  takes  in  the 
"  Inquiry,"  is  simply — the  distribution  of  the  Bible  alone.  This 
ground  he  considers  as  a  discovery,  in  the  honour  of  which  none  of 
his  predecessors  in  this  unhappy  controversy  has  any  right  whatever 
to  share  with  him.  "  I  have  thus  shown,"  (says  the  Professor,)  "  as 
well  from  history  as  from  argument,  that  the  Liturgy  is  essential  to  the 
welfare  of  the  Establishment ;  and  that  in  proportion  as  the  former  is 
disregarded,  in  the  same  proportion  the  latter  must  be  endangered. 
I  have  been  the  more  difiuse  on  this  subject,  because  among  all  the 
WRITERS  ■who  have  engaged  in  the  controversy  about  the  modern  Bible 
Society^  I  do  not  perceive  that  any  one,  except  myself,*  has  pointed 
out  the  danger  arising  to  the  Established  Church,  from  the  practice 
of  neglecting  to  give  the  Prayer-Book  with  the  Bible." 

*  Inquiry,  p.  27.  The  classical  reader,  in  perusing  this  self-gratulation,  might 
almost  suppose  he  hears  the  Professor  applying  to  himself  the  complimentary 
words  which  Cicero  addressed  to  C8esar  : 

"  Hujus  glor Jae .... sochim habes  neminem.  Toinvi  hoc,  quantumcunque  est,  quod 
ccrte  maximum  est,  totum  est,  jnquam,  TUUM."  Pro  Marcdlo- 


354  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  (PART  II. 

The  Professor,  having  seized  the  principle  of  the  Institation,  that 
of  furnishing  its  Members  with  Bibles  only,  built  upon  it  an  assump- 
tion, that  the  co-operation  of  Churchmen  with  the  members  of  an 
Institution  which  issued  Bibles  only,  implied  an  admission,  if  it  were 
not  rather  a  profession,  on  the  part  of  the  former,  that  Prayer-Books 
need  not,  and,  as  far  as  their  influence  extended,  should  not,  be  dis- 
tributed at  all.  The  deduction  from  these  premises  was,  that  the 
Prayer-Book  would  be  discarded,  and  the  Church,  whose  doctrines, 
rules,  and  discipline,  it  contained,  would,  by  consequence,  be  even- 
tually overthrown.  It  ought  to  be  observed,  that  the  assumption  was 
admitted  by  the  Professor  to  be  altogether  gratuitous,  and  the  conclu- 
sion purely  hypothetical.  Though  the  Society  had  been  in  existence 
nearly  seven  years,  nothing  had  occurred  to  justify  a  charge  against 
the  Church  members  of  the  Bible  Society,  of  any  thing  like  the  dis- 
use, depreciation,  or  neglect,  of  the  Prayer-Book.  It  would  have 
helped  out  materially  the  Professor's  argument,  if  he  could  have  ad- 
verted to  some  such  fact,  as  a  proof  of  the  tendency  which  he  as- 
cribes to  a  mere  connexion  with  the  Society.  But  he  does  not  pre- 
tend to  be  in  possession  of  any  thing  so  greatly  to  his  advantage.  His 
words  are  : — and  they  deserve  to  be  recorded,  as  containing  a  tacit 
admission  of  the  unsoundness  of  his  theory : — 

"  1  have  estimated  the  tendency  of  the  Bible  Society  to  produce 
an  indifference  to  the  Ldturgy  among  Churchmen  in  general :  and  I 
have  shown  that  the  bare  connexion  with  it  is  sufficient  to  produce 
the  effect,  even  when  unassisted  by  the  operation  of  other  causes. 
I  have  here  appealed  to  no  fact  whatever  :  I  have  deduced  an  in- 
ference by  the  sole  aid  of  abstract  reasoning."* 

The  appearance  of  this  publication  was  greeted  with  numerous 
Replies  :  and  its  fallacies  were  exposed  (among  others)  by  the  caus- 
tic pleasantry  of  Dr.  Clarke,  the  vigorous  animadversion  of  Mr. 
Dealtry,  the  conclusive  reasoning  of  Mr.  Otter,  and  the  luminous  re- 
futation of  Mr.  Vansittart.  To  these  advocates,  was  added  the  Rev. 
C.  Simeon,  who,  in  the  preface  to  four  Sermons  on  the  Liturgy, 
(one  of  which  has  already  been  referred  to)t  very  ably  defended 
both  himself,  and  the  clerical  members  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  against  the  accusation  conveyed  through  the  assump- 
tion upon  which  the  hypothesis  of  the  Professor  was  built. 

The  amount  of  what  was  stated  in  these  several  Replies,  suffi- 
ciently evinced,  that  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge 

*  Inquiry,  p.  37.  t  Page  332. 


CHAP.  III.]  ArfD  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  355 

had  greatly  augmented  the  number  of  its  subscribing  Members  ;*  that 
the  issue  of  Prayer-Books  both  from  that  Society,  and  other  sources, 
had  largely  increased  ;t  and  that  there  was  every  encouragement  to 
conclude,  as  well  from  experience  as  from  the  reason  of  the  thing, 
that,  by  a  steady  co-operation  on  the  part  of  the  Church  members  of 
the  Society,  both  the  honour  and  the  interest  of  the  Church  would 
keep  pace  with  the  reputation  and  prosperity  of  the  Institution. 

In  connexion  with  these  writers,  who  met  the  Professor's  "  In- 
quiry" with  direct  Replies,  may  be  mentioned  the  Rev.  Robert  Hall, 
who,  in  a  speech  of  extraordinary  ability  at  the  Second  Anniversary 
of  the  Leicester  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  on  the  13th  of  April,  1812, 
gave  to  every  thing  that  was  deserving  of  notice  in  that  attack,  a 
most  acute  and  masterly  confutation.  As  the  circulation  of  the  Bible 
alone — the  favourite  objection  since  the  era  of  the  "  Inquiry" — is  no 
where  perhaps  so  thoroughly  sifted,  and  so  decisively  refuted,  as  in 
this  very  argumentative  and  eloquent  speech,  it  may,  on  that  account, 
among  others,  be  strongly  recommended  to  the  reader's  perusal. 

•  "  Is  it  alleged,"  (says  Mr.  Dealtry,)  «  that  the  Bible  Society  dimmuhM  the 
funds  of  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  ?  This  argument  will  not 
now  be  maintained.  The  number  of  the  subscribing  Members  chosen  in  the  last 
year,  was  eight  huxdred  and  sixty-nine:  the  largest  number  chosen  in  any 
former  year  since  1789,  was  two  hundred  and  seventy." 

Dealtry  s  Examination  of  Dr.  Marsh's  Inquiry,  p,  67. 

To  this  statement  of  Mr.  Dealtry,  made  in  1S12,  it  may  be  added,  that  the  num- 
ber of  subscribing  Members,  admitted  from  August,  1813,  to  Christmas,  1814, 
amounted  to  1822;  which  gives  about  1300  for  the  year,  and  therefore  exhibits  an 
increase  of  about  one-half  from  1811,  and  of  nearly  five  Members  to  one  since 
the  formation  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 

t  Taking  "  an  average  of  ten  years,  five  preceding  the  establishment  of  the  Bri- 
tish and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  five  subsequent  to  it;  viz.  from  1801  to  1810 
inclusive,''  Mr.  Simeon  thus  describes  the  increased  issue  of  Prayer-Books  from 
the  Depository  of  the  Society  for  Promoting-  Christian  Knowledge. 

"  In  the  former  half  of  that  period,  the  number  of  Prayer-Books  sold  was  66,798  ; 
and  in  the  latler  half,  exclusive  of  above  11,000  additional  Psalteis,  it  amounted 
to  no  less  than  90,169 ;  and  if  you  take  the  tim  first  years  of  that  series,  and  com- 
pare them  with  the  two  last,  you  will  find,  that  the  Prayer-Books  sold  in  the  tico 
last  years,  exceeded  those  that  were  sold  in  the  two  first,  by  the  number  of  fif- 
tekn  thousand  five  hundred  and  forty-two." 

"  To  this  I  might  add,"  (observes  Mr.  Simeon,)  «  that  Mr.  Seelcy,  since  he  sold 
the  Bibles  for  the  British  and  Foreign  Bil)le  Society,  has  had  his  demand  for  Prayer- 
Books  INCREASED  FOURFOLD." 

Simeon's  Preface  to  the  Excollency  of  the  Liturgy,  p.  41 . 

See,  to  a  similar  effect,  Vaneitfart's  Second  Letter  to  Professor  Marsh,  p.  25, 


356  iiiaxoRY  OF  the  British  [part  ii. 

While  the  author  feels  compelled  to  disinis:>,  for  the  present,  this 
admirable  piece  of  composition,  with  a  simple  reference  to  its  con- 
tents, he  cannot  forbear  expressing,  how  much  he  thinks  the  Church 
of  England  indebted  to  Mr.  Ilall  for  the  candour  and  discrimination 
with  which  he  eulogized  her  Liturgy  in  the  following  very  memorable 
terms. 

"  Though  a  Protestant  Dissenter,  I  am  by  no  means  insensible  to 
its  merits :  I  believe  that  the  evangelical  purity  of  its  senti- 
ments, THE  CHASTISED  FERVOUR  OF  ITS  DEVOTION,  AND  THE  MAJESTIC 
SIMPLICITY  OF  ITS  LANGUAGE,  HAVE  COMBINED  TO  PLACE  IT  IN  THE 
VERY  FIRST  RANK  OF  UNINSPIRED  COMPOSITIONS." 

Of  Mr.  Vansittart's  Reply,  it  is  not  saying  too  much  to  aflirm,  that 
if  leaves  no  material  part  of  "  the  Inquiry"  unanswered;  and  that 
it  vindicates  the  Society  in  such  a  manner,  as  to  derive  an  eminent 
advantage  to  the  strength  of  its  cause  from  every  objection  with 
which  it  was  assailed.  Mr.  Vansittart  is  certainly  a  writer  of  no 
common  order  :  considered  as  a  controvertist,  he  is  a  model  both  to 
his  opponents  and  his  allies ;  his  example  has,  accordingly,  by  turns, 
been  recommended  by  each  to  the  imitation  of  the  other.  In  the 
Reply  under  consideration,  Mr.  Vansittart  has  associated,  with  his 
characteristic  felicity,  the  soundest  sentiments  with  the  purest  lan- 
guage. His  views  are  comprehensive,  his  arguments  perspicuous, 
his  style  is  classically  chaste  ;  and  his  whole  composition  reflects  the 
united  qualities  of  the  scholar,  the  gentleman,  and  the  Christian. 

Referring  to  the  pamphlet  itself  for  a  justification  of  this  unexag- 
gerated  eulogium,  the  author  will  bring  under  the  view  of  his  reader 
a  single  extract,  as  forming  an  appropriate  and  animated  conclusion 
to  this  account  of  the  controversy. 

"  Amidst  pubhc  difficulty  and  private  embarrassment,  I  see  the 
hand  of  charity  extended  to  every  species  of  distress,  with  an  extent 
of  bounty,  not  only  unknown  to  former  times,  but  which  would  have 
been  incredible  to  them.  I  see  every  where  new  Institutions  form- 
ing, yet  old  Establishments  supported;  and  let  it  be  remembered: 
that  in  these  noble  works,  which  I  trust  will  rise  in  remembrance 
before  God  on  behalf  of  this  nation,  the  Dissenters  claim  their  full 
*hare  with  the  Church  of  England.  I  see  the  ships  of  Britain,  no 
longer  bearing  the  natives  of  Africa  from  their  parent  soil,  but  car- 
rying to  them  the  arts  of  life,  and  the  blessings  of  the  Gospel — I  see 
the  Church  of  England  surrounded  and  assisted  by  dilfcring,  but  re- 
spectful, and  no  longer  hostile  sects,  extending  the  light  of  truth  to 
the  remotest  regioHS  of  the  earth :  and  when  to  the»e  coasideratioos 


CHAP.  HI.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  35Y 

we  add  the  wonderful  preservation  of  the  independence  and  constitu- 
tion of  this  nation  for  so  many  years  of  impending  danger,  amidst 
the  ruin  which  has  swallowed  up  all  the  surrounding  States,  may  we 
not  indulge  the  hope,  that  the  religion  of  this  nation  is  a  portion  of 
that  church  against  which  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail ;  and  this 
country,  a  favoured  instrument  of  Providence,  in  effecting  its  most 
subhme  and  beneficent  designs  ? 

"  It  is  indeed  an  important  crisis  for  the  Church  of  England.  Great- 
ness and  glory  wait  on  her  decision  one  way.  I  forbear  to  state  the 
consequences  of  the  contrary  decision  which  you  would  recommend  : 
for  I  trust  that  the  Church  has  already  decided,  and  that  the  triumphs 
of  the  Bible  Society,  which  you  already  can  trace  to  the  enthusiasm  of 
the  crusaders,  are  but  the  prelude  to  more  extensive  triumphs  ;  when 
this  nation  shall  indeed  take  up  the  cross — to  carry,  not  the  sword,  but 
the  Saviour,  throughout  the  world,  and  when  you  will  be,  I  trust,  not 
the  last  to  cast  away  your  unfounded  apprehensions,  and  to  hail  with 
unmingled  satisfaction  the  opening  of  new  eras  of  light  and  truth." 

The  period  was  now  arrived,  when  the  transactions  of  the  year 
were  to  be  solen^nly  and  publicly  reported.  Those  powers  of  selec- 
tion and  of  combination  which  had  been  so  often  employed  in  the  So- 
ciety's service,  were  again  applied  to  the  voluminous  details  of  its 
now  extended,  and  still  extending,  operations  ;  and  the  result  was  pro- 
duced and  recited  by  the  Noble  compiler,  to  the  members  and  friends 
of  the  Institution,  assembled,  on  the  6th  of  May,  at  Free-Mason's 
Hall,  to  commemorate  its  Eighth  Anniversary. 

So  vast  was  the  crowd,  and  so  great  the  pressure,  on  this  occasion, 
that  many  persons  of  distinction  were  prevented  from  taking  a  share 
in  the  business  of  the  day,  by  the  utter  impracticability  of  obtaining 
admittance.  Among  these  was  the  Earl  of  Hardwicke,  who  attended 
with  the  express  design  of  moving  thanks  to  the  President ;  but  who 
was  compelled,  by  the  circumstances  described,  to  content  himself 
with  making  his  intention  known,  and  devolving  the  duty  upon 
another. 

The  venerable  Bishop  of  Durham,  constrained  "  by  prudential'mo- 
tives,  respecting  health,  at  his  advanced  age,"  to  absent  himself  from 
what  his  Lordship  called,  "the  very  interesting  annual  Meeting  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,"  assured  the  Members,  that  he  did 
not  submit  to  the  constraint  ''  without  real  regret."  The  Bishop  trans- 
mitted, as  his  proxy,  a  draft  for  50/.  and  accompanied  this  act  of  mu- 
nificence with  the  fellowing  very  memorable  and  important  declara. 
tion. 

47 


35S  HlSTORy  OF  THE  BRITISH  IPART  li. 

"  The  Society,  from  its  first  institution  to  the  present  hour,  has  had 
my  most  ardent  wishes  for  its  success.  That  success  has  not  only  far 
exceeded  my  most  sanguine  expectations,  but  those  of  its  other  nu- 
merous friends,  to  a  degree  unexampled  in  any  other  instance  in  the 
annals  of  mankind." 

Considerable  effect  was  given  to  the  proceedings  of  the  day,  by  the 
appearance  of  two  new  Prelates,  from  the  Irish  Bench,  the  Bishops  of 
Kildare  and  Meath,  who  severally  addressed  the  Meeting,  in  a  man- 
ner highly  interesting  and  impressive. 

The  Bishop  of  Kildare  stated  the  want  and  acceptability  of  the 
scriptures  according  to  the  authorized  version,  not  only  among  the 
Protestants,  but  also  among  very  many  of  the  Roman  Catholics,  in 
Ireland ;  and  spoke  in  terms  of  high  commendation,  of  the  exertions 
made  by  the  Hibernian  Bible  Society,  in  Dublin,  to  meet  the  acknow- 
ledged exigency.  The  Bishop  asserted,  that  the  ignorance  which 
prevailed  in  that  country  on  the  subject  of  religion,  was  not  to  be 
conceived ;  and,  after  many  observations  to  a  similar  purport,  con- 
cluded with  an  affecting  appeal  on  behalf  of  a  people,  who  needed  so 
greatly  the  assistance  of  the  Society,  and  were  so  prepared  and  dis- 
posed to  profit  by  it. 

The  Bishop  of  Meath  concurred  with  the  Bishop  of  Kildare,  in  re- 
presenting Ireland  as  deeply  needing  the  benefit  which  it  was  in  the 
power  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  to  impart.  His  Lord- 
ship remarked,  that  only  the  skirts  of  that  cloud,  charged  with  fertiliz- 
ing showers,  to  which  the  Noble  President  had  compared  the  benevo- 
lent Society,  had  yet  extended  to  Ireland.  The  Bishop  concluded 
a  speech,  delivered  with  great  dignity  and  animation,  by  expressing 
the  warmest  satisfaction  in  witnessing  so  numerous  a  meeting,  thus 
cordially  and  ardently  united  on  an  object  of  so  much  importance  ; 
and  by  assuring  the  Members  of  it,  that  he  should  endeavour  to  im- 
part a  similar  impression  to  the  Clergy  of  that  diocese  which  consti- 
tuted the  peculiar  sphere  of  his  Episcopal  labours. 

The  Bishops  of  Cloyne  and  of  Norwich,  bore,  severally,  their  tes- 
timonies to  the  utility  of  the  Institution,  not  only  among  foreign  na- 
tions, but  also  in  those  particular  districts  with  which  they  were  re- 
spectively connected. 

The  Bishop  of  Salisbury  expressed  the  cordial  satisfaction  with 
which  he  took  a  share  in  the  duties  of  this  interesting  ceremony ; 
and,  in  terms  of  great  respect  and  liberality,  proposed  a  resolution  of 
thanks  to  the  Synod  of  Glasgow,  and  to  the  other  Synods,  Presbyteries, 
&c.  in  North  Britain,  from  which  contributions  had  been  received,  for 
their  generous  aid  and  support. 


CHAP.  Ill]  AND  FOItEIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  359 

These  addresses,  intermingled  with  those  which  were  delivered  by 
various  speakers,  of  different  ranks  and  professions,  but  of  corres- 
pondent sentiments  and  feelings,  expanded  the  minds  of  the  auditory, 
and  brought  the  general  merits  of  the  Institution,  whose  anniversary 
they  were  met  to  celebrate,  completely  within  their  view. 

What  opinion  was  entertained  of  it  by  the  country  at  large,  they 
could  be  at  no  loss  to  understand,  when  they  heard  from  the  lips  of 
their  President,  that  fifty-three  Auxiliary  Societies  had  been  added 
in  the  course  of  the  year ;  and  from  their  Treasurer,  that  the  united 
contributions  of  all  the  Auxiliaries  had  amounted  to  nearly  25,000/. 
Such  intelligence  was  adapted  to  convey  the  strongest  encouragement ; 
and  to  impress  a  conviction,  that  the  means  of  the  Society  would  con- 
tinue to  augment,  in  proportion  to  the  extension  of  the  demand  for 
their  employment. 

It  would  naturally  be  concluded,  that  a  body  of  men  convened  under 
circumstances  such  as  those  which  brought  this  assembly  together, 
would  take  pleasure  in  expatiating  over  the  vast  surface  of  direct  and 
determinate  good  which  the  facts,  as  reported,  so  strikingly  presented. 
They  could  not  hear  ofwhat  was  proceeding,  by  their  encouragement 
and  aid,  on  the  continent  of  Europe,  in  the  peninsula  of  India,  and 
through  the  countries  beyond  the  Atlantic,  without  visiting,  in  imagi- 
nation, those  interesting  scenes,  in  which  the  feelings  of  gratitude  are 
expressed,  through  such  a  variety  of  languages  and  dialects,  for  the 
unexpected  and  inestimable  gift  of  a  Bible. 

Nor  did  it  escape  the  observation  of  the  Meeting,  that  the  direct 
advantages  arising  from  the  Society  were  greatly  increased  by  the  be- 
neficial influence  which  it  indirectly  exercised,  and  which  so  visibly 
manifested  itself,  in  an  improved  temper  among  professing  Christians, 
and  in  a  growing  cultivation  of  brotherly  love.  They  saw,  at  the 
same  time,  in  the  testimonies  which  it  collected,  by  its  correspondence 
with  different  parts  of  the  world,  so  many  depositions  from  independ- 
ent and  concurring  witnesses,  to  the  truth,  the  power,  and  the  ex- 
cellence of  Christianity. 

But  the  feature  which  pecuUarly  distinguished  this  Anniversary, 
and  which  was  afterwards  observed  with  equal  surprise  and  satisfac- 
tion, was,  the  utter  oblivion  manifested  throughout  of  every  thing 
connected  with  the  existing  controversy.  If  ever  an  excuse  could  be 
found  for  the  introduction  by  casualty,  of  an  allusion  to  the  opponents 
of  the  Society,  it  would  have  been  at  a  time  when  the  opposition  put 
on  a  formidable  shape,  and  uttered  a  menacing  tone.  But  so  per- 
fectly had  the  great  subject  absorbed  all  minor  considerations  ;  and  so 
completely  did  the  splendour  of  its  triumphs  aimibilate  all  fears  of  re- 


360  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  11. 

sistance,  that  not  an  expression  was  dropped  which  betrayed  the  ex- 
istence of  an  angry,  or  even  of  a  controversial  feeUng. 

The  whole  tenor  of  the  business  was  such,  as  to  have  inclined  a 
stranger  to  what  had  appeared  before  the  public,  to  believe,  that  in 
this  Institution  of  pure  and  vast  benevolence,  there  was  (as  it  seems 
reasonable  there  should  be)  but  one  opinion  and  one  feeling,  through- 
out the  British  empire,  and  the  Christian  world.* 

An  elegant  author,  in  a  speech  before  referred  to,  has  expanded 
this  reflection  with  so  much  beauty  and  effect,  that  his  words  shall  be 
adopted  as  the  conclusion  of  this  chapter. 

"  Who,  but  the  Author  and  Giver  of  all  concord,  could  have  put 
into  the  hearts  of  the  children  of  men  a  design  so  beneficial  and  god- 
like ;  so  adapted  to  allay  the  heats  and  animosities  which  have  so 
often  disturbed  the  peace  of  society,  and  disfigured  our  common 
Christianity  ?  It  is  like  the  '  precious  ointment  upon  the  head,  that 
ran  down  upon  the  beard  :  even  upon  Aaron's  beard ;  that  went  down 
upon  the  skirts  of  his  garment.'  It  is,  indeed,  a  most  sacred  per- 
fume ;  and  while  it  is  so  abundantly  poured  out  in  the  view  of  all  na- 
tions, I  cannot  but  imagine  that  I  see  it  ascending  in  clouds  of  incense 
to  Heaven,  grateful  to  (Jod,  to  his  saints,  and  to  the  holy  angels  ;  con- 
secrating this  happy  soil,  and  drawing  down  upon  it  a  copious  shower 
of  benedictions  and  blessings.  How  much  unanimity  strengthens, 
and  discord  enfeebles,  the  sinews  of  empire,  is  too  obvious  to  need 
to  be  insisted  on ;  nor  was  there  ever  a  period  in  the  history  of  Great 
Britain,  when  the  former  was  more  to  be  desired,  or  the  latter  more 
to  be  deprecated.  The  Bible  Society  is  a  solemn  and  public  recog- 
nition, calculated,  beyond  any  event  that  has  yet  transpired,  to  con- 
found infidelity,  and  to  expel  from  the  nation  the  last  relics  of  that 
detestable  impiety ;  to  shut  up  every  crevice  of  the  infernal  pit,  and 
disperse  every  atom  of  the  pestilential  steam.  The  sophistry  of  infi- 
dels had  been  successfully  confuted  by  a  succession  of  able  writers  ; 
they  have  retired,  baffled,  from  the  field,  their  arrows  spent,  their 
ammunition  exhausted ;  and  nothing  remained  but  to  signalize  the 
victory  by  a  public  monument,  and  to  embody  the  national  sentiment, 
by  erecting  a  public  trophy  out  of  the  spoils  of  the  enemy.  This 
idea  the  Bible  Society  has  nobly  realized,  by  taking  pledges  from  the 
statesmen,  the  senators,  the  nobles  of  the  land,  of  their  devoted 


»  If  the  reader  should  pprceive  a  resemblance  between  the  language  here  etn- 
ployed,  and  that  of  the  Christian  Observer,  for  May,  1812,  it  may  be  not  amiss  to 
inform  him,  that  the  account  which  appeared  in  that  respectable  publication,  was 
furnished  by  the  author, 


CHAP.  III.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  3gj 

attachment  to  the  word  of  God  :  they  have  publicly  lifted  up  their 
voice,  and  declared,  in  the  face  of  all  Europe,  that  the  Bible  is  the 
religion  of  Great  Britian.  What  lustre  does  this  shed  upon  our 
country  !  It  appears  the  grand  seminary  of  Christian  principle  :  per- 
haps there  is  no  single  moment,  night  or  day,  in  which  some  voice 
does  not  rise  up  to  heaven  in  its  behalf, — and  prayer  is  the  grand  key 
that  unlocks  the  celestial  treasury. 

"  It  is  not  too  much  to  Hope,  that  the  attachment  to  the  Gospel 
avowed  by  those  who  have  co-operated  in  the  measures  of  this 
Society,  will  be  followed  by  an  increased  attention  on  their  part  to 
explore  its  contents,  to  imbibe  its  spirit,  and  to  regulate  their  lives  by 
its  precepts  ;  and  that  thus  the  interest  of  vital  Christianity  may  keep 
pace  with  the  more  extensive  promulgation  of  revealed  truth.  Let 
our  activity  in  the  cause  be  followed  up  by  an  increased  spirit  of 
attachment  and  investigation ;  let  us  earnestly  desire  to  taste  that 
bread  of  life  which  it  is  the  property  of  this  Society  to  communicate  : 
then  shall  we  be  a  happy,  because  a  holy,  people  ;  and  this  will  throw 
around  us  a  greater  splendour  than  Roman  or  Grecian  genius  could 
bestow.  Should  the  sentiments  of  that  Divine  Book  take  possession 
of  the  heart,  and  mould  the  character  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
country,  it  would  secure  to  the  nation  a  higher  protection  than  all  its 
military  and  naval  preparations  ;  and  even  the  rocks,  with  which  our 
isle  is  girt,  would,  in  comparison,  be  a  feeble  rampart  against  the 
assaults  of  our  enemy.  With  perfect  composure  we  leave  the  de- 
cision of  this  great  controversy  (and  a  greater  never  engaged  the 
attention  of  mankind)  to  the  arbitration  of  the  Supreme  Judge,  with- 
out the  smallest  apprehension  that  we  shall  be  called  to  an  account 
in  that  day  when  the  earth  and  the  works  thereof  shall  be  burnt  up, 
and  the  elements  shall  melt  with  fervent  heat,  for  having  unrolled 
too  widely  that  volume  which  discloses  to  the  eye  of  faith  the  reali- 
ties and  prospects  of  eternity.  Nor  will  it  be  deemed  presumption 
if  I  affirm,  that,  in  a  dying  hour,  when  the  interests  and  passions 
which  now  agitate  us,  shall  shrink  to  their  due  dimensions,  it  will 
afford  us  more  satisfaction,  in  the  retrospect,  to  have  been  the  friends, 
than  the  enemies  of  the  Bible  Society."* 

*  Hall's  Speech  at  Leicester, 


PART  IIL 


CHAPTER  I. 

1812—13. 

The  mass  of  information  which  had  by  this  time  accumulated,  as 
well  from  the  Reports  of  the  Parent  Institution,  as  from  those  of  its 
numerous  Auxiliaries,  was  very  considerable  ;  and  the  favourable 
impression  which  it  made  was  evinced  by  effects,  not  more  honour- 
able to  the  rehgious  and  benevolent  spirit  of  the  country,  than  advan- 
tageous to  the  general  interests  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 

Society. 

Nor  was  this  favourable  impression  slightly  assisted  by  the  progress 
of  that  controversy  in  which  the  merits  of  the  Institution  were  mi- 
nutely canvassed  by  the  ablest  disputants,  and  both  its  principles  and 
its  operations  were  subjected  to  the  severest  scrutiny. 

Towards  the  close  of  April,  1812,  appeared  the  long-expected 
Appendix  to  Professor  Marsh's  "  Inquiry,"  in  a  thick  pamphlet  of 
120  pages,  under  the  title  of  "  A  History  of  Translations  which  have 
been  made  of  the  Scriptures,  from  the  earliest  times,  &c.  composed 
chiefly  with  a  view  of  ascertaining  in  how  many  languages  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  has  been  the  means  of  preaching 
the  Gospel."  To  this  learned,  elaborate,  and,  with  all  its  spleen  and 
unfairness,  very  useful  publication,  no  direct  answer  was  ever  given. 
This  reserve  on  the  part  of  the  advocates  of  the  Institution,  was  con- 
strued, by  the  tribe  of  its  minor  opponents,  into  an  admission  of  em 
barrassment,  if  not  of  defeat.  The  fact  was,  that,  in  the  Professor's 
Appendix,  truth  and  error  were  so  artfully  blended ;  and  so  obvious 
a  determination  was  shown  throughout,  to  crfminate  the  Society  at  all 
events,  that  no  good  was  thought  likely  to  arise  from  such  a  reply  as 
would  have  been  necessary  to  expose  the  perversion  of  its  state 
ments,  and  the  fallacy  of  its  conclusions. 


364  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III. 

It  is  not  disputed,  that  partly  from  zeal,  and  partly  from  a  defect- 
ive knowledge  of  the  subject,  the  advocates  of  the  Institution  ma}^ 
have  been  sometimes  betrayed  into  language  which  overrated  the 
achievements  of  the  Society  ;  and  that  they,  from  the  same  causes,  may 
have  ascribed  to  it  the  merit  of  having  been  the  first  to  translate  the 
Scriptures  into  languages  in  which  the  researches  of  the  Professor 
had  enabled  him  to  discover  that  a  translation  existed  before.  Of 
these  inaccuracies  (which  were  much  oftener  imputed  than  deserved, 
and  for  which  individuals,  and  not  the  Society,  were  accountable)  the 
Professor  was  not  backward  to  take  advantage  ;*  and  though  the  use 

*  The  disposition  of  the  opponents  to  take  advantage  of  the  real  or  imputed  in- 
accuracies  In  the  speeches  of  the  advocates  of  the  Society,  and  particularly  of  the 
Secretaries,  has  been  manifested  in  a  way  which  will  not  easily  be  reconciled  with 
the  principles  of  candour,  fairness,  or  even  common  integrity.  With  what  truth 
this  is  asserted,  let  the  following  circumstance  declare. 

In  the  Newspaper-report  of  the  speeches  at  the  formation  of  the  Cambridge  So- 
ciety, the  Rev.  Mr.  Steinkopff  was  described  as  having  spoken  in  unqualified  terms 
of  the  want  of  the  Scriptures  in  Germany  On  this  statement  the  Margaret  Pro- 
fessor grounds  a  vehement  accusation  against  Mr.  Steiukopff,  as  though  he  had  wil- 
fully misrepresented,  and  even  libelled  his  country.  Now  it  did  happen,  that  Mr. 
Steiukoptf  objected  to  this  report  of  his  speech,  a  report  he  never  saw  fill  it  appear- 
ed in  print ;  that  he  took  the  earliest  opportunity  of  pointing  out  its  inaccuracies ; 
and  that  he  furnished  such  statements  as  were  necessary  to  render  it  correct.  But 
did  the  Professor  know  all  this  before  he  published  the  accusation  he  had  written? 
His  own  note  on  the  passage  wliich  contains  it  shall  answer  the  question. 

"  I  am  aware,  that  there  is  now  in  the  press  a  speech  of  the  Foreign  Secretary, 
which  I  HAVE  BEEJJ  DESIRED  TO  SEE,  and  wluch  fjices  a  very  different  account 
from  all  that  had  been  said  before.  But  all  the  other  speeches  at  Cambridge  whicli 
now  have  been  printed  above  a  mouth  in  the  Cambridge  Chronicle,  and  have  re- 
mained uncontradicted  by  the  authors  of  them,  might  also,  at  this  rate,  be  new- 
modelled  in  consequence  of  my  objection  to  them." 

Not  only,  therefore,  was  the  accusation  retained  :  but,  three  months  after,  the 
Professor  has  the  gravity  to  charge  Mr.  Steiukopff  (on  the  same  ncvjspaper  authority) 
with  having  praised  the  Society  (and  that  in  the  hearing  of  such  men  as  the  Duke 
of  Bedford,  and  the  late  Mr.  Whitbread)  for  having  "  translated  the  word  of  God 
into  the  German,  and  the  Ancient  Greek  langaages ! ! !" 

{See  Marsh's  Inquiry,  p.  43,  end  Hist,  of 
Translations,  4c-  p-  23.) 

After  such  conduct  from  a  Professor  of  Divinity  in  the  University  of  Cam- 
bridge, the  author  ought  not  to  be  surprised  at  the  treatment  which  his  speech  at 
Ipswich,  on  a  similar  occasion,  has  received  from  the  Curate  of  St.  John's,  Hack- 
ney. Of  this  notable  specimen  of  controversial  disingeuuity,  the  reader  will  find 
3ome  explanation  in  a  letter  from  the  author  to  the  Rev.  Mr-  Dealtry ;  the  last 
paragraph  of  which,  as  applying  equally  to  both  the  cases  referred  to,  may  not  im- 
properly conclude  this  note. 

«  I  forbear  saying  what  I  think  of  the  conduct  of  those  who  propagate,  as  authen- 
tic, what  they  derive  from  unaccredited  sources,  and  who  persevere  in  repeating 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  qq^ 

to  which  he  turned  them  was  neither  the  kindest  nor  the  best,  yet 
their  detection  had  its  value,  were  it  only  for  the  Biblical  information 
with  which  it  was  accompanied. 

To  so  much  of  the  Professor's  work  as  disputed  the  want  of  the 
Scriptures  in  Europe,  and  in  Asia,  but  particularly  in  the  former,  no 
other  reply  seemed  to  be  requisite,  than  that  which  the  documents 
contained  in  the  Annual  Reports  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society  so  abundantly  furnished.  This  species  of  evidence,  it  was 
confidently  believed,  would  from  year  to  year  acquire  a  progressive 
increase,  and  give,  eventually,  to  the  Professor's  representations  the 
most  complete  and  unanswerable  contradiction.  In  what  degree  this 
presumption  has  been  justified,  it  is  almost  needless  to  observe.  The 
answers  to  this  part  of  the  Professor's  accusation  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  have  been,  and  continue  to  be,  written  (and 
that  by  some  of  the  first  authorities)  fx'om  the  capitals  of  the  princi- 
pal European  sovereignties,  and  from  the  respective  seats  of  Govern- 
ment in  most  of  the  Civil  Establishments  of  British  India. 

With  regard  to  that  portion  of  the  work,  not  the  least  considerable, 
and  by  far  the  most  laboured,  which  undertook  to  settle  the  balance 
of  credit  between  the  Baptist  Missionaries  and  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  (with  which  Society,  it  should  be  remembered,  those 
Missionaries  were  in  amicable  communication,  and  of  which,  as  Mem- 
bers of  a  Corresponding  Committee,  they  actually  formed  a  part,) 
this,  also,  it  was  thought,  might  be  safely  left  to  that  exposure  which 
time  and  a  further  developement  of  facts  would  quietly  and  efiectually 
supply.  The  circumstances  recorded  in  different  parts  of  this  narra- 
tive will,  it  is  trusted,  have  placed  the  conduct  of  the  Society  in  such 
a  light  as  to  exonerate  it  from  the  undeserved,  but  reiterated  charges 
of  disingenuousness  and  plagiarism  in  its  treatment  of  the  Baptist  Mis- 
sionaries. The  crime  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  con- 
sisted in  asserting  for  the  members  of  the  EstabUshed  Church  in  Bri- 
tish India  a  share  in  the  important  work  of  preparing  translations  for 
the  natives  of  the  East, — an  office  from  which  it  was  the  avowed  ob- 

accusations  which  they  have  had  every  opportunity  of  knowing'  to  have  been  ad- 
vanced  without  any  just  foundation.  With  such  persons,  I  regret  to  say,  ail  means 
appear  fair,  that  can  conduce  to  the  accomplishment  of  their  end  ;  and,  as  I  can- 
not condescend  to  fight  them  with  weapons  like  their  own,  I  have  thought  it  my  du- 
ty to  decline  that  conflict  which  it  has  been  their  object  so  frequently  to  pro- 
voke." 

See  Dealtry's  Revieic  of  Mr.  Narrh^s  Attack,  ^r.  p.  28. 


3(JG  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III, 

ject  of  the  Professor's  argument  and  exertions  utterly  to  exclude 
them.* 

From  what  has  now  been  brought  under  his  view,  the  reader  will 
be  able  to  judge,  whether  a  question  of  such  grave  importance, 
affecting  most  nearly  the  vital  principle  of  the  Reformation,  and,  to 
a  certain  degree,  the  maintenance  and  the  propagation  of  Christiani- 
ty in  general,  could  have  been  agitated  by  persons  of  such  station 
and  talents,  and  with  such  mutual  earnestness,  perseverance,  and  de- 
tail, without  increasing  considerably  the  interest  excited  by  the  Insti- 
tution to  which  these  discussions  referred.  The  fact  was,  that  the 
protraction  of  the  controversy,  however  injurious  to  the  peace  of  in- 
dividuals, had  the  effect  of  rousing  and  enlightening  the  public  mind, 
and  of  tending  materially  to  augment  both  the  number  and  the  returns 
of  Auxiliary  Societies  in  different  parts  of  the  kingdom. 

Another  cause  of  the  increased  impression,  which  has  been  ob- 
served as  characteristic  of  this  era  of  the  Society,  was  the  prodigious 
distribution  of  certain  minor  publications,  adapted  to  explain  its  prin- 
ciples, and  to  confute  the  objections  which,  under  different  forms, 
were  industriously  circulated  with  a  view  to  its  prejudice,  and,  were 
that  possible,  to  its  extinction.  This  plan,  which  was  devised  and 
conducted  by  Richard  Phillips,  Esq.  consisted  in  selecting  such 
speeches,  addresses,  or  other  compositions,  as  were  considered  to  be 
popular  and  impressive,  and  dispersing  them,  by  means  of  a  private 
subscription,  in  those  parts  of  the  country  which  required  to  be 
brought  into  4  state  of  excitement,  or  to  be  fortified  against  the  influ- 
ence of  sophistry  and  misrepresentation. 


*  "These  are  the  men"  (viz.  the.  Baptist  Missionaries  iu  India)  "  who  are  best 
qualified  to  comphfe  the  dcaiga,  so  nobly  begun,  and  hitherto  so  successfully  per- 
formed." 

3Iarii}iii  Histori)  of  Translations,  <Jc.  p.  7J>. 

In  the  same  spirit  is  the  following  observation,  relative  to  another  class  of  Dis- 
senting Missiouaries : 

"  Should  any  attempt  be  made  to  translate  the  New  Testament  into  any  modern 
language  or  dialect  of  Africa,  no  men  can  be  better  qualified  for  the  task  than  the 
Missionaries  who  are  now  employed  by  the  London  Missionary  Society." 

Id.  p.  97. 

Of  so  much  importance  did  it  seem  to  this  learned  writer  to  suppress  the  British 
and  Foreign  IJiblc  Society,  that,  with  a  view  to  its  accomplishment,  he  did  not 
fiesilate  to  sacrifice  i/tr.  ivfluence  of  the  Church  of  Emjlandy  in  providing  ortho- 
dox versions  of  the  Scriptures,  both  for  .4sia  and  Africa. 


CHA.P.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  367 

To  these  causes, — the  regular  pubUcations  of  the  Parent  Society 
and  its  Auxiliaries,  the  productions  arising  out  of  the  existing  contro- 
versy, and  the  minor  pieces  thrown  into  circulation  by  private  libe- 
raUty';  all  co-operating  in  their  several  degrees,— we  are  to  ascribe, 
under'the  blessing  of  Providence,  that  rapid  growth  of  the  Institution 
which  exhibited,  between  its  eighth  and  ninth  Anniversary,  an  addi- 
tion of  seventy-five  new  Establishments  to  the  number  of  its  Auxili- 
ary Societies,  and  an  advancement  of  its  income  through  that  chan- 
nel, from  24,8 13^  5s.  to  65,099/.  3s.  lOd. 

"  The  History  of  Translations,"  &c.  was  soon  after  succeeded  by 
its  promised  sequel,  in  which,  under  the  form  of  a  Letter  to  the  Right 
Hon.  N.  Vansittart,  the  Professor  gives  what  he  considers  "  an  An- 
•swer,"  not  only  to  that  gentleman's  "  Second  Letter,"  but  also  "  to 
whatever  is  argumentative  in  other  pamphlets  written  to  the  same 
purpose."  Scarcely  had  this  pamphlet  found  its  way  into  circulation, 
when  a  hero  of  another  description  stepped  forth  to  break  a  lance 
with  the  champions  of  the  Society.  The  uniform  in  which  this  as- 
sailant appeared  was  that  of  the  Established  Church,  and  the  cause 
which  he  professed  to  maintain  was  that  of  the  Society  for  Promoting 
Christian  Knowledge  ;  but  the  course  which  he  took  was,  certainly, 
not  such  as  to  deserve  the  gratitude  of  either.  His  predecessor  in 
the  field  had  contended,  that  in  giving  the  Bible  the  Society  gave  too 
little  ;  the  object  of  this  assailant  was  to  prove,  that  in  so  doing  the 
Society  gave  too  much.  The  whole  Bible  ought  not,  in  his  opinion, 
to  be  given  to  the  bulk  of  the  people.  "  Some  of  these  books"  (viz. 
of  the  Old  and  New  Testament)  "  are,"  it  seems,  "  exclusively  fit 
for  the  meditation  of  the  learned  ;  and  others,  though  comparatively 
forming  a  small  portion,  are  equally  important  to  the  vulgar  and  to 
the  well-informed."  How  small  that  portion  is,  which,  according  to 
the  judgment  of  this  author,  it  would  be  useful  or  even  safe  to  com- 
mit to  general  distribution,  may  be  learnt  from  the  following  extra- 
ordinary  statement : 

"  Out  of  sixty-six  books,  which  form  the  contents  of  the  Old  and 
New  Testament,  not  above  seven  in  the  Old,  nor  above  eleven  in  the 
New,  appear  to  be  calculated  for  the  study  or  comprehension  of  the 
unlearned."* 

Against  this  attack,  which  tlureatened  to  reduce  the  Bible,  in  the 
hands  of  the  common  people,  to  less  than  one-third  of  its  former  di- 

♦  Thoughts  on  the  Utility  aud  Expediency  of  the  Plans  of  the  British  and  fo- 
reija  Bible  Society,  by  Edwavd  Maltby,  D.  D.  &c.  p.  10. 


3gS  HISTORV  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III, 

mensions,  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  or  rather  Christiani- 
ty itself,  was  very  ably  defended  by  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Cunningham, 
Vicar  of  Harrow,  a  gentleman  from  whose  eloquent  exertions  on  so 
many  occasions,  the  British  and  Foreign 'Bible  Society  has  reaped 
guch  eminent  advantages.  The  following  passage  may  serve  as  a 
specimen  of  the  tone  in  which  this  able  defence  was  conducted. 

•'  The  design  of  God,  as  to  the  universal  diffusion  of  the  Scriptures, 
may  be  inferred  from  the  use  made  of  them  by  Christ  himself.  In 
his  conferences  with  various  classes,  learned  and  unlearned,  of  his 
countrymen,  his  free  and  frequent  quotations  from  almost  every  part 
of  the  Old  Testament,  involve  a  supposition,  both  that  all  classes  were 
acquainted  with  them,  and  that  they  were  designed  for  the  use  of  all. 
He  quotes  the  Old  Testament,  not  merely  to  the  philosophic  Sad- 
ducee,  to  the  precise  Pharisee,  and  to  the  learned  Scribe,  but  to  the 
multitude  on  the  Mount.  Nor  was  he  likely  to  quote  the  Scriptures 
to  men  unacquainted  with  them;  nor  is  the  popular  thirst  for  sacred 
knowledge  so  intense,  that  they  were  likely  to  have  sought  it  even  in 
an  interdicted  book.  Under  the  Jewish  economy,  then,  it  is  evident, 
that  the  Bible  was  no  esoteric  woi'k,  the  exclusive  property  of  the 
high  and  learned  ;  and  is  there  any  thing  in  the  genius  or  practice  of 
Christianity  which  proclaims  it  designed  to  abridge  the  liberties,  and 
dam  up  the  religious  privileges,  of  the  lower  orders  ?  Is  the  book 
which  the  liamb  died  to  unseal,  now  to  become  a  sealed  book  to  the 
mass  of  the  people  ?  Is  this  a  feature  of  our  emancipation  from 
Jewish  bondage — this  the  freedom  wherewith  the  Son  hath  made  us 
free  ?" 

To  the  "  Observations"  of  Mr.  Cunningham,  the  author  who  had 
provoked  them  made  no  reply.  He  was  not  perhaps  aware  of  the 
mischievous  consequences  of  his  theory,  till  he  saw  them  so  acutely 
exposed  ;  and  he  very  judiciously  abandoned  his  pamphlet  to  the  fate 
it  deserved,  and  which,  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Cunningham,  it  could 
not  be  expected  to  escape.  If  Dr.  Maltby  had  not  shown  his  respect 
for  Christianity  by  a  work*  of  no  ordinary  merit,  in  its  illustration 
and  defence,  he  would  have  laid  himself  open  to  the  suspicion  of  no 
very  friendly  designs  towards  our  holy  religion,  and  the  Institutions 
by  which  it  is  promoted.  But,  in  fact,  the  cause  of  the  Society  is 
that  on  the  side  of  which  the  Scriptures,  and  every  Church  which 
professes  to  be  founded  upon  them,  are  decidedly  ranged  ;  and  they 
who  will  oppose  it,  can  find  no  other  weapons  to  employ  against  it 

*  «  IlIostratioHs  of  the  Truth  of  the  Christian  Religion,"  published  in  1802. 


CHAP.  11  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  ggg 

than  such  as  "  have  been  undeniably  forged  in  the  camp  of  the  Phi- 
listines." 

The  Reply  of  Professor  Marsh  to  Mr.  Vansittart,  and  to  all  his 
opponents,  was  in  the  mean  time  obtaining  an  active  circulation,  and 
keeping  alive  the  spirit  of  opposition  on  that  principle  of  objection 
which  the  Professor  claimed  as  exclusively  his  own — the  danger  to 
the  Established  Church  from  the  neglect  to  give  the  Prayer-Book 
with  the  Bible.  But  the  masterly  speech  of  the  Rev.  Robert  Hall, 
from  which  so  large  quotations  have  been  made,  together  with  the 
several  publications  of  Mr.  Dealtry  and  Mr.  Vansittart,  had  so  tho- 
roughly subverted  the  whole  ground  of  this  theory,  that  the  antago- 
nists of  the  Professor,  with  only  one  exception,  contented  themselves 
with  the  defence  which  had  been  made,  and  left  him  in  possession 
of  all  the  advantage  he  could  derive  from  the  circulation  of  an  un- 
noticed reply. 

The  exception  to  this  forbearance  was  in  the  case  of  the  Rev.  W. 
Otter,*  who,  while  he  viewed  the  objection  of  the  Professor  as  fair- 
ly argued  down,  yet  considered  his  pretensions  to  have  given  "  an 
answer  to  all  the  arguments  in  favour  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bi- 
ble Society/'  as  demanding  further  animadversion.  Speaking  of  the 
Professor's  reply,  Mr.  Otter  observes,  "  It  is  addressed  to  Mr.  Van- 
sittart, in  answer  to  his  second  letter ;  and  had  he  thought  proper, 
in  his  publication,  to  confine  his  pretensions  to  the  object  I  have  sta- 
ted, the  advocates  of  the  Bible  Society  would  have  been  contented 
to  rest  the  merits  of  their  case  upon  the  present  merits  of  the  con- 
troversy. But  when  he  affects  to  include  in  it  all  that  is  argumenta- 
tive in  other  pamphlets  ;  when  he  declares  to  the  world  that  he  has 
replied  to  arguments,  many  of  which  he  has  not  even  touched  upon  ; 
and  pretends  to  give  answers,  where,  in  fact,  he  has  only  bestowed 
reproaches ;  it  is  a  duty  I  owe  myself,  as  well  as  the  cause  I  have 
undertaken  to  defend,  to  remove,  as  far  as  lies  in  my  power,  the  mis- 
apprehension likely  to  be  produced  by  it." 

Under  the  impression  described  in  this  passage,  Mr.  Otter  publish- 
ed his  "  Examination  of  Dr.  Marsh's  Answer  to  all  the  Arguments  in 
Favour  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,"  a  performance, 
which,  for  closeness  of  reasoning,  perspicuity  of  diction,  and  candour 
of  spirit,  deserves  to  be  classed  with  the  best  productions  to  which 
this  fruitful  controversy  has  given  occasion.  The  conclusion  of 
Mr  Otter's  pamphlet  is  at  once  so  serious  and  so  just,  that  it  will  be 
adding  to  the  value  of  these  pages  to  give  it  insertion. 

t  Rector  of  Chetwynd  in  Shropshire,  and  late  Fellow  and  Tutor  of  Jesus  Col- 
Ifge,  Cambridge. 


370  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III. 

"  Being  now  about  to  quit  the  discussion  of  this  subject,  I  trust 
for  ever,  I  shall  take  my  leave,  with  an  observation  which  I  conceive 
to  be  important.  The  manner  in  which  we  have  been  attacked  has 
subjected  us  to  considerable  disadvantage.  If  we  had  been  chal- 
lenged to  state  the  good  done  by  the  Bible  Society,  our  answer  would 
have  been  short,  simple,  and  impressive, — we  make  known  to  all  the 
■world  the  word  of  God.  But,  in  the  course  of  our  defence,  we  have 
been  compelled  to  enter  into  details  quite  foreign  to  the  views  of  our 
Society ;  and  sometimes  induced  to  dwell  upon  advantages  by  no 
means  important  to  its  cause,  and  never,  perhaps,  in  the  contempla- 
tion of  its  founders  ;  while  the  real  object,  and  the  genuine  merits 
of  the  Institution  have  been  kept,  as  it  were,  in  the  back  ground,  and 
never  insisted  upon  as  they  deserve.  Hence  it  is  to  be  feared  that 
the  public  attention  has  been  often  tixed  upon  the  wrong  place  ;  it 
has  been  withdrawn  from  that  which  is  essential,  and  diverted  to  that 
which  is  incidental.  With  whatever  success,  therefore,  we  may  have 
vindicated  our  claim  to  an  increase  in  the  circulation  of  that  Liturgy 
which  we  are  accused  of  neglecting, — however  clearly  we  may  have 
made  it  appear  that  our  conscientious  co-operation  with  Dissenters 
in  this  salutary  work,  will  lessen  the  evils  of  dissent,  and  thereby 
contribute  eventually  to  strengthen  and  consolidate  that  Establishment 
which  we  are  said  to  undermine  ;  w^e  beg  it  always  to  be  remember- 
ed, that  none  of  these  form,  either  wholly,  or  in  part,  the  ground 
upon  which  we  rest  the  claims  of  the  Society  to  public  attention  ; 
they  are  not  the  object  of  its  triumph  ;  that  object  is  beyond  all  com- 
parison, and  above  all  praise  ;  it  is  the  word  of  God,  and  the  power 
of  God — the  "  pearl  of  great  price,"  which  the  merchant  in  Scrip- 
lure  is  said  to  have  purchased  at  the  expense  of  all  he  possessed — 
the  fountain  of  all  true  wisdom — the  book  of  eternal  life.  To  have 
contributed,  in  the  smallest  degree,  whether  in  support  of  the  princi- 
ple, or  in  aid  of  the  practice  of  this  Society,  will  ever  be  to  me  a 
source  of  pleasing  reflection,  full  of  that  joy  which  no  man  taketh 
from  me,  while  living;  and  pregnant  with  a  hope,  which  will  not,  I 
trust,  desert  me  when  I  die." 

Having  said  thus  much  in  general  on  the  causes,  both  direct  and 
auxiliary,  which  contributed  to  the  domestic  prosperity  of  the  Insti- 
tution, it  will  now  be  proper  to  resume  the  narrative  of  its  foreign 
transactions,  reserving  the  particular  circumstances  which  evince 
that  prosperity,  for  a  more  regular  and  detailed  consideration. 

Of  those  measures  which  respect  the  foreign  department  of  the 
Society,  the  first  in  order,  and  certainly  not  the  last  in  importance, 
was,  the  tour  undertaken  and  performed  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Steinkopff, 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGxX  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  37 j 

at  the  request  of  the  Committee,  and  with  the  design  of  promoting, 
more  extensively,  the  object  of  the  Institution  on  the  continent  of 
Europe.  In  furtherance  of  this  design,  the  Committee  placed  the 
sum  of  2000/.*  at  Mr.  Stcinkopff's  disposal,  while  prosecuting  his 
tour;  and,  under  their  direction,  his  Brother-Secretaries  imparted  to 
him  a  resolution  expressive  "  of  the  entire  confidence  which  the 
Committee  reposed  in  him,  and  the  complete  discretion  with  which 
they  invested  him."  The  more  particular  import  of  those  instruc- 
tions, was  to  make  him  the  fully-accredited  agent  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society  ;  to  authorize  him,  wherever  he  should  go,  to 
hold  out  the  completest  encouragement  to  the  formation  of  Bible  So- 
cieties ;  to  supply  such  wants  of  the  Scriptures  as  might  appear  to 
him  to  require  immediate  attention  ;  to  purchase  such  books  for  the 
Society's  use  as  he  might  consider  important ;  and,  generally,  to  take 
all  such  steps,  in  its  name  and  behalf,  as  might  seem  in  his  judgment 
calculated  to  promote  the  accomplishment  of  its  object. 

Thus  commissioned  and  instructed,  Mr.  Steinkopff  entered  upon  his 
journey  on  the  12th  of  June  ;  and,  after  an  absence  of  nearly  six 
months,  during  which  lime  he  visited  many  important  stations  in  Den- 
mark, Germany,  and  Switzerland,  he  returned  to  England  on  the  6th 
of  December-t  For  the  interesting  particulars  of  this  tour,  the 
reader  must  be  referred  to  Mr.  Steinkopff's  official  statement  in  the 
Society's  Ninth  Annual  Report,  and  to  his  "  Letters"  from  the  Con- 
tinent,— a  volume,  which,  for  the  simplicity,  benevolence,  and  devo- 
tional amenity,  with  which  it  is  written,  deserves  to  be  universally 
perused. 

The  reader  will  scarcely  need  to  be  reminded,  that  the  period  iu 
which  Mr.  Steinkopff  embarked  in  this  benevolent  undertaking,  was 
a  crisis  of  extraordinary  peril  and  embarrassment.  That  portion  of 
the  Continent  through  which  he  had  to  travel,  was  under  the  jealous 
tyranny  and  vigilant  inspection  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  the  implaca- 
ble enemy  of  that  country  in  the  charitable  service  of  which  our  tra- 
veller was  despatched.  But,  fortified  against  alarm  by  a  consciousness 
of  the  excellence  of  his  cause,  and  the  purity  of  his  motives,  he 
went  out  in  faith,  and  returned  in  safety.  On  this  subject  Mr.  Stein- 
kopif  shall  be  the  interpreter  of  his  own  feelings. 

*  The  whole  sum  expenslcd  by  IMr.  SteiukopfJ',  in  Grants  of  Money,  and  Bibles 
and  Testaments,  was  2712/.  lOj. 

t  A  report  havings  ^ot  into  circulation  that"  Bonaparte  countenanced  the  object 
of  Mr.  Steinkopff's  tour,"  it  may  not  be  unimportant  to  observe,  that  710  suck 
counienance  ivas  gircn  or  applied  for  ;  nor  is  it  known  to  the  Committee,  what  were 
the  sentiracnls  of  Bonaparte  respecting  the  object  of  their  Institution. 


372  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III 

"My  journey  to  the  Continent,  on  account  of  its  present  political 
state,  was  an  arduous  and  difficult  undertaking ;  indeed  I  felt  it  such  : 
but,  trusting  in  the  almighty  power  and  protection  of  God,  and  the 
purity  and  excellence  of  the  cause  in  which  I  was  engaged,  I  cheer- 
fully proceeded ;  and,  blessed  be  His  Name,  my  confidence  in  Plim 
was  not  disappointed.  I  have  been  most  mercifully  preserved,  both 
by  sea  and  land,  by  day  and  night ;  and  though  my  way  often  seemed 
hedged  in  with  thorns,  yet  difficulties  have  been  removed,  dangers 
averted,  passports  obtained,  and  channels  for  usefulness  opened,  in  a 
way  that  has  greatly  strengthened  my  faith  in  the  special  providence 
of  God.  Had  it  been  a  time  of  peace,  and  could  I  have  acted  quite 
freely  and  openly,  I  might  have  extended  my  tour  still  farther,  and 
have  reasonably  expected  a  greater  proportion  of  success  ;  but  though 
I  could  not  do  all  I  wished,  I  thank  God  that  my  feeble  exertions  have 
not  been  quite  in  vain." 

"  Thus  much"  (adds  Mr.  Steinkopff)  "  my  conscience  bears  me 
witness,  that,  in  the  whole  of  this  dangerous,  yet  blessed  journey,  I 
have  never  lost  sight  of  its  primary  design,  the  promotion  of  the 
glory  of  God,  the  spreading  of  his  holy  word,  and  the  furtherance  of 
the  best  interests  of  the  Society." 

The  services  of  Mr.  Steinkopff  were  (as  might  reasonably  be  ex- 
pected) justly  appreciated  by  that  body  at  whose  instance  he  had 
sacrificed  his  convenience,  hazarded  his  liberty,  and  even  endangered 
his  life.  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Committee,  in  which  Lord  Teignmouth 
presided,  Admiral  Lord  Gambier,  and  the  learned  Dr.  Adam  Clarke, 
charged  themselves  severally  with  moving  and  seconding  a  resolution 
of  thanks  to  Mr.  Steinkopff  for  this  valuable  service.  In  conveying 
their  thanks,  the  Committee  stated,  as  their  unanimous  determination, 
"  that  the  result  of  Mr.  Steinkopflf's  journey  to  the  Continent  had 
fully  justified  the  expectations  which  induced  the  Committee  to  re- 
quest him  to  undertake  and  perform  it :  that  the  various  communica- 
tions made  by  Mr.  Steinkopff  to  societies  and  individuals  respecting 
the  nature,  object,  and  operations  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  had  contributed  materially  to  increase  their  attachment  to 
the  Institution,  strengthen  their  confidence  in  its  wisdom  and  liberality, 
and  animate  their  exertions  for  extending  the  circulation  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures  :  that  by  his  judicious  dispensation  of  the  funds  entrusted 
to  him,  Mr.  Steinkopfl'  had  fulfilled  the  wishes  of  the  Committee,  in 
supplying  the  spiritual  wants  of  numerous  poor  and  destitute  Chris- 
tians, promoting  the  formation  of  new  Bible  Societies,  and  assisting 
the  measures  of  those  already  in  existence:  and,  finally,  that  the 
proceedings  of  Mr.  Steinkopff  had  been  conducted  with  a  zeal  and 


CMAP.  1.3  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  373 

iliscretion  eminently  calculated  to  give  the  most  favourable  impression 
of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society ;  to  enlarge  and  strengthen 
its  external  relations ;  and  thus  to  facihtate  the  accomplishment  of  its 
object,  the  distribution  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  in  the  widest  possible 
extent." 

To  this  testimony,  the  justice  of  which  was  fully  established  by  the 
documents  exhibited  to  the  Committee,  many  of  the  transactions 
which  we  are  now  to  record  will  be  found  to  lend  a  very  satisfactory 
and  decisive  confirmation. 

In  entering  upon  an  account  of  the  Society's  affairs,  either  as  ad- 
ministered by  itself,  or  by  the  Societies  in  connexion  with  it,  on  the 
continent  of  Europe,  little  occurs  at  Berlin  and  at  Stockholm  to  in- 
terest and  detain  the  reader's  attention.  Of  the  Societies  established  in 
€ach  of  these  capitals,  it  may  be  sufficient  to  say,  that  they  continued 
during  this  year  to  prosecute  their  labours  with  their  accustomed  sim- 
plicity and  diligence ;  and  that  their  means  were  recruited,  as  new 
occasions  for  the  employment  of  them  arose,  by  liberal  supplies  from 
the  funds  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 

No  Establishment  had  yet  been  effected  within  the  Danish  domi- 
nions, exclusively  for  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures.  The  Fiihnea 
Society  had  unquestionably  exerted  itself  according  to,  and  even  be- 
yond, its  ability ;  and  something  considerable  had  been  added  to  its 
stock  by  a  discretionary  grant  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Steinkopff ;  but  so 
narrow  was  the  foundation,  and  so  scanty  were  the  resources,  of  this 
/nsular  Society,  that  little  comparatively  was  to  be  expected  from  its 
most  vigorous  and  enterprising  exertions.  A  Bible  Society,  therefore, 
m  the  capital  of  Denmark,  was  felt  to  be  an  important  desideratum ; 
and  the  circumstances  of  this  year  put  on  an  aspect  which  encouraged 
the  hope,  that  this  desideratum  would  ere  long  be  supplied. 

The  visit  of  Mr.  Steinkopff  to  Copenhagen,  the  information  which 
he  had  it  in  his  power  to  impart,  respecting  the  nature  and  proceed- 
ings of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  the  encouragement 
which  he  was  authorized  to  hold  out  to  the  formation  of  similar  So- 
cieties, contributed  materially  to  increase  the  impression  already 
made  in  favour  of  this  great  object,  on  the  minds  of  several  persons  of 
distinction,  both  lay  and  ecclesiastical.  Among  these,  the  principal 
was  the  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Miinter,  the  Bishop  of  Zealand,  a  man  of 
high  reputation  for  talents,  learning,  and  piety.  This  prelate,  it  ap- 
peared, had  long  entertained  a  very  favourable  opinion  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society ;  and,  as  early  as  February,  1810,  had  ad- 
dressed a  communication  to  its  Members,  through  his  Grace  the  Arch- 
bishop of  Canterbury.  Understanding  from  Mr.  Steinkopff  that  no 
49 


374  HISTORY  OP  THE  BRITISH  LPART  III. 

such  communication  had  been  received,  and,  further,  that  Lord  Teign^ 
mouth  was  the  President  of  the  Society,  the  Bishop  took  an  early  op- 
portunity of  addressing  to  his  Lordship  the  following  explanatory  and 
most  gratifying  letter : 

"  My  Lord, 
*•  When  I  was  informed  that  the  Society  established  in  London  for 
spreading  the  knowledge  of  the  Holy  Bible,  and  of  that  religion  of 
which  it  is  the  sacred  depository,  animated  by  a  zeal  which  does  it  so 
much  honour,  had  kindly  printed  the  New  Testament  in  the  Danish 
language,  in  order  to  distribute  copies  of  it  to  the  prisoners  of  war  of 
my  nation,  I  hastened  to  convey  to  his  Grace  the  Lord  Archbishop 
of  Canterbury,  whom  I  supposed  to  be  a  Member*  of  the  above-men- 
tioned respectable  Society,  the  expressions  of  my  lively  gratitude  for 
a  kindness  of  which  my  heart  feels  all  the  obligation.  For  this  pur- 
pose I  employed,  as  my  channel  of  communication,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ro- 
sing, at  that  time  Pastor  of  the  Danish  Congregation  in  London,  which 
forms  part  of  the  diocese  confided  to  my  superintendence.  I  know 
not  whether  my  wishes,  in  this  respect,  have  been  executed  ;  but  be- 

*  About  tbc  time  when  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  printed  the  Tes- 
tament, the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  printed  the  Hymn-Book, 
for  the  use  of  the  Danish  prisoners  of  war.  The  Bishop  of  Zealand,  desirous  of 
expressing  his  gratitude  to  each  of  those  Societies,  and  concluding,  from  the  na- 
ture of  their  object,  and  their  mutual  congeniality,  that  the  Head  of  the  English 
Church  was  the  Patron  of  both,  acted  very  naturally,  in  addressing  his  thanks 
through  that  high  and  venerable  quarter.  This  sentiment  is  so  admirably 
expressed  in  the  letter  itself,  that  the  reader  will  be  pleased  to  see  it  in  the  follow- 
ing brief  extract: 

"  Cum  enim  ignarus  cssem  virorum  optimorum,  quibus  cura  utriusque  Societatis 
regeudae  hoc  tempore  commissa  sit,  TE,  Pra^sul  eminentissime,  quocum  Episco- 
patus  curffique  gregis  Cbristiani  fraternum  mihi  intercedit  vinculum,  literis  hisce 
adire  non  dubitavi:  veniam  facile  me  impetraturum  ratus,  si  TE,  ea,  qua  par  est, 
obscrvantia,  etiara  atque  etiam  rogarem  atque  obsecrarem,  nt  pro  tua  humanitate, 
utriusque  Soclclatis  sodalibus,  quorum  eximiura  TE  esse  decus  baud  est  dubium, 
quantum  summo  illo  orga  civcs  nostros  bcneficio  tacti  affectique  simus,  eo,  quo 
polles,  eloquio  exponcre  atque  testari  benigne  velis  '' 

"  As  I  had  not  any  knowledge  of  those  excellent  men  to  whom  the  charge  of 
directing  these  Societies  is  committed,  I  have  not  hesitated  to  address  you,  most 
eminent  Prelate,  with  whom  I  am  connected  in  the  bond  of  mutual  Episcopacy, 
and  superintendence  of  the  Christian  flock.  I  feel  persuaded  you  will  readily  for- 
give me,  if,  with  all  due  respect,  I  earnestly  request  and  beseech,  that  you  will 
kindly  assure  the  members  of  both  those  Societies,  of  which  your  Grace  is,  no 
doubt,  the  principal  ornament,  how  much  we  have  been  impressed  and  affected  by 
their  very  great  kindness  towards  our  fellow-citizens." 


CHAP.  1]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  375 

ing  now  informed,  my  Lord,  that  it  is  your  Lordship  who  presides 
over  this  worthy  Association  of  zealous  Christians,  I  do  myself  the 
honour  of  addressing  myself  directly  to  you  ;  and  in  sending  you,  my 
Lord,  a  copy  of  the  letter  which  I  had  the  honour  of  writing  to  the 
Lord  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  I  venture  to  offer  to  you  the  purest, 
and  most  heartfelt  thghks,  as  well  for  the  kindness  which  I  have  just 
mentioned,  as  for  the  very  recent  impression  and  distribution  of  the 
New  Testament  in  the  Icelandic  and  Laponese  languages  ;  information 
and  copies  of  which  I  have  received  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Henderson. 

"  Be  pleased,  my  Lord,  to  become  the  organ  of  my  gratitude  to  the 
Society  of  which  you  are  the  worthy  President.  Be  pleased  to  as- 
sure them  that,  whatever  be  the  distance  which  separates  our  coun- 
tries, and  whatever  be  the  circumstances  which  influence  our  nations, 
the  bond  of  our  holy  religion  unites  us  as  brethren ;  and  that  the 
kindness  experienced  by  our  fellow-countrymen  detained  in  the  pri- 
sons of  your  empire,  or  removed  far  from  us  by  the  ices  of  the  north, 
will  be  always  regarded  by  us  as  a  good  work,  imposing  upon  us  the 
sacred  duty  of  cherishing  for  ever  in  our  hearts  those  sentiments  of 
gratitude  and  esteem  which  Christian  virtue,  naturally  beneficent, 
could  not  fail  to  inspire. 

"  Such  are,  my  Lord,  my  sentiments  for  yon,  and  the  Society  over 
which  you  preside.  Accept  the  homage  of  them ;  and  be  pleased  to 
believe,  that  we  shalU never  cease  to  accompany  you  with  our  sincerest 
wishes,  that  the  Loramay  deign  to  shed  his  benediction  07i  your  pious  and 
generous  efforts,  which  tend  solely  to  the  glory  of  his  name,  and  the 
welfare  of  our  fellow-creatures." 

Another  circumstance,  which,  from  its  decisive  character  and  pro- 
bable tendency,  was  considered  more  especially  to  favour  the  hope  of 
a  Danish  Bible  Society,  was  the  permission  granted  by  his  Majesty 
the  King  of  Denmark,  in  August,  1812,  to  the  Rev.  Ebenezer  Henr 
derson,  to  reside  at  Copenhagen,  for  the  purpose  of  completing  the 
Icelandic  Bible.  This  permission,  which  was  granted  at  the  suit  of 
the  Royal  Chancery,  and  through  the  good  offices  of  H.  F.  Horneman, 
Esq.  a  Danish  Member  of  the  Committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  was  accompanied  with  a  notice,  that  in  consideration  of 
his  object,  Mr.  Henderson  should  be  allowed,  while  resident  at  Co- 
penhagen, every  privilege  it  might  require ;  among  which,  not  the 
least  valuable,  was,  an  unrestrained  correspondence. 

Such  a  concession  to  the  subject  of  a  nation  with  whom  liis  Danish 
Majesty  was  at  war,  evinced  at  once  a  liberal  spirit,  and  no  light  re- 
spect for  the  cause  in  favour  of  which  this  royal  indulgence  was 


37G  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  llf. 

granted :  and  the  medium  through  which  it  was  acquired,  adds  ano- 
ther to  the  many  evidences  of  the  wisdom  of  that  part  of  the  So- 
ciety's constitution,  which  requires  that  one-sixth  of  its  Committee 
shall  consist  of  foreigners  resident  in  or  near  London. 

The  continuance  of  Mr.  Henderson  at  Copenhagen,  under  the  cir- 
cumstances of  pecuhar  accommodation  which  Tiave  been  described, 
was  very  advantageous  to  the  primary  object  contemplated  by  the 
friends  of  the  Scriptures,  both  in  London  and  in  Copenhagen — the 
printing  of  the  Icelandic  Bible.  The  Testaments  in  that  language 
had  been  judiciously  distributed  ?.mong  the  inhabitants  of  Iceland, 
under  the  direction  of  the  principal  Clergy,  who  all  concurred  in 
testifying  the  eagerness  an  J  gratitude  with  which  the  people  received 
this  book,  for  which  (to  use  the  language  of  Dean  M agnusen)  "  they 
had  long  panted."  "  You  may  conceive,  Gentlemen,"  adds  this  pious 
dignitary,  "  how  joj^ully  the  copies  of  the  New  Testament  were  re- 
ceived here,  from  this  circumstance,  that  the  whole  number  destined 
for  sale  was  instantly  disposed  of,  eagerly  bought,  and  spread  over 
the  neighbourhood.  This  being  the  case,  you  may  rest  assured  that 
more  copies,  if  they  can  be  had,  will  call  forth  an  unabated  desire  in 
old  and  young,  to  possess  and  read  the  Holy  Bible." 

In  such  a  state  of  things,  it  was  felt  that  the  opportunity  for  com- 
pleting this  act  of  kindness  should  be  diligently  improved.  The 
printing  of  the  whole  Bible  was  therefore  advan^d  with  all  proper 
expedition  :  5000  extra  Testaments  were  added  to  the  original  order 
of  that  number  of  Bibles  ;  and  Mr.  Henderson  availed  himself  so 
discreetly  of  the  intercourse  afforded  him  with  persons  of  influence, 
during  the  performance  of  this  work,  as  to  see,  before  he  quitted 
Denmark  for  Iceland,  after  the  completion  of  his  task  in  1814,  a  foun- 
dation laid  in  Copenhagen  for  a  Bible  Society,  under  the  royal  sanc- 
tion, for  the  whole  kingdom  of  Denmark. 

Of  the  Basle  Society  very  pleasing  intelligence  was  received,  both 
as  to  their  progress  in  printing  the  German  Scriptures,  and  in  their 
exertions  of  a  general  nature.  The  most  interesting  particulars  were 
those  which  described  the  good  effect  of  their  services  towards  their 
brethren  in  Paris,  and  their  own  countrymen  in  the  Grisons.  It  ap- 
peared that  two  of  their  number  proceeded,  as  a  deputation,  to  Pa- 
ris, in  November,  1812,  and  were  enabled  to  lay  a  foundation  for  a 
Bible  Committee  in  that  capital.  This  deputation  had  also  ascertain- 
ed, that  most  of  the  Bibles  and  Testaments  sent  by  their  Society  to 
Paris,  had  been  dispersed,  and  received  by  Catholics  as  well  as  Pro- 
testants, with  much  eagerness  and  gratitude.  It  also  appeared  that 
the  attention  paid  by  this  Society  to  the  spiritual  welfare  of  the  Gri- 


CHAP.  I  ]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  377 

sons  had  excited  a  spirit  of  co-operation  among  the  inhabitants ; 
and  that  the  result  had  been  the  formation  of  an  Auxiliary  Bible 
Committee  at  Chur,  the  capital  of  that  Canton  ;  an  establishment  by 
which  the  printing  of  the  Romanese  Scriptures  would  be  in  future 
considerably  facilitated.  How  acceptable  the  New  Testaments, 
printed  in  those  dialects,  were  to  the  Romanese  part  of  the  Grison 
population,  (which  constitutes  two-thirds  of  the  whole,)  may  be 
learnt  from  the  warmth  with  which  one  of  their  pastors  expresses 
*'  the  grateful  sentiments  of  his  countrymen  ;"  and  assures  the  Bri- 
tish and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  in  their  name,  that  it  has  "  perform- 
ed a  most  charitable  work  for  his  native  country,  and  gladdened  the 
hearts  of  many  lovers  of  the  pure  Gospel  of  Christ." 

The  interview  which  Mr.  Steinkopff  had  with  the  BS,sIe  Society 
elicited  much  satisfactory  information,  and  led  to  arrangements  for 
printing  and  distributing  the  Scriptures  on  a  more  extended  scale  than 
had  hitherto  been  employed  or  contemplated.  The  termination  of 
this  interview  exhibited  a  most  interesting  scene :  the  President  (the 
venerable  Superior  of  the  Basle  Clergy,  Antistes  Merian,  then  in  his 
80th  year)  rose,  and  addressed  Mr.  Steinkopff  in  the  name  of  the 
Committee  ;  expressed  their  high  gratification  in  this  interview, 
which  had  drawn  the  bond  of  union,  before  subsisting  between  the 
two  Societies,  still  closer ;  and  requested  him  to  convey  the  warmest 
thanks  of  their  body  to  the  Committee,  and  to  all  the  Members  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  ;  and  to  assure  them,  that  the  im- 
pression of  the  kindness  and  generosity  of  their  British  fellow-Chris- 
tians would  never  be  effaced  from  their  memories  and  their  hearts  ; 
that  the  good  already  produced  by  the  exertions  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society  was  incalculable  ;  and  that  the  blessing  of  God 
would  most  assuredly  rest  on  the  Institution,  and  the  nation  which  had 
given  rise  to  it. 

Zurich  became,  also,  in  the  course  of  this  year,  the  seat  of  a  Bible 
Society.  Previously  to  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Steinkopff  in  this  part  of 
Switzerland,  the  Head  of  the  Clergy,  Antistes  Hess,  had,  together 
with  the  Ecclesiastical  Council,  directed  an  inquiry  to  be  made, 
through  the  Clergy  of  that  Canton,  into  the  wants  of  the  people  with 
respect  to  the  Holy  Scriptures.  Availing  himself  of  the  good  dispo- 
sition manifested  on  every  hand,  in  consequence  of  the  discoveries 
to  which  this  inquiry  had  led,  Mr.  Steinkopff  encouraged  the  plan  of 
a  Bible  Society,  by  grants  proportioned  to  the  circumstances  of  the 
people,  and  the  dimensions  of  the  sphere  which  it  was  likely  to  occu- 
py. The  effect  of  this  encouragement  was  the  formation  of  the  Zu- 
rich Bible  Society,  in  th*-  month  of  September,  1812,  and  the  adop-- 


378  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III, 

tion  of  such  measures  as  would  not  only  provide  for  the  inimediate 
exigency,  but  lay  at  the  same  time  a  solid  foundation  for  a  regular 
and  permanent  supply. 

The  impression  conveyed  to  the  mind  of  the  venerable  and  en- 
lightened ecclesiastic,  Antistes  Hess,  by  the  grant  of  250/.  in  aid  of 
this  infant  Institution,  n-as  very  happily  described  in  a  letter  of  thanks, 
not  more  remarkable  for  the  excellence  of  its  sentiments  than  the 
purity  of  its  diction.  The  spirit  of  the  following  extract  is  so  con- 
genial with  that  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  through  all 
its  ramifications  and  alliances,  that  it  will  be  read  with  pleasure, 
though  under  the  disadvantage  of  a  translation,  by  every  member 
and  friend  of  the  Institution. 

"  Among  the  greatest  advantages  and  consolations  which  God  has 
vouchsafed  to  us  in  these  days  of  general  calamity,  we  may  justly 
reckon  that  remarkable  zeal  and  concurrence  on  the  part  of  so  many 
followers  of  Christ,  especially  throughout  Britain,  in  propagating  and 
recommending  the  use  of  the  Sacred  Oracles.  We  seem  to  witness 
the  return  of  those  ancient  times  immediately  succeeding  the  apos- 
tolical age,  when  all  who  favoured  the  Christian  cause,  in  every  part 
of  the  world,  strenuously  promoted  and  encouraged  among  their  ad- 
herents the  reading  and  the  study  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures.  When 
1  reflect  on  these  things,  my  mind  is  often  cheered  by  the  pleasing 
recollection  of  that  fraternal  intimacy  and  epistolary  intercourse 
which  formerly  subsisted  between  my  predecessors,  of  happy  me- 
mory, especially  Bullinger,  and  the  most  pious  and  learned  pastors 
and  prelates  of  the  British  church.  How  much  the  propagation  of 
pure  evangelical  doctrine  was  indebted  to  that  friendly  communica- 
tion, on  this  most  important  subject,  is  felt  by  all  who,  '  taught  of 
God,'  or  imbued  by  Christ  himself  with  a  relish  for  sacred  doctrine, 
know  what  it  is  to  draw  from,  the  fountain,  and  how  wide  the  differ- 
ence is,  between  the  pure  acknowledgment  of  the  truth,  and  that 
which  is  derived  from  every  other  source.  God  grant,  that  this  new 
union  among  so  many  lovers  of  Christian  truth,  may  daily  take  deeper 
root ;  in  order  that  it  may  minister  largely  to  the  growth  of  that  holy 
and  venerable  church,  which  our  most  gracious  Saviour  has  reserved 
to  be  built  up  for  himself  in  these  last  days;  thereby  fulfilling  hi? 
own  declaration  :  "  There  shairbe  one  fold  and  one  shepherd."* 

*  The  original  is  as  follows : — 

"  luter  maxima  certe  a-tatis  nostra?,  tot  calamitalibus  obnoxia?,  commoda,  malo- 
rumque  lenimina  divinitus  coucessa  referendum  est  memorabile  illud  tot  Christ! 
«;ultorum,  per  Britanniam  prrcsertim,  in  propagando  et  coramendando  diTlnorum 
«raciilorum  nsu  studiunj  et  conseusus. 


CHAP.  I]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  3.79 

Such  was  the  progress  made  in  Switzerland,  and  particularly  in 
those  portions  of  it  contiguous  to  the  German  provinces.  Consider- 
able advances  were  also  made,  through  the  instrumentality  of  the 
Foreign  Secretary,  towards  the  actual  establishment  of  Bible  Socie- 
ties, or  a  preparation  for  their  future  establishment,  in  Wurtemberg, 
Saxony,  Holstein,  and  Swedish  Pomerania.  The  full  attainment  of 
these  objects,  retarded  in  different  degrees  by  the  vicissitudes  of  a 
war,  glorious  in  its  issue,  but  disastrous  in  its  course,  did  not  take 
place  till  after  the  period  to  which  this  sketch  of  the  Society's  His- 
tory is  lirniled.  Some  piugiess  will  be  recorded  among  the  transac- 
tions of  the  ensuing  year ;  and  for  the  present  it  may  suffice  to  have 
glanced  at  them  in  this  general  and  cursory  manner. 

But  we  must  not  pass  so  lightly  over  the  state  of  the  German 
Catholics,  and  the  symptoms  evinced  of  that  disposition  which  it  was 
the  design  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  to  excite  and 
cherish  among  them. 

Among  the  facts  ascertained  by  the  Foreign  Secretary,  in  reference 
to  this  very  interesting  point,  it  clearly  appeared,  that  the  Bible  In- 
stitution at  Ratisbon,  and  other  CathoUc  Depositories,  had  furnished 
a  very  considerable  supply  of  New  Testaments  to  the  Christians  of 
that  persuasion ;  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark,  as  illustrating  the  pru- 
dence of  the  distributors,  and  the  zeal  of  the  receivers,  that  out  of 
27,000  copies  disposed  of  by  the  Ratisbon  Institution,  only  100  were 
gratuitously  bestowed.  The  total  dispersed  in  Catholic  Germany, 
chiefly,  if  not  altogether,  in  consequence  of  the  impulse  given  by  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  was  computed,  in  the  summer  of 
1812,  to  amount  to  no  less  a  number  than  sixty  thousand.     Such  a 

"  Rediisse  quodammodo  videntur  tempora  prisca,  apostolico  a?vo  propiora,  qui- 
bus  per  omiiem  fere  terrarum  orbem,  qui  rei  Christianse  favebant,  literarum  sacra- 
rum'lectionem  studiumque  provehere,  suisque  commendare  sumniS  curd  nilebantur. 
Quae  mihi  perpendenti  jucunda  sftpe  subiit  animum  recordatio  familiaritatis  illius 
frateroEe,  neenon  cotnmercii  epistolici,  quod  olira  praedecessoribus  meis  beatse  me- 
moriae, Bullingcro  imprimis,  iutercesserat  cum  Britannicae  ecc'.osiae  pientissirais 
eruditissimisque  pastoribus  atque  proesidibus :  quorum  cum  nostris  in  re  gravissi- 
ma  amico  consensui  quantum  debuerit  ipsa  purioris  evangelicae  doctrinre  propa- 
gatio,  constat  inter  omnes,  qui,  quid  sit  efontibus  haurire,  quantumque  distet  inter 
puriorem  banc  veritatis  agnltionera,  et  quamlibet  aliam  undecunque  haustam,  ipsi 
norunt,  utpote  QtcS'tS'a.Klot,  seu  Christo  ipso  duce  suavissimo  sanctioris  doctrinse 
sensu  imbuti. 

"  Faxit  Deus,  ut  et  novus  iste  tot  Christianae  veritatis  amatorum  consensus  allio- 
res  in  dies  agat  radices ;  ut  la?tiora  jam  inde  incrementa  capiat  ecclesia  ilia  sanc- 
tior  et  augustior,  quam  ipse  sibi  novissimis  hisce  temporibus,  instaurandam  reser- 
Tavit  benignissimus  Soter,  effati  sui  etiamnum  niemor :  yiviic-iTat  uU  ■riiifj'.\»y  tJj 


380  BISTORT  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  IIL 

distribution,  in  little  more  than  four  years,  is  certainly  a  phenomenon 
in  a  Catholic  country,  and  one  in  which  true  "Christians  of  every  de- 
nomination will  find  just  occasion  to  rejoice. 

But  about  the  period  to  which  this  part  of  our  narrative  refers,  a 
new  labourer  presented  himself  to  notice,  and  claimed,  through  the 
channel  of  its  Foreign  Secretary,  the  attention  and  assistance  of  the 
British  and  ForpJgn  Bible  Society,  on  behalf  of  the  German  Catho- 
lics. This  labourer  was  the  Rev.  Leander  Van  Ess,  who,  together 
with  his  brother,  had  produced  a  translation  of  the  Testament  from 
the  Greek,  which  the  first  Protestant  riprgymp.n  at  Dresden  and  Zu- 
rich* concurred  with  respectable  authorities  among  the  Roman 
Catholic  Literati,  in  recommending,  as  exhibiting  a  pure  and  correct 
version  of  the  sacred  original.  This  Catholic  Professor  of  Divinity 
(for  to  that  office  he  had  been  recently  appointed  in  the  University  of 
Marburg)  described  the  solicitude  of  the  people  to  obtain  the  Scrip- 
tures, as  exceeding  not  only  his  means  of  supplying  them,  but  almost 
any  conception  which  the  most  sanguine  mind  could  ever  have  enter- 
tained. 

"  It  is  true"  (he  says)  "  that  the  New  Testament  is  pretty  well 
^distributed  in  our  circle  ;  but  what  are  a  few  copies  among  so  many  ? 
They  are  like  the  five  loaves  among  those  4000  that  lay  at  the  feet 
of  the  Lord :  may  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  multiply  this  hea- 
venly bread,  as  he  once  did  the  earthly,  to  the  satisfying  of  all." 
"  The  fields"  (he  continues)  "  are  more  and  more  ripening  for  the 
harvest,  by  the  increasing  oppression  of  the  times.  AH  earthly  com- 
forts are  vanishing  from  the  children  of  men  :  ill-treated,  plundered, 
and  heavy-laden  as  they  are,  their  eyes  full  of  tears  look  for  refresh- 
ment and  comfort  towards  the  realms  above,  where  alone  they  are  to 
be  found.  This  is  the  time  to  work  ;  the  hearts  of  men,  humbled  and 
softened,  are  more  accessible  to  divine  light  and  truth ;  they  are  open- 
ing, like  the  dry  ground  that  languishes  for  the  fertilizing  shower : 
their  eyes  desire  to  see  the  salvation  offered  to  them  in  the  word  of 
God." 

And  again,  with  a  degree  of  importunity,  truly  affecting,  he  urges 
his  suit  in  the  following  terms  : 

"■  For  Christ's  sake,  I  entreat  you  to  let  me  have  a  number  of  our 
New  Testaments  for  distribution.  My  sphere  of  usefulness  is  extending 
more  and  more  :  many  worthy  Clergymen  of  our  church  join  them- 
selves to  me  ;  who,  with  the  most  lively  zeal  for  the  cause  of  God, 

*  The  late  Rev.  Dr.  Reinhard,  first  Chaplain  to  the  Court  of  Saxony,  and  the 
present  venerable  Superior  of  the  Zurich  Clergy,  Antietes  Ilcee. 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  35  j 

assist  me  in  my  endeavours  to  do  good.  My  request  is  for  the  high- 
est and  best  gift;  even  for  the  Scriptures  of  truth,  which  are  able 
to  make  men  wise  unto  salvation." 

The  consequence  of  an  appeal,  at  once  so  reasonable  and  so  ear- 
nest, was  an  immediate  allotment  of  200Z.  on  the  part  of  the  Foreign 
Secretary,  to  enable  this  excellent  Catholic  to  distribute  3000  copies 
of  his  Testament,  under  a  condition,  (with  which  he  cheerfull}'^  com- 
plied,) that  the  few  notes  accompanying  his  own  impression  should  be 
struck  out  from  that  which  was  to  be  printed  and  circulated  at  the  ex- 
pense of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Societ}^  In  his  letter  of  ac- 
knowledgment for  this  "  benevolent  aid,"  the  Professor  observes,  "  I 
need  not  repeat,  with  what  a  blessing  it  has  pleased  God  to  accompany 
the  reading  of  my  New  Testament:  I  will  only  add,  that  in  the  place 
of  my  residence,  and  all  the  country  roimd,  a  lively  desire  to  read  ihs 
'word  of  God  is  ina'casing  among  the  Catholic  people ;  the  blessing  of 
which  becomes  daily  more  evident.  The  prejudices  of  our  Clergymen 
against  Laymen's  reading  the  Bible,  are  gradually  disappearing  :  many 
begin  even  to  promote  its  dissemination.''''  To  this  statement,  not  mofe 
gratifying  than  extraordinary,  maybe  added  the  testimony  of  the  ReVo 
Regens  Wittman,  Director  of  the  Catholic  Institution  at  Ratisbon.  "  I 
discover"  (saj's  the  Director,  alluding  to  the  people  of  his  own  com- 
inunion)  "an  increase  of  genuine  Christianity.  The  minds  of  many 
are  changed  for  the  better  ;  they  pray  more  earnestly  ;  they  renounce 
the  world.  O  that  the  number  of  pious  conscientious  clergymen 
might  increase  among  us  !  Indeed,  I  have  the  confident  hope,  that  the 
Lord  of  the  harvest  will  send  more  faithful  labourers  into  his  harvest. 
He  can  never  leave  the  flock  of  his  sincere  followers  :  he  will  pto^ 
vide  it  with  good  shepherds  :  then  the  reading  of  the  Bible  will  be- 
come still  more  general." 

These  authorities  are  cited,  to  prove,  that  a  spirit  both  of  reading 
and  distributing  the  Holy  Scriptures  continued  to  spread  among  the 
Roman  Catholics  in  Germany ;  and  they  show,  at  the  same  timCj  the 
near  connexion  there  is  between  attachment  to  the  Bible,  and  the  pre- 
valence of  vital  religion.  There  is  something  so  delightful  in  tracing 
the  progress  of  this  zeal  for  the  Scriptures,  where  for  ages  We  had 
been  taught  almost  to  despair  of  finding  it,  that  the  author  cannot  re- 
frain from  calling  one  more  Catholic  witness  before  taking  leave  of  the 
subject. 

"  There  remains"  (says  a  Catholic  Clergyman  in  Munich)  '*  thou- 
sands, and  tens  of  thousands,  both  in  towns  and  in  the  country,  who 
are  entire  strangers  to  thi?  holy  book ;  thous^inds.  and  tens  of  thai?- 


332 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  IIL 


sands,  who,  having  become  sensible  of  its  value,  wish  to  possess  it. 
Surely  here  is  ample  scope  for  noble  benevolence,  for  Christian  zeaL 
Every  possible  exertion  ought  to  be  used,  that  the  word  of  the  Lord 
may  run  and  be  glorified  ;  that  it  may  fill  all  countries,  all  towns,  all 
villages,  all  houses,  all  hands,  and,  what  is  still  more— all  hearts." 

But  the  occurrence  which  particularly  distinguished  the  continental 
transactions  of  this  year,  and  will  render  it  memorable  to  the  latest 
posterity,  was,  the  formation  of  a  Bible  Society  in  the  capital  of  Rus- 
sia, under  the  designation,  first,  of  the  St.  Petersbux'g,  and  afterwards 
of  the  Russian  Bible  Society. 

The  mind  of  the  reader  has  been,  to  a  certain  degree,  prepared, 
not  only  to  expect  this  occurrence,  but  also  to  anticipate  some  at  least 
of  those  measures  by  which  it  was  accomplished.  Such  was  not,  how- 
ever, the  case  with  the  conductors  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society.  Apprized,  as  they  were,  of  all  the  circumstances  which  have 
been  described,  as  indicating  the  favour  of  the  Court  of  St.  Petersburg 
towards  their  object  in  Finland,  they  neither  did,  nor  could,  infer  suf- 
ficient encouragement,  to  authorize  the  hope  of  such  an  Establishment 
as  that  which  they  were  soon  to  witness.  In  fact,  a  Bible  Society  at 
St.  Petersburg  was  so  extraordinary  an  acquisition,  and  between  the 
design  and  the  attainment  of  it  so  many  and  such  serious  difficulties 
might  be  supposed  to  intervene,  that  there  was  nothing  in  the  ground 
hitherto  obtained,  or  the  means  yet  acquired,  which  could  either  jus- 
tify or  inspire  the  expectation  of  such  an  event.  It  does,  however, 
now  appear  that  the  ground  obtained  was  sufficient,  and  that  the  means 
and  instruments,  inadequate  as  they  seemed,  were  precisely  those 
which  it  was  the  intention  of  divine  Providence  to  employ,  in  oi'der  to 
dispose  one  of  the  most  powerful  Monarchs  in  the  world,  to  patronize 
an  Institution  in  his  capital,  for  dispersing  the  Holy  Scriptures,  in 
their  respective  languages,  among  the  several  nations  included  within 
the  boundaries  of  his  empire.  The  origin  of  this  Institution  shall  now 
be  particularly  described. 

Early  in  the  year  1812,  Mr.  Paterson  was  led  to  take  into  consider- 
ation a  journey  to  Petersburg,  in  order  to  accommodate  the  wishes, 
and  promote  the  interest  of  the  Abo  Society,  by  superintending  the 
preparation  of  types  for  the  proposed  edition  of  the  Finnish  Bible, 
Many  circumstances  concurred  to  recommend  this  step,  as  leading  to- 
a  speculation  beyond  the  immediate  object  for  which  it  was  sug- 
gested. 

The  Cabinet  of  Petersburg  had  testified  its  friendship  towards  tlie 
designs  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  in  a  manner  the  most 


CHAP.  I.l  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  333 

generous  and  unequivocal.  The  evidence  of  this  friendship  had  been 
strengthened  by  the  testimony  of  Baron  Nicolai,*  the  Russian  Am- 
bassador at  Stockholm  ;  and  by  the  lively  interest  which  that  Noble- 
man spontaneously  took  in  the  concerns  of  the  Society,  and  its  intro- 
duction into  the  Russian  empire.  Add  to  this,  that  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Pinkerton,  at  that  time  resident  in  the  vicinity  of  Moscow,  had  ad- 
dressed to  Mr.  Paterson  an  encouraging  letter,  inviting  him  to  re- 
pair to  Petersburg,  in  the  prospect  of  something  being  likely  to  be 
soon  attempted  in  Moscow  for  the  advancement  of  the  general 
cause. 

Under  the  influence  of  these  considerations,  and  with  the  decided 
approbation  and  countenance  of  the  Societies  both  in  Stockholm  and 
London,  Mr.  Paterson  took  his  departure  for  Petersburg,  where  he 
arrived  on  the  5th  of  August,  1812.  On  the  23d  of  that  month  he 
had  an  audience  of  Prince  Galitzin,  the  Minister  of  Foreign  Religions, 
through  a  letter  of  introduction  from  the  Bishop  of  x\bo  ;  and  though 
the  object  of  the  interview  was  professedly  confined  to  the  casting  of 
types  for  the  Finnish  Scriptures,  yet  enough  was  said  by  the  Prince, 
in  the  course  of  the  conversation,  to  demonstrate  his  Excellency's 
good  opinion  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  his  \fill- 
ingness  to  promote  its  benevolent  designs  among  the  Protestants  resi- 
dent in  diffei'ent  parts  of  the  empire. 

Impressed  with  this  reception  in  so  powerful  a  quarter,  Mr.  Pater- 
son felt  the  importance  of  exerting  himself  to  turn  it  to  advantage  ; 
but  was  utterly  at  a  loss,  from  the  difficulties  with  which,  as  a  solitary 
stranger,  he  was  surrounded,  to  devise  any  measures  upon  which  he 
might  build  the  smallest  hopes  of  success.  In  this  state  of  perplexity, 
he  determined  to  join  his  correspondent  Mr.  Pinkerton,  who  had  ex- 
pressed a  wish  to  confer  with  him  personally  on  the  business  which 
regarded  their  common  object.  On  the  2d  of  September  Mr.  Pater- 
son reached  Moscow ;  and  both  on  that,  and  the  two  ensuing  days, 
while  the  enemy  was  rapidly  advancing  towards  the  city,  and  all 
around  them  was  apprehension,  and  bustle,  and  flight,  these  excel- 

*  The  Baron  sent  for  Mr.  Paterson,  in  order  to  learn  more  particularly  the  na- 
ture and  operations  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  Impressed  with 
what  he  heard,  the  Baron  asked  Mr.  Paterson,  "  why,  in  the  prosecution  of  such 
a  noble  object,  he  had  not  visited  Petersburg;  a  place  in  which  he  might  expect 
every  kind  of  protection  and  assistance?"  Upon  Mr.  Faterson's  observing  that  no- 
thing  prevented  him  but  the  state  of  public  affairs,  the  Baron  replied  that  he  had 
uothing  to  apprehend,  as  it  was  known  that  he  neither  interfered  with  trade  or  with 
politics-,  and  concluded  by  warmly  recommending' Uiia  to  repair  to  Petersburg- 


384  HISTORf  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  111. 

lent  men  were  discussing  their  plans  for  the  spiritual  improve- 
ment of  that  empire  whose  very  existence  was  threatened  with 
destruction. 

As  the  name  of  Mr.  Pinkerton,  though  cursorily  mentioned  before, 
is  now  introduced  for  the  first  time  in  connexion  with  proceedings 
which  brought  him  into  a  state  of  active  and  most  useful  co-operation 
with  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  it  will  be  satisfactory  to 
the  reader,  before  proceeding  further  in  the  narrative,  to  receive 
Bome  brief  information  concerning  him. 

The  Rev.  Robei't  Pinkerton,  like  his  coadjutors  in  the  North  of 
Europe,  Messrs.  Paterson  and  Henderson,  is  a  native  of  Scotland,  and 
emigrated  from  his  country  in  May,  1806,  under  >he  patronage  of  the 
Edinburgh  Missionary  Society,  in  order  to  serve  as  a  Missionary  at 
the  religious  settlement  in  the  Caucasus.  In  this  situation  he  conti^ 
nued  at  Karass,  till  the  state  of  his  health  compelled  him  to  leave  it  in 
September,  1808.  In  the  month  of  March,  1809,  he  took  up  his  resi^ 
dence  at  Moscow  ;  and  obtained  very  honourable  and  advantageous 
em|:ioymentj  as  preceptor,  in  the  families  of  several  persons  of  dis- 
tinction. 

Wliile  thus  occupied,  Mr.  Pinkerton  never  lost  sight  of  the  spiri- 
tual object  to  which  he  had  considered  himself  devoted ;  and  as  he 
had  been  diverted  from  the  pursuit  of  it  in  one  direction,  he  resolved 
to  let  no  opportunity  escape,  by  which  he  might  be  enabled  to  pro- 
mote it  in  another.  In  this  state  of  mind,  a  letter  from  Mr.  Steinkopff, 
at  the  close  of  1809,  decided  him  to  turn  his  attention  to  the  state  of 
the  Scriptures  in  Russia,  and  to  the  means  of  providing  for  them,  in 
that  extensive  empire,  a  more  general  and  more  effectual  dissemina- 
tion. In  the  winter  of  1811,  Mr.  Pinkerton  had  so  far  succeeded,  as 
to  have  prevailed  upon  some  of  the  first  nobility  to  take  an  active  in- 
terest in  promoting  the  establishment  of  a  Bible  Society  in  the  city 
of  Moscow.  In  the  spring  of  1812,  the  plan  of  such  an  Institution 
was  digested  in  the  Russian  language  ;  and  this  plan,  which  compre- 
hended the  Scriptures  in  the  native  Slavonian,  as  well  as  the  foreign 
dialects  of  the  empire,  was  to  have  been  submitted  to  his  Imperial 
Majesty  in  the  ensuing  winter ;  and  in  the  event  of  its  receiving  the 
Imperial  sanction,  the  Society  was  to  be  forthwith  established  at  Mos- 
cow. Anxious  for  the  accomplishment  of  this  important  undertak- 
ing, and  encouraged  by  the  success  of  similar  exertions,  both  at  Stock- 
holm and  Abo,  Mr.  Pinkerton  was  induced  to  open  that  correspond- 
ence with  Mr.  Paterson,  which  terminated,  as  has  been  related,  in 
bringing  them  together. 


«JHAP.  11  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  333 

In  the  communication  which  took  place  between  them,  under  the 
circumstances  which  have  been  described,  much  consideration  was 
given  to  the  great  object  which  they  had  mutually  in  view.  The 
plan  devised  by  Mr.  Pinkerton  was  become  utterly  impracticable. 
Nothing  could  now  be  attempted  at  Moscow :  it  was  on  the  eve  of 
falling  into  the  hands  of  an  infuriated  enemy  ;  and  the  greater  part 
of  the  nobihty  who  had  promised  their  assistance  in  establishing 
a  Bible  Society  within  it,  had  departed,  either  to  join  the  army,  or  to 
seek  refuge  in  the  interior  of  the  country.  In  this  state  of  things,  it 
obviously  appeared,  that  Petersburg,  and  not  Moscow,  ought  to  be 
contemplated  as  the  ground  on  which  the  attempt  to  erect  a  Bible 
Society  should  be  made.  It  was  therefore  concluded,  that,  on  his 
return  to  Petersburg,  Mr.  Paterson  should  institute  the  necessary  in- 
quiries ;  and,  upon  receiving  information  of  their  leading  to  a  favour-, 
able  issue,  Mr.  Pinkerton  should  immediately  join  him  ;  in  order  that 
their  exertions  might  be  unitedly  employed  in  carrying  the  project 
into  actual  execution. 

Such  was  the  result  of  that  hurried  but  important  interview  which 
these  two  Christian  philanthropists  enjoyed  within  the  walls  of  Mos- 
cow, while  the  torches  were  preparing,  which  in  a  few  hours  were 
to  kindle  a  conflagration  that  should  lay  a  large  proportion  of  its 
public  buildings  in  ashes. 

On  the  6th,  the  danger  had  become  so  imminent,  that  Mr.  Paterson 
judged  it  prudent  no  longer  to  delay  his  departure.  Commencing  his 
journey  at  mid-day,  he  passed  along  a  road,  crowded  with  fugitives, 
prisoners,  and  recruits  ;  and  on  the  evening  of  the  13th,  reached  in 
safety  the  place  of  his  destination.  On  his  arrival  at  Petersburg,  he 
found  the  inhabitants  so  completely  agitated  by  the  capture  of  Mos- 
cow,  as  not  to  be  in  a  condition  for  attending  to  any  measures  but 
v/hat  had  respect  to  their  personal  or  political  safety. 

Confidence,  however,  having,  to  a  certain  degree,  returned  by  the 
change  in  events,  Mr.  Paterson  began,  early  in  October,  under  the 
encouragement  which  he  had  received,  to  disseminate  intelligence  on 
the  nature  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  the  countenance 
afforded  by  his  Imperial  Majesty  to  its  object  in  Finland ;  the  expe- 
diency of  establishing  a  Bible  Society  for  the  Russian  dominions  ;  and 
the  determination  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  to  contri- 
bute the  sum  of  500/.  in  the  event  of  such  a  Society  being  established. 

An  address  to  this  effect  having  been  pi'ivately  circulated,  both  in 
the  German  and  Russian  languages,  many  persons  from  among  the 
superior  classes  in  society  expressed  their  approbation  of  the  mea- 
s.ure,  and  their  cordial  desire  to  see  it  accomplished. 


386  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III. 

Things  being  tlius  far  advanced,  Mr.  Palerson  waited  on  Prince 
Oalitzin,  and  presented  the  plan  which  he  had  drawn  up  for  a  Bible 
Society  at  Petersburg,  together  with  a  memorial  explanatory  of  its 
object,  and  of  the  grounds  on  which  it  was  recommended  to  the  pa- 
tronage of  His  Imperial  Majesty.  A  copy  was  at  the  same  time  pre- 
sented to  the  Earl  of  Cathcart,*  who,  as  well  as  the  late  Rev.  Dr. 
Pitt,  British  Chaplain  at  Petersburg,  took  a  lively  interest  in  the  suc- 
cess of  the  undertaking,  and  expressed  his  wilhngness  to  do  all  in  his 
power  to  promote  it.  Prince  Galitzin  received  Mr.  Paterson  with 
every  demonstration  of  kindness,  spoke  warmly  in  praise  of  the  Bri- 
tish and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  promised  to  lay  the  proposition 
for  establishing  a  similar  Society  at  Petersburg  before  His  Imperial 
Majesty,  and  to  represent  it  in  the  most  favourable  light.  On  the 
25th  of  December  it  was  announced,  that  the  proposition  had  received 
the  Emperor's  sanction ;  and  on  the  14th  of  January,  1813,  the  Im- 
perial Ukase  appeared,  authorizing  the  establishment  of  a  Bible 
Society  at  St.  Petersburg,  on  the  principles  contained  in  the  plan  and 
the  memorial  with  which  it  was  accompanied.  Such  was  stated 
to  have  been  the  effect  produced  by  this  Ukase,  that,  immediately  on 
its  appearance,  "  Jews  and  Christians,  Russians  and  Armenians, 
CathoHcs  and  Protestants,  with  one  voice,  acknowledged,  that  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  was  the  wonder  of  the  nineteenth 
century,  and  the  only  adequate  means  ever  devised  for  civilizing  and 
evangelizing  the  world." 

On  receiving  intelligence  of  what  had  taken  place,  Mr.  Pinkerlou 
(by  the  kind  permission  of  the  Prince  Metchersky,  in  whose  family 
he  resided  as  preceptor)  immediately  repaired  to  Petersburg,  in 
order  to  unite  his  counsels  and  exertions  with  those  of  his  fellow- 
labourer,  to  give  effect  to  the  Imperial  Ukase,  and  accomplish  the 
object  to  which  it  related.  From  the  period  of  their  junction, 
Messrs.  Paterson  and  Pinkerton  occupied  themselves  incessantly, 
under  the  direction  of  their  friends,  in  the  necessary  measures  for 
procuring  ^  respectable  meeting,  and  for  engaging  such  persons  to 
iittend  and  support  it  as  would  be  proper  to  fill  up  the  several  offices 

*  Ainon^  the  persons  of  iuflucnce  by  whose  cncourag'eraent  and  exertions  the 
execution  of  this  business  was  eminently  forwarded,  were  Count  Kotschubey, 
(seep.  131 )  and  Privy  Counsellor  Ilablitz;  men  uuiversally  respected  for  their 
piety,  their  wisdom,  and  their  zeal  iu  the  promotion  of  every  good  work.  Nor 
should  the  services  of  Ills  Britannic  Majesty's  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  the 
Right  Hon.  N.  Vansiffart,  be  forgotten,  to  whom  Mr.  Paterson  was  indebted  for 
his  introduction,  and  a  favourable  recommendation  of  his  object,  to  the  Earl  of 
Cathcart. 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  3g7 

in  the  proposed  Society.  Taking  for  their  guide  the  constitution  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  they  resolved  to  invite  Chris- 
tians of  every  religious  denomination  to  come  forward,  and  lay  the 
foundation  of  this  glorious  work.  As  the  nature  of  such  a  Society 
was  little  known  in  Russia,  it  became  requisite  for  Messrs.  Paterson 
and  Pinkerton  to  wait  upon  the  persons,  individually,  whom  it  was 
proposed  to  assemble,  in  order  to  explain  the  subject,  and  prepare 
them  for  the  parts  which  they  would  be  expected  to  sustain.  Their 
success  in  these  visits  was  truly  encouraging :  every  one  whom  they 
consulted  approved  warmly  of  the  plan,  showed  the  greatest  wiUing- 
ness  to  further  its  object,  spoke  in  terms  of  the  highest  approbation 
of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  as  one  of  the  noblest  Insti- 
tutions ever  formed,  and  expressed  a  cordial  desire  to  see  its  simple 
and  comprehensive  principles  imitated  in  Russia. 

The  preparatory  arrangements  having  been  finally  completed,  the 
persons  invited,  amounting  to  forty,  assembled  on  the  23d  of  January, 
at  12  o'clock,  in  the  Palace  of  Prince  Galitzin,  for  the  purpose  of 
forming  a  Bible  Society.  The  Prince,  on  entering  the  room,  took 
the  Archbishop,  Metropolitan  of  the  Greek  Church,  by  the  hand,  and 
seated  him  in  the  highest  place  ;  next  to  him  the  Prince  stationed  the 
Metropolitan  of  the  Catholic  Churches.  Opposite  to  these  were 
ranged  the  other  Prelates  :  and  the  Ministers,  Nobles,  and  Gentle- 
men, severally  took  their  seats,  according  to  the  order  of  precedency. 
This  ceremony  being  ended,  the  meeting  was  opened  by  reading  the 
Emperor's  Ukase,*  permitting  the  formation  of  a  Bible  Society  in  St, 


*  The  following-  i*  a  translation  of  the  Ukase,  as  it  was  published  in  the  SlaTo- 
nian  and  German  languages : 

'^  3IEM0RIAL,  most  humbly  snbmUtedfo  His  Imperial  Majesty,  by  the  Direc- 
ior-Genciul  of  the  Spiritual  Concerns  of  the  Foreign  Churches. 

«  Petersburg,  Dec.  6,  1812.     Old  Style. 

"  The  British  and  Foreign  Bihle  Society,  the  design  of  which  is  to  spread  Ihfi 
iloctrines  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  in  different  languages,  and  among  various  na- 
tions, being  fully  convinced,  that,  in  the  Russian  Empire,  many  phiiauthropic 
Christians  will  be  found,  who  are  desirous  to  advance  the  temporal  and  eternal 
welfare  of  their  fellow-creatures,  has  requested  one  of  its  Members,  the  Rev.  J. 
Paterson,  to  promote  the  establishment  of  a  Bible  Society  in  St.  Petersburg,  pro- 
Tided  it  should  meet  with  the  approbation  of  your  Imperial  Majesty. 

"  The  proposal  of  Mr.  Paterson  has  induced  many  persons  to  express  a  wish 
that  a  Bible  Society  might  actually  be  formed  in  this  capital,  being  persuaded  thai 
such  an  Institution  would  prove  highly  beneficial,  and  being  desirous  themselves 
to  take  an  active  part  in  the  same.  Influenced  by  sentiments  like  these,  Mr 
Paterson  has  presented  to  me  a  plan  for  the  formation  of  such  a  Society,  and  re 


35S  History  of  the  British  [Part  iir, 

Petersburg ;  and  the  laws  and  regulations  of  the  proposed  Institution; 
as  sanctioned  by  His  Imperial  Majesty.  Count  Kotschubey  then 
rose,  and  observed,  that  the  first  part  of  their  business  was  to  choose 
a  President;  that  he  knew  of  no  individual,  who,  either  on  account 
of  his  office,  or  of  his  personal  qualities,  was  so  worthy  to  become 
the  object  of  their  choice  as  the  Minister  of  Foreign  Religions, 
Prince  Alexander  Galitzin.  He  therefore  moved,  that  the  Prince  be 
requested  to  accept  the  appointment.  This  motion  having  been  sup- 
ported by  the  unanimous  concurrence  of  the  Noblemen  and  Gentle- 
men present,  Prince  Galitzin  took  the  chair ;  and,  In  a  concise  and 
appropriate  address,  expressed  his  acknoAvledgments  to  the  Society 
for  this  testimony  of  their  respect  and  confidence  ;  and  assured  then), 
that  he  was  fully  sensible  of  the  importance  of  the  situation  which 
he  was  called  to  occupy  among  them,  and  that  he  should  consider  it 
his  duty  to  exert  himself  to  promote  the  success  of  the  cause,  to  the 
Utmost  of  his  power.  The  Vice  Presidents,  Directors,  and  Secreta- 
ries, were  then  proposed,  and  unanimously  approved  and  appointed  ; 
and  the  Meeting  terminated  with  mutual  congratulations  among  the 
members,  upon  the  business  in  which  they  had  united,  and  the  auspi- 
cious event  with  which  it  had  been  crowned.  "  It  was"  (said 
Messrs.  Paterson  and  Pinkerton,  in  their  joint  report  of  the  cere- 
mony) "  truly  delightful  to  see  the  unanimity  which  actuated  this 
assembly,  composed  of  Christians  of  the  Russian  Greek  Church,  of 

quested  me  to  lay  it  before  your  Imperial  Majesty,  and  to  entreat  your  most  gra 
cious  sanction  of  the  proposed  measure. 

"  While  the  printing  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  in  the  Slavonic  language,  for  the 
tise  of  the  professors  of  the  Russian  Greek  religion,  is  to  remain  under  the  sole 
and  exclusive  control  of  the  Holy  Synod,  I  consider  the  above-mentioned  plais 
truly  useful  for  the  dissemination  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament  among  the  pro* 
fessors  of  foreign  churches  resident  in  Russia,  by  enabling  the  less  wealthy  to  pur- 
chase copies  at  a  cheap  rate,  and  by  supplying  the  poor  gratuitously. 

"  Encouraged  by  the  sanction  which  your  Imperial  Majesty  has  been  pleased  to 
give  to  the  Bible  Society  lately  formed  at  Abo,  I  feel  emboldened  to  present  this 
plan  to  your  Imperial  Majesty  for  examination,  and  to  submit  it  to  your  most  gra 
cious  consideration,  whether  your  Imperial  Majesty  ma)'  not  think  proper  to  di- 
rect, that  the  plan  suggested  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  for  the 
formation  of  a  similar  Institution  in  Petersburg,  on  the  principles  therein  stated, 
should  be  carried  into  execution. 

(Signed)  "PRINCE  ALEXANDER  GALITZIN." 

"  Approved  by  His  Imperial  Majesty,  who  subscribed  with  his  own  hand, 

"  Be  it  so. 

"ALEXANDER." 

Then  follows  the  Plan  of  the  Society,  with  its  Rnles  and  Regulations. 


CHAP.  I]  AND  FOREIGN  J^IBLE  SOCIETy. 


389 


Armenians,  of  Catholics,  of  Lutherans,  and  of  Calvinists ; — all  met 
for  the  express  purpose  of  making  the  Gospel  of  the  grace  of  God 
sound  out  from  the  shores  of  the  Baltic  to  the  Eastern  Ocean,  and 
from  the  Frozen  Ocean  to  the  Black  Sea,  and  the  borders  of  China ; 
by  putting  into  the  hands  of  Christians  and  Mahomedans,  of  Lamites 
and  the  votaries  of  Shaman,  with  many  other  heathen  tribes,  the 
Oracles  of  the  living  God^  Here  we  had  another  proof  of  what  the 
Bible  can  do,  and  of  the  veneration  %vhich  all  Christians  have  for  this 
blessed  Book.  We  see  that  it  is  still  capable  of  uniting  Christians  in 
the  bond  of  peace.  It  is  the  standard  lifted  up  by  the  Son  of  Jesse, 
around  which  all  his  followers  rally,  in  order  to  carry  it  in  triumph 
over  the  whole  globe." 

Intelligence  of  this  event  was  officially  communicated  to  the  Pre- 
sident of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  by  his  Excellency 
Prince  Galitzin.  In  a  letter  replete  with  generous  and  dignified  sen- 
timents, the  Prince  adverts  to  "  the  satisfaction  universally  felt  at  ob- 
serving so  many  denominations  of  Christians,  cordially  and  effec- 
tually uniting  their  efforts  for  the  promotion  of  the  great  cause  of 
Christianity  ;"  describes  "  the  sole  object  of  the  Society"  to  be  "  the 
distribution  of  the  Old  and  New  Testament  throughout  the  Russian 
Empire  ;"  bears  honourable  testimony  to  "  the  zeal  and  intelligence 
of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Paterson,"  and  to  "  the  most  active  and  valuable 
services  of  the  Rev.  BIr.  Pinkerton,"  in  facilitating  the  formation  and 
proceedings  of  the  St.  Petersburg  Society ;  and  conveys  the  thanks 
of  that  body  for  the  liberal  donation  of  500/.  presented  by  the  Bri- 
tish and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  "  Independently"  (adds  the  Prince) 
"  of  the  encouragement  which  this  sum  has  given  to  our  valuable 
and  rising  Institution,  we  consider  its  Intfinsic;  value  to  be  greatly  in- 
creased ;  because  we  hail  it  as  an  omen  that  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society  in  London  will  be  disposed  to  enter  with  us  into  full 
and  friendly  correspondence,  and  to  consider  us  henceforth  as  a  part 
of  themselves,  engaged  with  them  in  the  nobles.t  undertaking  which 
can  dignify  the  efforts  of  man." 

It  only  remains  to  add,  in  concluding  this  narrative,  that  His  Impe- 
rial Majesty,  shortly  after  the  establishment  of  the  Institution,  evinced 
still  further  his  attachment  to  its  object,  and  his  paternal  solicitude  for 
its  welfare,  by  condescendingly  desiring  to  be  entered  as  one  of  its 
members,  with  a  donation  of  25,000  rubles,  and  an  annual  subscrip- 
tion of  10,000.  The  conduct  both  of  His  Majesty,  and  of  the  Mem^ 
bers  of  his  Government,  was  throughout  deserving  of  the  highest 
admiration.  "  It  ought  certainly  to  be  recorded  to  their  honour,  that 
it  vv<^s  in  t]\e  fnd  of  the  year  1812,  that  they  not  only  fonnd,  leisure 

r>i 


330  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  II?. 

to  attend  to  the  subject  of  forming  a  BiWe  Society  in  St.  Petersburg, 
but  also  granted  it  their  most  effectual  support."  Nor  should  it  pass 
unobserved,  that  the  Emperor  postponed  his  departure  for  the  army, 
in  order  to  examine  the  plan  submitted  for  his  approbation  ;  and  that 
at  the  time  when  he  was  affixing  his  signature  to  the  instrument  which 
was  to  authorize  the  establishment  of  a  Bible  Society  for  the  benefit 
of  his  subjects,  the  last*  enemy  was  crossing  the  Vistula,  and  the  de- 
liverance of  his  empire  was  completed. 

In  India,  the  work  so  auspiciously  commenced  in  February,  1811, 
by  the  establishment  of  the  Calcutta  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  pro- 
ceeded with  good  indications  of  judgment  and  vigour,  and  exhibited 
such  fruits  in  1812,  as  afforded  the  promise  of  great  eventual  success. 
The  Report  produced  at  the  First  Anniversary  in  February,  1812, 
was  calculated  to  minister  very  high  satisfaction,  as  it  breathed  a  libe- 
ral spirit,  displayed  the  result  of  very  systematic  and  extended  in- 
quiries, and  added  materially  to  the  evidence  already  possessed  both 
of  the  want  of  the  Scriptures  in  India,  and  of  an  eager  desire  to  ob- 
tain them. 

As  a  proof  of  that  liberal  policy  on  which  the  Calcutta  Auxiliary 
Bible  Society  proceeded,  it  may  be  proper  to  mention,  that  they 
issued  an  Address  to  the  Roman  Catholics  in  India,  stating  it  to  be 
"  one  of  the  most  engaging  features  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  that  it  united  Christians  of  every  denomination,  without  re- 
gard to  their  peculiar  tenets  or  distinctions,  to  join  unanimously,  and 
zealously  in  the  pious  and  charitable  work  of  supplying  freely,  to  all 
who  have  need  of  them,  the  invaluable  treasures  contained  in  the 
revealed  will  of  God."  They  stated  further,  that  the  Roman  Catho- 
lics in  particular,  who  had  "  hitherto  partaken  but  little  of  the  light 
which  other  Christians  had  enjoyed,  by  possessing  the  sacred  text  of 
revelation  in  their  own  language,  appeared  to  have  become  sensible 
of  the  benefits  arising  from  this  inestimable  privilege  ;  and  had  shown 
an  ardent  desire  to  obtain  the  Bible,  wherever  it  had  been  offered 
them,"  "  Nor  is"  (they  continue)  "  this  liberal  disposition  of  the 
Dignitaries  of  the  Church  of  Rome  confined  to  Europe.     To  the 

*The  following  testimony  from  the  principal  Minister  of  the  Sarcpta  Fraternity, 
very  happily  confirms  what  is  remarked  in  the  text: 

"To  nie  this  event  is  partieularly  gratifying-;  the  more  so,  as  our  beloved  Mo- 
narch has  been  please;!,  by  his  Imperial  confirmation,  to  trace  out  the  principal  re 
gulations;  and  that  too  at  a  period,  xchen  mauy,  in  his  situation,  rooxdd  have  defer- 
red ikls  spifituaJicorli,  to  a  more  convenient  season^ 

Jppcndix  to  the  First  Report  of  the  Russian 
Bilk  Si'ddif. 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIESTY.  391 

praise  of  the  Bishop  of  Verapoli,  and  Vicar  General  of  Malabar,  he 
has  consented  to  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  throughout  his 
diocese,  which  includes  above  100  churches,  and  nearly  160,000  Ro- 
man Cathohc  professors  of  Christianity ;"  and  they  conclude,  by 
"  inviting  the  respectable  and  enlightened  Roman  Catholics  of  every 
part  of  India,  to  join,  with  one  heart  and  mind,  in  a  design  which  is 
equally  interesting  to  all  who  believe  the  Gospel  of  Christ  to  contain 
the  glad  tidings  of  eternal  life." 

Among  the  testimonies  to  the  fact,  that  the  Scriptures  were  both 
greatly  needed,  and  earnestly  desired,  by  the  native  Christians,  ex- 
tracts were  producnd  from  103  petitions,  addressed  to  the  Committee 
of  the  Calcutta  Society  by  catechists,  schoolmasters,  and  private  in- 
dividuals, soliciting,  with  the  most  affecting  earnestness  and  simpli- 
city, the  gift  of  a  Bible.  To  these  were  added  various  other  docu.- 
ments,  calculated  to  establish  the  same  point.  One  of  them  is  parti- 
cularly deserving  of  attention.  It  is  contained  in  a  letter  from 
Kishtna,  a  heathen,  who,  though  professing  to  value  "  the  saving 
knowledge  which  the  Holy  Bible  contains,"  and  to  "  seek  grace  and 
mercy  from  the  Lord  our  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ,"  yet,  partly  from 
*'  timidity,"  and  partly  from  affection  towards  his  heathen  parents, 
"  delayed  to  make  an  open  declaration  of  his  weak  faith."  This  hea- 
then Nicodcmus,  (for  such  he  acknowledged  himself  to  be,)  in  petition- 
ing for  both  a  Tamui  and  an  English  Bible,  asserted,  that  many  heathens 
read  the  Holy  Scriptures,  although  they  are  ignorant  of  other  printed 
books  ;  and  that  the  instruction  conveyed  to  them  impressed  them  with 
a  just  idea  of  the  benevolence  of  their  Christian  English  superiors." 
And  in  the  anticipation  of  a  compliance  with  his  request,  he  thus  ad- 
dressed the  late  venerable  Dr.  John  : — "  You,  and  other  most  worthy 
benefactors,  who  have  the  welfare  of  my  nation  so  much  at  heart,  and 
do  the  utmost  in  your  power  to  promote  it,  in  spite  of  all  the  unhappy 
objections  arising  from  the  enemy  of  the  good  of  mankind,  will  be 
highly  rewarded  by  God  Almighty  ;  and  you  will  see  numbers  of  hea- 
thens, with  their  families  and  children,  who  will  come  and  thank  you  in 
heaven,  and  prostrate  themselves  before  the  Lord,  and  glorify  his 
sacred  name,  not  only  for  his  saving  mercy,  but  also  for  having  cho- 
sen you  as  sacred  instruments  for  our  salvation." 

With  these  evidences  of  zealous  and  effective  exertion  was  con- 
nected the  assurance,  that  both  the  particular  object  of  the  local  In- 
stitution, and  the  more  extensive  designs  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  had  appeared  to  obtain  very  general  approbation.  This 
assurance  was  confirmed  by  the  important  fact,  that  the  local  Society 
wag  supported  by  the  hberal  contribution's  of  above  live  hundred 


392  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  iij, 

persons  of  all  ranks  and  denominations  ;  and  that  the  Governor  Gene, 
ral,  Lord  Minto,  v/as  among  the  number. 

The  Corresponding  Committee  prosecuted,  in  the  mean  time,  their 
very  useful  labours,  in  the  wide  field  of  general  translation,  with  a 
proportional  degree  of  activity  and  success.  Their  report  of  pro- 
ceedings to  the  month  of  September,  1812,  gave  a  favourable  account 
of  the  progress  made  in  the  versions  in  Hindoostanee  and  Persian,  by 
the  Rev.  H.  Martyn,  and  Mirza  Fitret ;  in  the  Arabic,  by  the  Rev. 
T.  Thomason,  and  Sabat ;  and  of  the  preparations  for  those  under- 
taken by  Dr.  Leydcn,  in  the  languages  of  the  Eastern  Archipelago. 

In  like  manner  the  Baptist  Missionaries  at  Serampore,  to  whom  (in- 
dependently of  their  interest  in  the  funds  of  the  Corresponding  Com- 
mittee) a  moiety  of  the  grants  from  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety was  regularly  allotted  for  the  works  under  their  own  particular 
administration,  announced,  in  their  Address  of  August  31,  1812,  a 
satisfactory  appropriation  of  the  money  confided  to  their  trust. 
Wisely  intent  on  improving  upon  their  former  labours,  and  going  on 
lu  their  course  from  "  principles"  unto  "  perfection,"  they  had  di- 
rected their  chief  attention  to  the  revision  of  their  translations,  and 
{o  the  completion  of  elementary  works.  They  were,  however,  able 
to  report  versions  in  thirteen  languages,  as  either  commenced,  or  in 
different  stages  of  advancement. 

Their  ingenuous  acknowledgment  of  the  assistance  which  they  had 
derived  from  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  is  equally  honour- 
able to  themselves  and  the  Institution  to  which  it  is  addressed.  As 
the  insertion  of  it  may  tend  to  confirm  what  has  before  been  obser- 
ved of  the  harmony  and  mutual  co-operation  between  those  diligent 
labourers  and  the  conductors  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  it  shall  be  given  as  it  stands  in  their  own  communication. 

"  Gratitude  requires,  that  we  should  now  acknowledge  the  very 
liberal  and  important  aid  we  have  received  from  you  in  carrying  for- 
ward this  great  work.  This,  at  different  times,  has  amounted  to  no 
less  than  four  thousand  Jive  hundred  pounds  sterling;  namely,  1,000/. 
from  your  first  liberal  grant  of  2,000Z.  to  your  Corresponding  Com- 
mittee ;  J, 500/.  of  your  second  grant  of  3,000/.  to  your  Committee 
for  the  years  1808,  1809,  and  1810;  and,  a  few  weeks  ago,  1,000/. 
of  your  very  hberal  grant  to  your  Committee  of  2,000/.  each  year 
for  the  three  succeeding  years.  Important,  however,  as  this  aid  has 
been  felt  in  a  pecuniary  point  of  view,  its  value  has  not  been  confined 
to  this  alone.  The  consideration  of  our  being  thus  encouraged  in 
this  arduous  work  by  those,  our  respect  for  whose  piety  and  wisdom 
can  scarcely  be  exceeded,  has  strengthened  our  hajids,  when  the  diffi- 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  393 

culties  attending  the  work  have  appeared  almost  insuperable :  it  has  done 
more;  it  has  animated  us  to  attempt  things  absolutely  necessary,  in- 
deed, to  the  future  diffusion  of  the  divine  word,  and  fully  within  oup 
power,  but  which  the  natural  diffidence  of  the  human  mind,  com- 
bined with  the  discouragements  which  have  presented  themselves, 
would  perhaps  have  deterred  us  from  undertakings  had  it  not  been  for 
the  confidence  we  felt  in  the  steady  liberality  of  the  Christian  public, 
^nd  parlicidarly  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society.'" 

With  these  advantages,  however,  were  mingled  those  disasters 
which  rendered  the  year  1812  a  year  of  calamity  and  embarrassment. 
On  the  1 1th  of  March,  about  six  in  the  evening,  a  fire,  kindled  by 
gome  accident,  broke  out  in  the  Serampore  printing-office ;  and, 
baffling  every  effort  made  to  stop  its  progress,  in  a  short  time  reduced 
the  building  to  ashes,  and  consumed  all  the  paper,  types,  and  print- 
ing utensils,  that  were  therein.  In  this  awful  conflagration,  which 
occasioned  a  loss  of  nearly  10,000/.  English  paper  was  consumed  to 
the  value  of  about  3000/.  nearly  one-half  of  which  had  been  destined 
for  the  Scriptures,  to  be  printed  on  account  of  the  Calcutta  Auxiliary 
Bible  Society,  and  the  Corresponding  Committee.  The  extent  of 
this  calamity  was  providentially  restrained,  by  the  preservation 
of  nearly  all  the  steel  punches  of  the  various  Indian  languages,  which 
it  v.'ould  have  occasioned  not  only  a  vast  expense,  but  the  delay 
of  many  years  to  replace.  With  these,  and  the  melted  metal,  the 
missionaries  immediately  renewed  their  operations  in  an  adjoining 
building;  and  such  were  their  alacrity  and  perseverance,  that  in 
a  month  they  had  cast  founts  of  type  in  nine  languages,  and  were 
enabled  to  recommence  their  printing,  as  though  nothing  had  hap- 
pened. 

The  exertions  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  were  not 
wanting,  to  remedy,  in  some  degree,  tlie  evils  of  this  common  calami- 
ty. Immediately  on  the  intelligence  of  what  had  befallen  their  fel-^ 
low-labourers  at  Serampore,  the  Committee  were  called  together:  a 
resolution  was  unanimously  passed,  to  replace,  at  the  expense  of  the 
Society,  the  v^hole  quantity  of  paper  which  had  been  consumed  ;  and 
the  resolution  was  accompanied  with  a  suitable  expression  of  theii 
sympathy  and  condolence.* 

*  It  was  pleasing  to  observe  the  kindness  and  promptitude  with  which  both  in- 
dividuals and  religious  societies  contributed  to  the  reparation  wf  this  injury. 
Nearly  11,000/.  were  very  speedily  furnished  in  this  manner  j  and  the  Directors 
of  the  Mission  found  it  necessary  to  stay  the  liberality  of  the  Christian  public,  by 
discouraging  further  contribntious. 


394  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  111. 

The  premature  death  of  Dr.  Leyden,  while  attending  the  Govern- 
or General  in  the  Island  of  Java,  added  also  to  the  embarrassment  of 
the  Corresponding  Committee,  by  arresting  the  progress  of  those  ver- 
sions in  which  this  acute  philologist,  and  his  pundits,  were  so  actively 
engaged.  The  loss  of  Dr.  Leyden  would  be  severely  felt  in  the  de- 
partment of  translation  over  which  he  presided.  It  was  not  probable, 
(as  the  Corresponding  Committee  observe,)  that  they  would  meet 
with  another  translator  capable  of  walking  in  his  steps.  The  versions 
nndertaken  by  him  remained,  therefore,  in  1812,  in  the  imperfect 
state  in  which  he  left  them  in  1811  :*  but  as  they  were  almost  the 
only  writings  extant,  in  some  of  the  languages,  they  would  (it  was 
considered)  furnish  future  students  with  materials  for  vocabularies, 
grammars,  dictionaries,  &c.  and  thus  facilitate  the  work  of  translation 
whenever  new  labourers  should  offer  themselves. 

The  general  conclusion  drawn  by  the  Corresponding  Committee 
from  this  event  is  just  and  consolatory. 

"  The  Corresponding  Committee,  therefore,  do  not  consider  the 
expense  incurred  by  their  engagements  with  Dr.  Leyden,  to  be 
'xhoUy  lost,]  In  their  varied  and  extensive  plans,  they  cannot  rea- 
sonably expect  an  uninterrupted  course  of  success.  Moving  in  paths 
untried  before,  they  are  prepared  for  disappointments.  They  are 
Rot  surprised,  if  they  meet  with  unforeseen  delays  in  the  execution 
of  the  most  approved  plan  ;  if  important  objects  are  defeated,  even  in 
the  outset ;  and  if  sums  are  occasionally  expended  in  undertakings 
which  may  turn  out  to  be  rather  of  ilistant  than  of  immediate  utility. 


♦  It  appears  from  the  following  passage  in  the  Report  (before  quoted)  of  the 
Seranipore  INIisslonaries  of  August,  1812,  that  attempts  have  not  been  wanting  on 
their  part  to  repair  (in  one  version  at  least)  the  loss  of  Dr.  Leyden. 

"Ill  the  Pushtoo  or  Afghan,  that  eminent  linguist,  Dr.  Leyden,  had  made 
a  oninmencement ;  and  unwilling  that  the  work  should  entirely  fall  to  the  ground, 
we,  on  his  death,  procured  men  learned  in  the  language,  and  hope,  in  due  time,  to 
complete  the  version." 

t  The  following  incident,  extracted  from  a  letter  of  the  Rev.  D.  Brown,  in  De- 
cember, 1811,  to  the  Rev.  H.  Martyn,  then  engaged  in  translating  the  Testament 
into  Persian,  will  illustrate  the  truth  of  the  Corresponding  Committee's  observa- 
lion. 

"  A  few  days  ago,  one  of  Dr.  Leyden's  pundits  was  reading  aloud  to  himself  a 
translation  he  was  making  of  St.  Luke's  Gospel.  It  was  Gabriel's  salutation.  He 
was  overheard  By  a  C'aslimircan  Brammanee.  The  woman  '  cast  in  her  mind, 
what  manner  of  salutation  this  should  be.'  She  said  at  last,  '  This  must  be  the 
.Saviourj'  and  began  diligently  to  inquire.  She  is  now  under  instruction.  She 
of^n  read  Persian.     ^Aliat  a  freairure  are  you  bringing  f«r  her  and  for  thousands"" 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  395 

And  they  deem  it  a  point  of  no  small  consequence  to  lay  a  foundation 
onzvhich  future  generations  may  build.'''' 

To  the  calamities  which  overtook  the  friends  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures in  India,  was  added,  in  the  month  of  June,  1812,  the  death  of 
the  Rev.  D.  Brown  ;  an  event  in  which,  while  the  Corresponding 
Committee,  and  the  Calcutta  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  were  the  prin- 
cipal sufferers,  all  who  desired  the  prosperity  of  Christianity  in  India, 
felt  a  common  interest,  and  seemed  to  themselves  to  have  sustained 
an  equal  loss. 

Of  Mr.  Brown  the  author  may  be  permitted  to  speak,  with  the 
affection  of  a  friendship  cemented  by  personal  intercourse  in  the 
year  1784,  and  maintained  by  mutual  correspondence,  both  private 
and  official,  from  the  time  of  Mr.  Brown's  entrance  upon  his  duties 
in  India,  (in  1785,)  to  the  period  of  his  dissolution.  His  understand- 
ing was  sound,  vigorous,  and  inquisitive  ;  his  spirit  firm  and  persever- 
ing ;  his  heart  warm  and  affectionate  ;  and  all  his  qualities  and  attain- 
ments, sanctified  by  genuine  and  ardent  piety,  were  devoted  to  the 
service  of  God,  and  the  temporal  and  spiritual  improvement  of  Bri- 
tish India.  Ever  intent  on  this  momentous  object,  he  caught  with 
eagerness  at  the  means  which  were  offered  for  effecting  its  accom- 
plishment, in  the  institution  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
and  the  proposal  for  its  communication  with  India.  He  considered 
this  expedient  as  affording  an  unexceptionable  and  efficient  medium 
for  propagating  the  truth,  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  over  the  continent  of 
India,  and  eventually  among  all  the  nations  of  the  East.  How 
heartily  he  embarked  in  the  designs  of  the  Society,  as  they  respected 
our  Asiatic  fellow-subjects,  and  with  what  judgment,  perseverance^ 
and  success,  he  was  enabled,  by  divine  grace,  to  pursue  them,  have 
already  appeared  in  the  course  of  this  History.  Exhausted  by 
anxiety  and  labour,  he  sunk  into  a  debilitated  state,  which  incapaci- 
tated him  from  attending  the  fii'st  Anniversary  of  the  Calcutta  Auxili- 
ary Bible  Society.  The  night  preceding  that  occasion,  "he  wa? 
tremblingly  alive  to  the  possibility  of  some  unexpected  blight  on  the 
proceedings  of  the  ensuing  day."  He  scarcely  closed  his  eyes ;  and 
Avhen  at  last  he  became  o^tpressed  with  drow?iuess,  "  I  slept,"  said 
he,  "but  my  heart  was  awake." 

Grateful  for  the  success  with  which  this  Anniversary  was  crowned, 
he  persevered  in  exertions  to  carry  through  the  press  that  Report 
which  he  had  himself  prepared,  and  which  was  (as  it  has  been  justly 
described  by  his  widow)  the  seal  of  his  devotedness  to  the  cause. 
Till  the  printing  of  this  was  completed,  he  would  not  allow  himself 
that  cessation  from  labour,  both  of  bodv  and  mind,  which  was  ne- 


^gg  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  Hi 

cessary  to  give  effect  to  medical  treatment.  Tlie  progress  of  his  ma- 
lady, however,  rendered  medical  treatment  of  no  avail.  He  was  put 
on  board  a  vessel  for  Madras,  in  the  hope  that  change  of  air  might 
produce  his  recovery  ;  but  Providence  determined  otherwise.  The 
ship,  after  leaving  the  roads  of  Saugor,  struck  on  a  sand.  The  poor 
suffering  invalid  was  brought  back  to  Calcutta  rather  a  loser,  in  every 
respect,  than  a  gainer,  by  the  voyage.  He  grew  weaker  daily  ;  and 
at  the  expiration  of  a  fortnight  after  coming  on  shore,  his  spirit  de- 
parted to  glory.  His  remains  were  deposited  in  the  earth  with  affect- 
ing demonstrations  of  general  respect;  and  "  his  grave  was  watered 
by  the  tears  of  many,  who,  for  a  course  of  years,  enjoyed  the 
benefit  of  his  ministry,  and  felt  that  they  had  lost  a  father  and 
a  friend." 

In  the  Rev.  T.  Thomason,  a  successor  was  found,  both  qualified 
and  disposed  to  fill  up  the  offices  thus  painfully  and  prematurely  va- 
cated. The  impression  under  which  Mr.  Thomason  entered  upon 
these  duties,  may  be  readily  conceived  from  the  character  of  the  in- 
dividual whom  he  was  called  to  succeed.  There  is  so  much  truth 
and  just  feeling  in  a  private  communication  which  the  author  received 
from  him.  shortly  after  this  appointment  took  place,  that,  with  a  brief 
extract  from  it,  he  will  conclude  this  melancholy,  but,  he  trusts,  not 
unprofitable  detail. 

"  We  cannot  expect  to  find  a  labourer  so  heartily  engaged  in  the 
Bible  cause  as  he"  (Mr.  Brown)  "  was,  and  so  entirely  devoted  to  the 
work.  He  lived  for  this  great  end — the  general  promotion  of  the 
work  of  God  in  India,  and  the  diffusion  of  his  word.  As  long  as  he 
could  speak  this  was  his  favourite  theme  ;  and  he  almost  died  with  the 
pen  in  his  hand. — But  I  cannot  enlarge  on  this  subject.  Wc  have  lost 
him ;  you  have  lost  him  ;  and  we  must  all  follow  him.  May  we  be 
found  with  our  lights  burning  and  our  loins  girded  !" 

Nor  was  this  the  last  stroke  by  which  the  friends  of  Christianity  in 
India  were  to  be  wounded  through  the  events  of  the  year  1812. 
Another  was  yet  to  be  inflicted,  still  more  severe  (if  severity  can  be 
predicated  of  the  divine  dispensations)  than  any  which  had  hitherto 
been  experienced.  The  Rev.  Henry  Martyn,  (to  whose  sermon  at 
Fort  William  the  formation  of  the  Calcutta  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  is 
chiefly  to  be  ascribed,)  after  having  completed  his  version  of  the  Hin- 
doostance  New  Testament,  deteru)ined  upon  a  journey  into  Persia 
and  Arabia,  in  order  to  effect  a  translation  of  the  Scriptures  into  the 
pure  dialects  of  the  Persian  and  Arabic  languages.  In  prosecution  of 
this  end,  Mr.  Martyn  repaired  to  Shiraz,  (to  use  his  own  language,) 
■^  the  Athens  of  Fars,  and  the  haunt  of  the  muses."     There,  from  the 


^H  i^P.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  397 

month  of  June,  1811,  to  the  middle  of  the  year  ensuing,  he  employed 
himself,  under  the  kind  protection  of  Sir  Gore  Ousely,  Bart.  His 
Britannic  Majesty's  Ambassador  Extraordinary  to  the  Court  of  Persia, 
and  with  the  learned  assistance  of  Meer  Seyd  AU,  in  making  a  Persian 
translation  of  the  New  Testament.  Having  accomplished  this  object, 
and  finding  his  constitution  begin  to  sink  under  the  effect  of  extreme 
exertion,  and  the  influence  of  an  unhealthy  cUmate,  he  made  an  ef- 
fort to  return  to  England  ;  but  suffering  exceedingly  (as  it  is  presumed) 
by  the  heat  of  the  weather,  the  fatigue  of  the  journey,  and  the  want 
of  medical  assistance,  he  expired  at  Tokat,  a  commercial  emporium 
in  Asiatic  Turkey,  on  or  about  the  16th  of  October,  1812. 

The  talents  of  Mr.  Martyn  were  of  the  very  first  order ;  and  on  the 
exercise  of  these,  in  a  department  of  literature  which  he  had  assidu- 
ously cultivated,  and  the  pursuit  of  an  object,  the  accomplishment  of 
which  he  ardently  desired,  great  expectations  were  naturally  formed. 
The  Calcutta  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  and  the  Corresponding  Com- 
mittee, suspended  their  highest  human  hopes  on  the  event  of  his  jour- 
ney, and  of  that  employment  with  a  view  to  which  it  was  undertaken. 
The  sentiments  of  their  Secretary,  Mr.  Brown,  in  relation  to  this  tour, 
and  its  probable  consequences,  may  be  collected  from  the  following  pas- 
sage in  a  letter  which  he  aadreeeed  to  Mr.  Martyn,  while  at  Shiraz,  in 
December,  1811. 

"  Now,  dearest  Sir,  be  strong  in  the  Lord,  and  let  nothing  deter 
you  from  pushing  forward  in  your  high  career— though  in  the  world's 
eye  a  very  humble  plan.  You  have  the  conquest  of  mighty  empires 
before  you.  Are  Persia,  Arabia,  and  all  Africa,  nothing?  '  When 
they  hear  the  words,'  (Ps.  138.)  they  will  bow  to  the  sceptre  of  the 
King  whom  you  serve.  Though  in  the  day  the  drought  consume  you, 
and  the  frost  by  night,  may  you  be  preserved,  the  Lord  being  your 
Keeper !" 

The  successor  of  Mr.  Brown  feelingly  participated  in  these  senti- 
ments. From  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Martyn,  both  at 
Cambridge,  and  in  India,  Mr.  Thomason  had  conceived  the  highest 
expectations  from  his  translation-labours  ;  and  anxiously  looked  for- 
ward to  the  completion  of  his  work  in  Persia  and  Arabia,  and  his 
eventual  return  to  Calcutta.  In  a  letter  of  the  3d  of  February,  1813, 
■  Mr.  Thomason  expresses  his  solicitude  on  this  subject,  in  a  manner 
which  would,  under  any  circumstances,  be  interesting,  but  which  is 
rendered  still  more  so,  by  the  consideration,  that  the  honoured  in- 
dividual about  whose  labours  and  safety  he  expresses  so  tender  a  con- 
cern, had,  nearly  f3ur  months  before  that  date,  entered  into  his  rest 
52 


'J9S  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  ML 

"  Since  I  last  wrote  to  you,  we  have  received  no  tidings  of  our  be- 
loved and  honoured  Martyn.  I  hope  that  he  is  hving,  and  that  he  will  be 
spared  many  years  to  us.  His  labours  are  of  unspeakable  importance  ; 
and  I  cannot  help  feeling  anxious,  at  times,  lest  he  should  be  removed 
before  they  are  brought  to  maturity.  His  Persian  New  Testament 
has  not  yet  reached  us.  We  long  to  receive  that  treasure  ;  and  have 
no  doubt  it  will  be  very  superior  to  all  that  have  yet  appeared.  Our 
hope  respecting  Martyn  himself  is,  that,  after  leaving  Tubreez,  he 
proceeded  to  Aleppo  and  Bagdad,  to  confer  with  the  learned  Arabians, 
examine  into  the  state  of  the  Christian  churches,  collect  copies  of  the 
Scriptures,  and  form  a  final  judgment  as  to  the  best  mode  of  completing 
the  Arabic  Scriptures.  Perhaps,  while  I  am  writing  this,  he  is  dis- 
puting with  some  violent  Mussulman,  on  the  ground  of  his  faith;  or 
perhaps  he  may  be  attending  a  meeting  of  your  Bible  Committee ; 
(for  I  always  thought  it  probable,  that,  if  he  reached  Aleppo,  he 
would  take  a  trip  to  dear  England ;)  or  perhaps  he  may  be  actually 
sailing  down  the  Persian  Gulf,  and  proceeding  to  Bombay,  in  some 
paltry  Arab  vessel,  the  captain  of  which  looks  with  insolence  on  the 
passenger  whom  he  is  unworthy  to  behold.  We  are,  in  short,  alto- 
gether in  the  dark.  The  Great  Head  of  the  church  still  hves ;  and 
that  is  our  comfort.  We  chide  uur  anxiety  ,  and  rejoice,  that  '  the 
Lord  reigneth,'  " 

A  few  weeks  after  this  letter  was  penned,  the  afflicting  intelligence 
of  Mr.  Martyn's  death  reached  Calcutta,  and  diffused,  for  a  season, 
grief  and  consternation  among  the  friends  of  Christianity  in  that 
quarter.  In  a  letter  dated  the  31st  of  March,  1813,  Mr.  Thomason 
thus  adverts  to  the  double  bereavement  which,  in  the  course  of  1812, 
India  had  experienced : 

"  Your  letters  were  all  addressed  to  one  who  is  numbered  with  '  the 
company  of  just  men  made  perfect.'  The  dear  Secretary  who  an- 
nounced the  fire  at  Serampore,  lived  not  to  hear  of  your  prompt  and 
glorious  resolution  to  supply  the  loss.  Long  before  this  reaches  you, 
you  will  have  been  informed  of  another  loss,  the  heaviest  that  In- 
dia could  have  sustained.  Beloved  Martyn,  who  departed  this  life  at 
Tokat,  in  October  last,  has  left  us  in  such  a  state  of  bereavement  as 
no  words  can  describe  to  you.  While  I  was  writing  about  him  to  you, 
in  my  last  long  comnmnincation,  and  conjecturing,  with  a  powerful 
presentiment,  that  he  might  be  no  longer  in  the  land  of  the  hving,  he 
was  at  rest  from  his  liibours.  To  him,  indeed,  the  change  is  un- 
speakably blessed :  but,  alas,  for  India  !  when  shall  we  see  such 
another?" 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  gng 

To  these  expressions  of  veneration  for  the  excellent  Mr.  Martyn, 
the  author,  who  knew,  and  loved,  and  honoured  him,  before  he  en- 
tered upon  those  apostolical  labours  in  the  East,  which  unquestion- 
ably accelerated  his  dissolution, — desires  most  sincerely  and  affection- 
ately to  subscribe.  With  him  the  reader  will  rejoice  to  consider, 
that  the  production  which  cost  the  sacritice  of  so  valuable  a  life,  has 
not  only  escaped  the  destruction  with  which  it  was  threatened,  but 
has  found  acceptance  at  the  Court  of  Persia,*  and  is  likely  soon  to 

*  The  following:  letter  from  the  King:  of  Persia  to  Sir  Gore  Ousely,  is  an  enlo- 
giura  upon  the  performance  of  Mr.  Martyn,  the  sincerity  of  vvliich  will  not  be 
suspected,  and  of  which  the  importance  can  as  little  be  conjectured. 

"In  the  Name  of  the  Almighty  Goo,  whose  Glory  is  most  excplleni, 

"  It  is  our  august  command,  that  the  dignified  and  excellent,  our  trusty,  faithful, 
and  loyal  well-wisher,  Sir  Gore  Ousely,  Baronet,  His  Britannic  IMajesty's  Ambas- 
sador Extraordinary  (after  being  honoured  and  sxalted  with  the  expressions  of 
our  highest  regard  and  consideration)  should  know,  that  the  Copy  of  the  Gospel, 
which  was  translated  into  Persian  by  the  learned  exertions  of  the  late  Rev.  Henry 
Martyn,  and  which  has  been  presented  to  us  by  your  Excellency  on  the  part  of  the 
high,  dignified,  learned,  and  enlightened  Society  of  Christians,  united  for  the  pur- 
pose of  spreading  abroad  the  Holy  Books  of  the  Religion  of  Jesus  (upon  whom,  and 
upon  all  Prophets,  be  peace  and  blessings !)  has  reached  us,  and  h=i5  proved  highly 
acceptable  to  our  august  mind. 

"  In  truth,  through  the  learned  and  unremitted  exertions  of  tlie  Rev.  Henry 
Martyn,  it  has  been  translated  in  a  style  most  befitting  Sacred  Books,  that  is,  in 
an  easy  and  simple  diction.  Formerly,  the  four  Evangelists,  Matthew,  Mark. 
Luke,  and  John,  were  known  in  Persia;  but  now  the  whole  of  the  New  Testament 
is  completed  in  a  most  excellent  manner :  and  this  circumstance  has  been  an  addi- 
tional source  of  pleasure  to  our  enlightened  and  august  mind.  Even  the  Four 
Evangelists,  which  were  known  in  this  country,  had  never  been  before  explained 
in  so  elearand  luminous  a  manner.  We,  therefore,  have  been  particularly  dclight(  d 
with  this  copious  and  complete  Translation.  Please  the  most  merciful  God,  we 
shall  command  the  Select  Servants,  who  are  admitted  to  our  presence,  to  read*  to 
tos  the  above-mentioned  Book  from  the  beginning  to  the  end,  that  we  may,  in  the 
most  minute  manner,  hear  and  comprehend  its  contents. 

"  Your  Excellency  will  be  pleased  to  rejoice  the  hearts  of  the  above-mentioned, 
dignified^  learned,  and  enlightened  Society,  with  assurances  of  our  highest  regard 
and  approbation;  and  to  inform  those  excellent  individuals,  who  are  so  virtuously 
engaged  in  disseminating  and  making  known  the  true  meaning  and  intent  of  the 
Holy  Gospel,  and  other  points  in  Sacred  Books,  that  they  are  deservedly  honoured 
with  our  royal  favour.  Your  Excellency  must  consider  yourself  as  bound  to  fulfil 
this  royal  request. 

Given  in  Rcbiulavil,  1229. 

(Sealed)  FATEII  ALl  SHAH  KAJAR." 

*"  Ibe?  leave  to  remark,"  (observes  Sir  Gore  Ousely,)  "that  the  word  '  Tilawat.'  v.iiichtUe 
Translator  lias  reudered  'read,'  is  an  honourable  sisnitication  of  that  act,  almost  exclusively  ajj- 
plied  to  the  perusing  or  reciting  the  Koran.  The  makin?  use,  therefore,  of  this  term  or  expres- 
»ioi),  jhoivs  the  degree  of  rqspect  and  e»5iD()^tiou  in  which  t'-e  chah  holds  the  Kew  TesSamspi.  ' 


400 


HISTORY  OP  THE  BRITISH  lFART  III. 


be  imparted,  both  from  St.  Petersburg  and  Calcutta,  to  the  Mahom- 
medan  natives  of  that  empire.  May  it  lead  them  to  know  effectually 
"  the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ,  whom  he  hath  sent!" 

From  the  peninsula  of  India  our  attention  is  now  invited  to  Colombo, 
the  seat  of  the  British  Government  in  the  island  of  Ceylon,  where  an 
Auxihary  Bible  Society  was  established,  on  the  1st  of  August,  1812. 
The  circumstances  which  led  to  this  event,  deserve  to  be  particularly 
related. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  year  1810,  Sir  Alexander  Johnston, 
having  obtained  the  appointment  of  Chief  Justice  of  Ceylon,  andbe- 
ino-  desirous  of  employing  the  influence  connected  with  his  station, 
for  the  spiritual  improvement  of  the  island,  was  introduced,  with  that 
Tiew,  to  some  leading  members  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety. At  a  Meeting,  of  the  Committee,  which  he  attended,  on  the  2d 
of  April,  in  that  year,  Sir  Alexander  communicated  much  interesting 
information,  (derived  from  personal  inquiries  during  his  residence  on 
the  island,)  relative  to  the  state  of  Christianity  among  the  Ceylonese  ; 
the  proportion  in  which  the  Scriptures  had  been  translated  in  the 
Cingalese  dialect ;  the  extent  to  which  copies  were  wanted,  both  by 
the  European  and  the  native  population ;  and  the  patronage  which 
His  Majesty's  Government  would  be  disposed  to  afford  to  any  prudent 
and  well-directed  measures,  for  promoting  the  general  dissemination 
of  the  Scriptures  throughout  the  British  possessions  in  the  island. 
This  communication  was  received  in  a  manner  becoming  the  high 
authority  from  which  it  proceeded,  and  the  important  object  to'which 
it  was  directed.  From  that  time  till  the  period  of  his  departure  for 
Ceylon,  Sir  Alexander  had  frequent  interviews  with  the  Committee  ; 
and  they  mutually  improved  that  acquaintance  which  was  afterwards 
to  ripen  into  effectual  and  permanent  co-operation. 

On  the  4th  of  March,  1811,  Sir  Alexander  took  his  leave  of  the 
Committee  ;  when  it  was  resolved  to  consign  to  his  care  a  large  num- 
ber of  English,  Dutch,  and  Portuguese  Bibles  and  Testaments,  to- 
gether with  more  than  500  reams  of  paper,  to  be  apphed  to  the 
printing  of  the  Scriptures  for  the  use  of  the  native  Christians  on  the 
island.  The  following  extract  of  a  letter,  (dated  June  14,  1811,  at 
sea,)  will  show,  what  was  the  state  of  Sir  Alexander's  mind,  as  it  re- 
spected the  general  designs  of  tlie  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
and  its  particular  object  at  the  place  of  his  destination  : 

"  I  shall,  I  assure  you,  have  the  greatest  possible  satisfaction  in 
tarrying  into  effect  every  measure  which  can  tend  to  promote  the 
benevolent  wishes  of  the  Bible  Society,  with  respect  to  Ceylon ;  and 
1  trust  I  gball  soon  have  it  in  my  power  to  report,  that  the  efforts  of 


CHAP.  I]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  ^qj 

the  Government  of  Ceylon  have  been  attended  with  the  happiest  ef- 
fects, in  disseminating  among  the  inhabitants  of  the  island,  the  true 
principles  of  the  Christian  religion.  The  island  of  Ceylon  will,  I 
am  sure,  be  improved  every  way,  by  the  kind  care  which  the  Bible 
Society  has  taken  to  enable  its  Government  to  aiford  to  the  people  an 
opportunity  of  reading,  in  their  own  language,  the  Holy  Scriptures ; 
and,  I  dare  say,  a  short  time  will  be  sufficient  to  show  how  much  be- 
nefit the  world  must  derive  from  a  Society  whose  objects  are  so  dis- 
interested, and  of  such  importance  to  mankind." 

On  his  arrival  at  Colombo,  Sir  Alexander  lost  no  time  in  concertino- 
measures  for  carrying  the  plan  of  an  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  into 
execution.  The  experience  which  a  residence  of  nine  years  in  that 
part  of  India,  had  afforded  him,  of  the  feehngs  and  prejudices  of  the 
native  inhabitants,  convinced  Sir  Alexander,  that  an  Auxihary  Bible 
Society  would  not  have  the  degree  of  influence  in  Ceylon,  which,  to 
secure  success  to  its  proceedings,  it  ought  to  have,  unless  the  native 
inhabitants  were  assured,  by  every  means  which  the  Government  could 
devise,  that  the  person  at  the  head  of  the  Government,  as  well  as  the 
persons  at  the  head  of  all  its  subordinate  departments,  would  give  the 
fullest  support  to  the  measures  of  the  Society,  not  only  as  a  matter  of 
private  and  individual  inclination,  but  as  an  object  of  public  and  ge- 
neral importance.  Entertaining  this  opinion  upon  the  subject,  Sir 
Alexander  Johnston  took  the  liberty  to  suggest  to  the  Governor,  the 
propriety,  not  merely  of  establishing  an  Auxihary  Bible  Society  in 
Ceylon,  but  also  of  the  Governor  himself  becoming  the  President, 
and  all  the  Members  of  the  Council,  the  Vice  Presidents,  of  that  So- 
ciety. The  Governor  concurring  with  Sir  Alexander  in  this  opinion. 
a  Meeting  took  place,  at  the  King's  House,  Colombo,  on  the  1st  of 
August,  1812,  in  which  His  Excellency  the  Governor  presided,  and 
an  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  was  established  for  the  island  of  Ceylon, 
under  the  designation  of  "  The  Colombo  Auxihary  Bible  Society." 
The  fundamental  rules  of  the  Institution  were  modelled  nearly  upon 
the  plan  of  the  Calcutta  Auxiliary  Bible  Society :  but,  conformably 
with  the  principles  already  explained,  the  Governor  was  appointed 
President;  all  the  Members  of  the  Council  were  appointed  Vice 
Presidents ;  and  the  Committee  were  to  consist  of  the  President,. 
Vice  Presidents,  the  Heads  of  the  Protestant  and  Catholic  churches, 
and  some  of  the  principal  persons  in  the  different  departments  of 
Government. 

The  acceptableness  of  this  new  Institution  at  Colombo,  may  be  es- 
timated by  the  fact,  that  most  of  the  principal  servants,  both  civil  and 


402  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  ffl. 

military,  gave  it  their  immediate  countenance  :  and  that,  within  Ies& 
than  eight  months  from  the  date  of  its  establishment,  between  2  and 
3,000  rix  dollars  were  subscribed  to  its  fund. 

The  imporl^ijce  attached  to  these  circumstances  is  very  properly 
adverted  to  by  the  Secretary,  the  Rev.  G.  Bisset,  in  his  official  com- 
munication of  the  event ;  and  his  statement  (it  may  be  observed) 
evinces  the  wisdom  of  those  principles  by  which  the  conduct  of  Sir 
Alexander  Johnston  was  directed. 

"  Our  Society  has  been  formed  under  the  immediate  patronage  of 
His  Excellency  the  Governor ;  who,  as  you  will  see  in  the  printed 
papers  enclosed,  did  us  the  honour  of  taking  the  chair  at  our  first 
Meeting,  and  accepted  the  office  of  President  for  this  year.  We  have 
likewise  all  the  Members  of  His  Majesty's  Council  in  this  island  for 
our  Vice  Presidents,  and  most  of  the  principal  civil  servants  are  sub- 
scribers to  our  fund. 

"  The  great  influence  that  such  a  decided  protection  of  our  Society, 
openlyavowed  by  Government,  will  have  upon  the  people  of  this  coun- 
try, must  be  too  well  known  to  you  to  require  any  explanation  of  the 
advantages  that  we  hope  to  derive  from  such  an  effectual  assistance. 
"  You  must  also  know,  that  in  this  settlement  the  Christian  religion 
is  already  professed  by  all  the  chief  native  inhabitants,  and  highly  re- 
spected by  the  natives  of  every  description.  Far  from  any  disgrace 
attaching  to  those  who  are  converted  to  Christianity,  their  private  re- 
putation is  increased,  and  their  political  capacity  enlarged :  new  si- 
tuations of  rank  and  emolument  are  bxuught  within  their  reach ;  and 
the  native  Christian  may  aspire  to  a  promotion  from  which  the  Hea- 
then, under  this  Government,  has  been  long  excluded.  We  have 
therefore  no  shadow  of  reason  here  for  those  imaginary  objections 
which  so  long  operated  against  the  propagation  of  Christianity  on  the 
continent  of  India ;  where  many  of  our  countrymen  were  alarmed 
into  an  apprehension,  that  an  attempt  to  extend  the  religion  of  Christy 
by  the  mildest  means  of  instruction  and  persuasion,  would  be  the  im- 
mediate ruin  of  the  British  empire  in  Hindoostan. 

"  The  influence  of  Government  may  be  used  in  Ceylon  with  the 
happiest  effect  upon  the  natives  ;  whose  well-known  character  dispo- 
ses them  to  respect  any  measure,  in  proportion  as  they  believe  it  to 
be  promoted  by  those  in  power,  and  to  resist  all  persuasion  that  we 
are  in  earnest  in  any  attempt  that  has  not  the  countenance  and  sanc- 
t>ion  of  Government." 

Thus  constituted,  patronized,  and  supported,  "  the  Colombo  Aux- 
iliary Bible  Society  proceeded  to  execute  the  duties  of  its  appoint- 


CHAP.  1.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIRTY.  ^qo 

ment.  Proper  steps  were  taken  to  ascertain  the  number  of  persons 
in  the  island,  professing  the  Christian  religion,  and  the  languages  most 
familiar  to  them,  in  order  to  form  a  judgment  of  the  number  of  Bi- 
bles and  Testaments  in  the  several  languages,  which  would  be  neces- 
sary to  supply  their  wants  :  a  judicious  distribution  was  made  of  the 
copies  furnished  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  in  English, 
Dutch,  and  Portuguese :  measures  were  adopted  to  obtain  a  more 
correct  version  of  the  Scriptures  in  the  Cingalese,  and  a  translation 
of  them  into  the  Pali  language  :  and  a  friendly  communication  was 
opened  with  the  Sister  Institution  at  Calcutta  ;*  which  had  already 
offered  to  encourage  the  rising  efforts  of  the  Colombo  Society,  by 
providing  gratuitously  for  its  use  5000  copies  of  the  Cingalese  Tes- 
tament, printed  at  the  Serampore  press. 

The  reader  will  have  been  prepared,  by  much  of  what  has  been 
stated  in  the  early  part  of  this  article,  to  expect  that  the  services  of 
Sir  Alexander  Johnston  were  suitably  appreciated;  and  in  this  ex- 
pectation he  will  not  be  disappointed.  The  Directors  of  the  Colombo 
Auxihary  Bible  Society,  speaking  through  their  Secretary,  in  the 
official  communications  before  appealed  to,  thus  express  their  senti- 
ments, both  with  regard  to  the  fidelity  of  tiiat  gentleman  in  executing 
the  trust  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Societj^,  and  his  exertions 
in  promoting  their  Auxiliary  Institution. 

"  The  Bibles  and  Testaments  were  greatly  wanted  in  this  colony  : 
and  we  shall  make  use  of  the  paper  as  soon  as  we  have  purchased  a 
fount  of  Cingalese  types,  for  which  we  are  now  in  treaty.  The 
whole  was  delivered  into  our  possession  by  the  Hon.  Sir  Alexander 
Johnston,  Chief  Justice  of  this  island ;  and  I  must  here  beg  to  re- 
mark, that  besides  the  care  which  that  gentleman  has  taken  of  the 
books  and  paper  entrusted  to  him,  xt-e  are  indebted  entirely  to  Ms  per- 
sonal exertions  for  the  formation  of  our  Society.  Whatever  public  benefit 
may  hereafter  arise  from  this  Institution,  the  chief  merit  must  be  prima- 
rily  attributed  to  his  activity  and  zeal.'''' 

*  The  following-  passage  will  show  how  the  formation  of  the  Society  at  Colombo 
was  regarded  by  the  Calcutta  Auxiliary  Bible  Society. 

«  The  Committe  rejoice  in  this  new  Association,  formed  under  the  auspices  of 
the  highest  local  authorities,  as  an  omen  of  future  good  to  the  nations  of  the  East, 
by  the  cheering  and  animating  example  which  it  presents ;  and  they  trust,  that 
the  diffusion  of  the  means  of  religious  knowledge  becoming  thus  gradually  more 
and  more  extended,  the  ultimate  benefits  resulting  to  their  fellow -Christians  will 
he  far  greater  than  the  Society,  at  its  formation,  could  have  anticipated." 

Second  Report  cf  the  Calcutta  Auxiliary  Bible  Society, 


404  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III. 

This  testimony  from  Colombo  was  deemed  highly  satisfactory  by 
the  Committee  in  London ;  and,  with  a  unanimous  resolution  of  thanks 
for  his  eminent  services,  the  name  of  Sir  Alexander  Johnston  was 
added  to  the  list  of  the  Honorary  Life  Governors  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society. 

Another  important  addition  was  made,  in  the  course  of  this  year, 
to  the  Society's  foreign  Auxiliaries,  by  the  establishment  of  a  Bible 
Society  at  Port  Louis,  in  the  Mauritius,  for  that  island,  Bourbon,  and 
Dependencies.  To  the  islands  of  Mauritius  and  Bourbon,  as  forming 
a  useful  intermediate  station  between  the  continents  of  Africa  and 
India,  the  attention  of  the  London  Conmiittee  had  long  been  direct- 
ed ;  and,  in  consequence  of  information  relative  to  the  want  of  the 
Scriptures  in  that  island,  and  the  disposition  which  had  l)een  manifest- 
ed in  certain  quarters  of  it  to  obtain  and  peruse  them,  550  Bibles  and 
1000  Testaments  were  despatched  to  Mauritius  early  in  the  year 
1812,  with  express  directions,  that  they  should  be  placed  at  the  dis- 
posal of  the  Chaplain  of  the  island.  Previously  to  the  arrival  of  this 
supply,  the  Rev.  H.  Shepherd,  officiating  j^ro  tempore  at  Port  Louis 
as  Colonial  Chaplain,  and  feeUng  an  anxious  desire  to  promote  the 
object  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  among  a  population 
which  appeared  so  greatly  to  need  its  benevolent  interference,  de- 
termined upon  the  attempt  to  establish  a  Mauritius  Bible  Society. 
Mr.  Shepherd  took  his  measures  with  so  much  judgment  and  discre- 
tion, as  to  secure  the  patronage  of  His  Majesty's  Government,  and 
the  principal  gentlemen  of  the  colony,  in  favour  of  the  proposed 
Establishment.  On  the  11th  of  November,  1812,  "  by  permission, 
and  under  the  sanction,  of  His  Excellency  the  Governor,"  a  Meeting 
was  held  in  the  Government-House  at  Port  Louis.  Mr.  Shepherd, 
having  been  unanimously  called  to  the  chair,  opened  the  business  by 
announcing,  "  that  His  Excellency  the  Governor  had  expressed  his 
anxious  wish  for  the  success  of  the  Society ;  and,  in  order  to  pro- 
mote the  same  to  the  utmost  of  his  power,  had  been  graciously 
pleased  to  accept  the  situation  of  Patron."  Mr.  Shepherd  then  de- 
livered a  very  liberal  and  sensible  Address,*  at  the  close  of  which  he 

*The  following  passage  will  justify  the  character  given  of  Mr.  Shepherd's  Ad- 
dress. 

"  We  must  all  agree,  that,  as  the  laws  of  nature,  so  the  dispensations  of  grace, 
are  carried  on  by  the  means  of  second  causes,  and  the  mediation  of  mon;  the 
Christian  religion  therefore  is  now  to  be  supported  and  spread  by  ordinary  means, 
and  by  human  endeavours.  Let  us  not  presume  to  evade  the  duty,  by  calling  for 
new  inspiration,  or  expecting  the  continuance  of  supernatural  means. 


CHAP.  I.l  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


40S 


recommended,  that,  "  in  this  work  of  charity  and  benevolence,  pro- 
posed for  the  benefit  of  the  indigent,  and  the  welfare  of  society  at 
large — all  should  come  forward  with  hand  and  heart ;  unbiassed  by 
national  distinction,  unshackled  by  the  narrow  prejudices  of  educa- 
tion, and  unfettered  by  the  differing  tenets  of  religious  persuasion." 
A  Society  was  accordingly  formed,  on  the  plan  of  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society,  and  with  the  designation  of  "  the  Bible  Society 
of  the  Islands  of  Mauritius,  Bourbon,  and  Dependencies."  In  the 
constitution  of  this,  as  in  that  of  the  Colombo  Society,  respect  was 
had  to  the  engagement  of  the  .decided  patronage  and  protection  of 
the  Government  in  all  its  departments ;  and  it  reflects  no  small  ho- 
nour upon  the  parties  composing  it,  that  they  afforded  the  measure 
such  prompt  and  decisive  encouragement.  The  Governor  was  ap- 
pointed Patron  ;  the  Commander  in  Chief,  President  j  the  Chaplain 
to  the  Colony,  Secretary :  and  the  Directors  were  selected  from 
among  gentlemen  of  rank  and  respectability,  who  were  inclined  to 
support  the  Institution,  both  French  and  English. 

The  arrival  of  the  Bibles  and  Testaments,  ehortly  after  the  esta- 
bhshment  of  the  Society,  enabled  it  to  commence,  without  delay,  the 
work  of  distribution.  So  greatly  did  the  colony  appear  to  have  been 
neglected,  that  such  a  thing  as  "  a  French  Bible  could  not  have  been 
purchased  within  it  for  years  back ;"  and  the  Secretary  (on  whose 
authority  this  assertion  is  made)  was  also  "  credibly  informed,  that 
many  persons  on  the  island  were  living  at  that  time,  at  the  advanced 
age  of  sixty  and  seventy  years,  who  never  even  saw  a  Bible." 

While  this  scarcity  of  the  Scriptures  was  thus  painfully  ascertain- 
ed on  the  one  hand,  a  disposition  both  to  communicate  and  receive 
them  was  not  less  agreeably  demonstrated  on  the  other.  The  intel- 
ligence of  what  had  taken  place  was  no  sooner  laid  before  the  public, 

"  How  shall  we,  no  matter  whether  Romanists  or  Protestants,  answer  it  to  our 
Redeemer;  if  we  no  way  contribute  to  the  advancement  of  His  Kingdom,  and  the 
propagation  of  his  faith  :  if  on  every  occasion  we  appear  unconcerned  about  the 
honour  of  his  name,  the  extent  of  his  authority,  and  the  progress  of  his  Gospel. 

"  In  vain  do  we  boast  of  pure  doctrines  and  genuine  Christianity,  while  we  are 
deficient  in  piety,  benevolence,  nay,  in  common  charity.  For  if  the  Gospel  be  a 
real  blessing  to  mankind,  we  must  allow  that  it  ought  to  be  communicated  to  all. 
Besides,  in  the  case  before  us,  it  is  not  only  our  duty,  but  even  our  interest ;  if  the 
benefit  of  the  public  be  considered  as  our  own. 

"  The  more  Christianity  prevails,  and  the  deeper  it  is  rooted  in  this  island,  the 
fairer  prospect  we  have  of  being  well  and  faithfully  served.  For,  as  it  directly 
tends  to  promote  industry  and  sobriety,  fidelity  and  justice,  mere  policy  should  in- 
duce us  all  to  desire  anxiously,  and  to  endeavour  strenuonsly,  to  promote  the  ob 
jectof  this  Meeting  in  the  distribution  of  the  Bible." 

53 


406  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  HI, 

than  it  produced  the  most  gratifying  impression.  *'  The  coloDists  of 
all  ranks  took  a  warm  interest  in  the  Institution,  and  purchased  the 
Scriptures,  then  lately  arrived,  with  avidity  beyond  description. 
"  A  hundred  copies  were  sold  in  one  day  ;"  and  the  Secretary  be- 
lieved, that  ^'  twice  as  many  more  would  have  been  disposed  of  with 
the  greatest  facility."  The  satisfaction  arising  from  these  circum- 
stances was  completed  by  the  good  effect  which  the  distribution  of 
these  Bibles  and  Testaments  appeared  to  have  produced  on  the  per- 
sons for  whose  use  they  were  designed.  This  effect  was  attested  by 
the  same  gentleman  whose  account  li^s  been  so  often  referred  to,  and 
who  reports,  that,  after  the  copies  had  begun  to  circulate  among  the 
inhabitants,  he  received  "  daily  messages  of  gratitude  and  thanks  for 
the  more  than  kind  attention  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
to  their  eternal  welfare,  in  supplying  them  with  the  means  of  Scrip- 
tural knowledge." 

From  the  consideration  of  the  many  obstacles  which  impeded  the 
entrance  of  Christian  light  into  the  continent  of  Africa,  whose  skirts 
had  hitherto  received  but  a  partial  illumination,  the  establishment  of 
a  Bible  Society  for  Mauritius,  Bourbon,  and  Dependencies,  was 
esteemed  an  event  of  no  ordinary  importance.  A  hope  was  enter- 
tained, (may  that  hope  be  realized!)  that  its  good  effects  might 
extend  beyond  the  sphere  which  it  engages  to  occupy,  and  that 
a  portion  of  its  salutary  influence  might  be  propagated  westward,  to 
the  many  tribes  which,  both  in  the  islands  and  on  the  continent 
of  Africa,  are  even  now  sitting  in  darkness,  and  in  the  region  and 
shadow  of  death. 

The  Societies  established  beyond  the  Atlantic,  gave  evidence,  by 
their  printed  reports,  and  written  communications,  of  credible  pro- 
gress in  their  work,  and  of  continued  attachment  to  that  Institiition 
which  they  professed  to  honour  as  a  parent,  and  to  imitate  as  an 
example.  The  Philadelphia  Bible  Society  accepted,  with  lively 
gratitude,  the  grant  of  100/.  in  aid  of  the  fund  for  purchasing  stereo- 
type plates.  Adverting  to  this  additional  instance  of  what  they  were 
pleased  to  call,  "  the  abundant  liberality  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,"  they  drew  from  it  an  inference,  in  which  the  donors 
and  the  receivers  were  equally  concerned.  "  Viewed"  (they  say) 
"  in  connexion  with  their  former  munificence,  it  ought  to  excite  a  just 
admiration  of  the  effect  of  Christian  principle,  and  is  a  practical  evi- 
dence of  the  value  of  those  Holy  Scriptures  which  it  is  our  common 
object  to  disseminate."  To  a  similar  purport  were  the  acknowledg- 
ments from  other  American  Societies,  which  had  received  from  the 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  407 

British  and  Foreign  Bible  Saciety  pecuniary  testimonies  of  its  regard 
and  friendship.  They  may  be  all  summed  up  in  the  compendious 
declaration  of  the  Albany  Bible  Society,  when  speaking  of  their  own 
obhgations,  ai>d  those  of  the  Sister  Societies,  to  this  their  common 
Parent.  "  That  Institution"  (they  observe)  "  proposes  to  itself  no 
limits  in  its  labour  of  love :  it  is  therefore  justly  entitled  to  the 
world's  thanks.'" 

It  deserves  attention,  that,  as  they  proceeded  in  their  work,  fresh 
discoveries  were  made  by  the  American  Societies,  of  the  want  of  the 
Scriptures  existing  among  the  people  :  and  iV^oir  opinion  of  the  neces- 
sity of  such  Institutions  was  therefore  increasingly  confirmed. 

The  Massachusetts  Bible  Society  thus  express  their  sentiments : 
"  When  this  Institution  was  first  proposed,  there  were  some  who  ob- 
jected, that  it  was  not  needed  ;  that  the  poor  in  this  country  are  as 
well  suppUed  with  Bibles  as  the  rich.  But  inquiry  has  proved  this 
objection  to  be  false.  Many  ministers  who  had  the  same  impression, 
have  expressed  their  surprise  at  the  want  of  Bibles  in  their  Socie- 
ties." The  following  passage,  from  the  same  Report,  affords  very 
convincing  evidence  on  this  point,  and  also  on  the  grateful  emotions 
with  which,  in  that,  as  well  as  in  other  parts  of  the  world,  a  copy  of 
the  Scriptures  was  received : 

"  The  Books  which  have  been  distributed  by  the  Society  have 
been  received  with  gratitude  and  joy,  and  many  interesting  expres- 
sions of  their  sentiments  have  been  transmitted  by  the  distributors  to 
your  Committee.  One  letter  says,  '  These  poor  people  received 
the  Bibles  thankfully,  and  requested  me  to  make  their  acknowledg- 
ments to  the  Society.  Some  of  them  were  very  eloquent  in  implo- 
ring the  benedictions  of  heaven  on  those  who  had  been  instrumental 
m  imparting  to  them  so  valuable  a  present.'  Another  says  :  '  Till  I 
had  no  more  books  to  distribute,  my  chamber  was  constantly  crowd- 
ed. Could  the  Society  witness  the  manifest  thankfulness  with  which 
their  bounty  is  received,  I  think  they  would  believe  their  charity  well 
applied  in  this  region.'  «  They  all  expressed'  (observes  another) 
'  much  joy  at  the  reception  of  the  gift.  Some  could  scarcely  speak ; 
overcome'  by  the  thought,  that  God  should  send  them  his  blessed 
word,  of  which  they  were  so  unworthy.  One  aged  man,  in  particu- 
lar, on  accepting  one  of  the  large  Bibles,  burst  into  tears  of  joy,  put 
it  under  his  coat,  and  said,  '  I  will  put  it  as  near  my  heart  as  I  can.'  " 
The  Report  very  pertinently  asks,  "  Can  there  be  a  greater  encou- 
ragement or  reward  to  the  Society,  than  this  grateful  eagerness  with 
o'hich  the  word  of  God  is  received  V 


408  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  111. 

Similar  discoveries  were  reported  by  the  other  Societies ;  and, 
among  them,  the  Connecticut  Bible  Society  make  the  following  em- 
phatical  declaration : 

"  We  repeat  a  communication,  already  often  made,  and  which, 
there  is  too  much  reason  to  fear,  has  not  been  sufficiently  noticed, 
that,  although  there  is  not  perhaps  a  spot  on  earth  of  equal  popula- 
tion with  this  State,  better  supplied  with  the  Holy  Scriptures,  yet 
many  are  destitute  of  this  blessed  volume :  probably,  more  are  with- 
out the  Scriptures,  through  poverty,  than  could  at  present  be  con- 
veniently supplied  from  our  funds.  To  those  who  have  not  actually 
investigated  the  subject,  this  may  look  like  a  conjecture."  To  this 
general  observation  the  reporter  adds  the  particular  testimonies 
of  persons,  who,  in  different  parts  of  the  State,  had  undertaken  the 
distribution.  "  I  have  thanks  for  the  Bible  Society,"  (says  one  of 
these  distributors,)  "  from  widows  and  orphans,  from  bond  and  free." 
*'  Just  as  the  Bibles"  (says  another)  "  were  all  distributed,  applica- 
tions became  numerous ;  and  I  found  the  Bible  was  much  wanted  by 
many.  Some  had  a  Testament;  some  a  fragment  of  a  Bible.  Some 
unfortunate  females  of  the  lowest  class  came  to  beg  for  a  Bible.  In- 
deed, Sir,  until  I  began  to  make  particular  inquiries,  I  had  no  idea 
that  so  many  were  destitute."  The  same  correspondent  adds ; 
"  Poor,  fatherless,  destitute,  but  serious,  young  women,  come,  and 
beg  for  a  Bible.  It  is  noised  about  the  country,  that  I  have  Bibles  to 
give  to  the  poor.  What  shall  I  do  ?  My  heart  bleeds  for  them.  I 
cannot  bear  the  thought  that  so  many  who  appear  to  love  the  Scrip- 
tures, should  be  destitute  of  them.  Do  send  me  more  Bibles 
speedily."* 

The  difficulty  of  communication  between  the  two  countries,  from 
the  circumstances  of  their  political  dissension,  rendered  it  impracti- 
cable for  the  conductors  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  to 
ascertain  with  exactness,  in  what  degree  the  cause  of  Bible  Societies 
had  advanced,  during  the  period  now  under  consideration.  Sufficient 
evidence,  however,  appeared,  in  the  httle  which  was  communicated, 
to  show,  that  its  advancement,  if  not  rapid,  was  yet  decisive  and 
effectual.  Independently  of  those  details  which  estabhsh  the  fact, 
much  was  collected,  in  favour  of  this  conclusion,  from  the  estimation 
in  which  the  existing  Bible  Societies  professed  to  hold  the  utility  of 
such  Institutions ;  and  from  the  influence  which  their  opinions  would 
be  likely  to  produce  on  the  minds  of  the  American  people.     It  could 

*  Third  Report  of  the  Connecticut  Bible  Society. 


«3HAP.  I.]  AWD  foreign  B[BLE  SOCIKTV.  4gjrj 

not  be  supposed  that  a  cause  should  remain  stationary,  in  the  prose- 
cution of  which  such  sentiments  as  the  following  were  avowed  and 
circulated. 

"  Your  Committee  rejoice  with  the  Members  of  this  Society,  and  with 
the  true  friends  of  Zion  every  where,  to  see  the  growing  importance 
of  Bible  Societies,  in  the  eyes  of  the  Christian  world.  The  wisdom 
of  God  has  established  the  importance  of  a  standing  revelation,  for  the 
conviction  and  confirmation  of  men  in  the  truth,  by  furnishing  the 
world  with  such  a  revelation  in  a  style  suited  to  every  capacity  ;  and 
by  prophetic  intimation,  that  the  kingdom  of  the  Redeemer  shall  bo 
enlarged,  by  the  going  forth  of  the  law  out  of  Zion,  and  of  the  word  of 
the  Lord  from  Jerusalem.  Experience  also  has  taught  us,  that  no- 
thing has  effected  more  for  the  permanent  success  of  the  Gospel,  than 
the  circulation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  Nothing  is  permanently  done 
among  the  heathen  by  the  most  faithful  labours  of  Missionaries,  unless 
the  Scriptures  can  be  put  into  their  hands.  And  in  Christian  lands, 
which  have  long  enjoyed  the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel,  unless  the  Holy- 
Scriptures  are  generally  owned  and  read  by  the  people,  the  life  of 
godliness  decays,  until  nothing  but  the  form,  without  the  spirit,  is 
left."* 

To  this  satisfaction  with  the  past,  was  added  encouragement  for  the 
future.  The  views  and  the  affections  of  the  conductors  of  the  Ame- 
rican Societies  appeared  to  expand  as  they  advanced  ;  and  to  hold  out 
the  promise  of  a  more  active  and  extended  co-operation. 

"  The  sphere"  (say  the  Committee  of  the  Albany  Bible  Society,) 
"  which  Providence  has  assigned  us,  in  the  grand  effort  to  evangel- 
ize the  world,  is  wide,  and  daily  widening.  From  our  new  settle- 
ments to  the  north  and  westward,  frequent  apphcations  may  be  ex- 
pected." "  In  the  neighbouring  States,"  (observe  the  Massachusetts 
Committee,)  "  where  the  institutions  of  religion  are  not  enjoyed  as 
regularly  as  in  our  own,  great  good  may  be  done  by  the  distribution 
of  the  divine  word  ;  and  your  Committee  indulge  the  hope,  that  the 
time  will  arrive,  when  this  Society  will  bear  its  part  in  shedding  this 
divine  light  over  distant  nations.  We  have"  (they  continue)  "  a  no- 
ble example  in  the  unparalleled  efforts  now  making  by  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  to  spread  the  Bible  through  the  whole  habit- 
able world,  to  translate  it  into  every  language,  to  carry  it  into  every 
human  dwelling,  to  open  it  to  every  human  eye."  And  they  close 
their  Report  with  a  reflection,  in  the  application  of  which  the  inha- 

*  Thurd  Report  of  the  Connecticut  Bible  Society 


4i0  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [FART  III. 

bitants  of  Great  Britain  may  sympathize  with  those  of  the  State  of 
Massachusetts. 

"  It  peculiarly  becomes  us,  descended  as  we  are  from  pious  ances- 
tors, who  owe  our  best  Institutions  to  the  influence  of  religion,  and 
who  have  been  distinguished  by  the  goodness  of  God,  to  make  the 
cause  of  religion  our  own,  and  to  spare  no  efforts  by  which  the  Bible, 
the  only  infallible  guide  to  Christian  truth,  may  be  carried  to  the 
abode  of  the  poorest  and  most  ignorant  of  our  race." 

This  view  of  the  American  Societies  cannot  be  better  concluded, 
than  by  adopting  the  animated  and  edifying  apostrophe  of  the  New- 
York  Bible  Society ;  "  Can  there  be  a  contemplation  more  sublime, 
an  employment  more  appropriate  to  a  rational  being,  than  that  of 
diffusing  the  Scripture  light  to  every  habitable  part  of  the  globe  ?  Have 
we  not  reason  to  hope,  that,  while  Christians  are  engaged  in  sending 
the  Bible  to  those  who  have  it  not,  God  will  be  pleased  to  bless  them- 
selves, by  unfolding  its  exhaustless  treasures  to  their  own  mind^,  and 
by  applying  its  saving  truth  with  more  power  to  their  own  hearts  ? 
Behold  the  effects  of  the  Bible  Society  on  that  nation  who  first  esta- 
blished such  an  Institution!  It  has  softened  the  asperity  of  party;  it 
has  almost  dissolved  the  prejudices  of  bigotry  ;  and  moulded  the  con- 
flicting terms  of  denomination,  rn  thtit  Institution,  at  least,  into  the 
holy  and  delightful  name  of  Christian.  How  reviving,  how  animating, 
the  prospect  before  us  !  Who  knows  but  the  seed  of  the  word,  now 
sowing  among  the  afflicted  nations  of  a  bleeding  world,  may  be  so  pros- 
pered by  the  dew  of  heaven,  as  to  rise,  ere  long,  into  a  rich  harvest 
of  peace  and  righteousness  throughout  the  earth." 

Nor  was  the  object  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  re- 
garded with  unconcern  by  the  inhabitants  of  British  North  America. 
An  impression  had  been  made,  the  influence  of  which  was  progress- 
ively felt.  As  a  consequence  of  it,  various  liberal  contributions  were 
forwarded,  to  aid  the  Parent  Institution,  from  individuals,  and  par- 
ticular congregations  ;  and  the  spirit  in  which  they  originated  was  at 
that  time  preparing  to  manifest  itself  with  greater  effect,  in  the  pro- 
duction of  local  Auxiliary  Societies. 

In  the  mean  time,  great  joy  had  been  excited  in  the  hearts  of  the 
flock,  gathered  from  the  heathen  through  the  ministry  of  the  United 
Brethren,  on  the  coast  of  Labrador,  by  the  distribution  among  them 
of  those  copies  of  St.  John's  Gospel  in  the  Esquimaux  dialect,  which 
had  been  printed  and  bound  for  their  use  by  the  British  and  Foreiga 
Bible  Society.  The  value  which  these  interesting  con(*erts  attached 
to  the  gift,  appeared  from  the  eagerness  and  persevering  application 


€HAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  ^j2 

with  which  they  perused  the  volume.  To  this  fact  their  pastors  bear 
a  very  decided  testimony.  In  acknowledging  the  kindness  shown  to 
them  by  this  valuable  donation,  they  thus  describe  the  use  to  which  it 
is  apphed  ;  "  Our  people  take  this  little  book  with  them  to  the  islands, 
when  they  go  out  in  search  of  provisions  ;  and  in  their  tents,  or  snow- 
houses,  they  spend  their  evenings  in  reailing  it,  with  great  edification 
and  blessing." 

The  reception  given  to  the  Gospel  of  St.  John,  disposed  the  Commit- 
tee to  pay  a  favourable  attention  to  the  prayer  of  these  devoted  and 
indefatigable  labourers,  that  the  three  other  Gospels  might  also  be 
printed.  A  version  of  them  had  been  made  by  the  venerable  Super- 
intendent  of  the  Labrador  Mission,  the  Rev.  C.  F.  Burghardt,  who 
possessed  an  intimate  knowledge  of  the  Esquimaux  dialect :  and  he 
had  been  enabled  to  complete  his  revision  of  the  text,  previously  to 
the  event  of  his  sudden  dissolution.  In  this  state  of  preparation  the 
manuscript  was  forwarded  tq  England ;  and  an  order  was  given  that 
it  should  be  printed,  on  the  account  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  in  a  manner  to  correspond  with  the  Gospel  of  St.  John,  by 
which  it  had  been  preceded. 

But  the  brightest  feature  in  the  aspect  of  the  Society's  affairs  be- 
yond the  Atlantic,  in  the  course  of  this  year,  was,  the  zeal  and  libe- 
rality with  which  its  cause  was  espoused  in  the  island  of  Jamaica. 
The  acquisition  of  support  to  such  a  cause,  in  a  quarter  wherein, 
from  the  pecuhar  circumstances  of  its  pohty  and  its  morals,  it  was 
so  little  to  have  been  expected,  appears  to  deserve  that  the  man- 
ner in  which  it  was  brought  about  should  be  more  particularly  re- 
lated. * 

The  individual  in  whom  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  has 
to  acknowledge  the  first  pubhc  advocate  of  its  interest,  in  the  island 
of  Jamaica,  was,  Stephen  Cooke,  Esq.  The  steps  by  which  that  -en- 
tleman  introduced  the  subject  to  the  favourable  notice  which  it  even- 
tually obtained,  will  best  appear  from  his  own  account. 

"  I  received  a  letter  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Owen,  Secretary  to  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  at  the  desire  of  the  Committee 
requesting  my  influence  in  this  island,  towards  assisting  the  dispersion 
ot  the  Bible;  in  answer  to  which,  I  informed  him  that  I  had  made 
some  applications  for  this  purpose,  before  I  sent  my  own  subscription, 
and  those  of  some  of  my  family,  with  the  addition  of  one  gentleman's  ; 
but,  on  receiving  his  letter,  I  thought  myself  fully  authorized  to  make 
a  more  extended  effort:  and  accordingly,  I  wrote  to  the  Rector  of 
Kingston,  the  parish  I  reside  in,  enclosing  him  Mr.  Owen's  letter  I 
isent  him  at  the  same  time  a  book  of  every  kind  I  had  received,  for  his 


41*2  UISTORF  OF  TUE  BRITISH  ^ART  IK. 

information.  After  one  month,  I  informed  him  that  I  should  open  a 
subscription,  whicli  I  accordingly  did  ;  and  by  the  next  packet  1  sent 
Mr.  Owen  a  bill  for  250^.  sterling,  on  account  of  what  I  had  collected. 
Within  six  weeks  I  had  written  to  the  Rector  or  leading  Gentlemen  of 
every  parish  in  the  island." 

The  effect  of  these  exertions  was  considerably  promoted  by  the 
generous  co-operation  of  Mr.  John  Loman,  Printer,  in  Spanish  Town, 
and  the  three  Printers  in  Kingston,  who  to  their  other  services  added 
that  of  gratuitously  inserting  in  their  respective  newspapers  Mr. 
Cooke's  Address,  together  with  various  extracts  from  the  Reports  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Societ3\  The  result  of  these  combined 
proceedings  was,  that  an  inclination  to  subscribe  was  speedily  mani- 
fested in  different  parts  of  the  island,  and  among  almost  every  class  of 
tlie  free  population. 

Of  this  disposition  (to  the  excitement  of  which  he  had  not  a  little 
contributed)  the  Hon.  John  Shands,  at  Spanish  Town,  took  immediate 
advantage  ;  and  through  his  exertions,  and  an  eloquent  address  which 
he  delivered  at  a  Meeting  in  Vere,  a  subscription  was  opened  in  that 
parish,  under  the  sanction  and  patronage  of  the  Magistracy  of  the 
place,  the  returns  of  which  proved  very  considerable.  This  exam- 
ple was  afterwards  followed,  on  the  proposition  of  the  Rector,  the 
Rev.  Alexander  Mann,  by  the  Corporation  of  Kingston  :  and  although 
the  wealthier  part  of  the  inhabitants  had  previously  contributed,  at 
the  solicitation  of  Mr.  Cooke,  a  very  creditable  subscription  was  pro^ 
duced  ;  which  derived  additional  value  from  the  auspices  under  which 
it  was  raised.  The  parishes  of  Vere,  and  of  St.  George's,  and  the 
Just»|es  of  Westmoreland,  severally  claimed  their  share  in  this  bene- 
volent work  :  for  much  of  what  was  accomplished  in  the  first  of  these 
cases,  the  Society  is  indebted  to  the  active  exertions  of  the  Hon. 
J.  P.  Edwards.  An  impression  was  also  made  in  favour  of  the  So- 
ciety, upon  the  people  of  colour.  The  more  opulent  members  of 
this  part  of  the  community  associated  their  offerings  with  those  of  the 
island  in  general ;  and  donations,  chiefly  from  the  poorer  classes, 
were  afterwards  transmitted,  through  the  medium  of  a  Society,  formed 
in  September,  1812,  under  the  designation  of  "  The  Jamaica  Auxil- 
iary Bible  Society,  of  the  People  of  Colour ;"  it  being  intended  to 
raise  yearly  contribution  from  persons  of  that  description  throughout 
the  island.  The  parochial  clergy  distinguished  themselves  in  this 
contest  of  benevolence,  by  a  zeal  corresponding  with  their  spiritual 
functions,  and  the  just  expectations  of  the  laity.  Independently  of 
the  share  which  they  took  in  promoting  subscriptions  among  their  pa- 
rishioners and  the  public,  they  evinced  their  regard  for  the  object  of 


CaXT.l]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  413 

the  Society,  and  their  desire  to  co-operate  in  giving  it  cflect,  by  uni- 
ting in  a  separate  contribution.  In  this  measure  the  Rev.  John 
Campbell,  Rector  of  St.  Andrew's,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Simcockes, 
Rector  of  Port  Royal,  the  Rev.  Alexander  Campbell,  Rector  of 
Kingston,  and  the  Rev.  Isaac  Mann,  Rector  of  St.  Catharine's,  took 
took  the  lead.  These  gentlemen,  acknowledging  the  powerful  claims 
which  the  Society  has  on  Christians  in  every  quarter  of  the  globe, 
thought  it  incumbent  upon  them  to  address  their  clerical  brethren 
throughout  the  island,  proposing  that,  "  in  addition  to  the  encourage- 
ment of  subscriptions  in  their  respective  parishes,  they  should,  as  a 
body,  offer  a  donation  to  the  Society,"  "  Most  of  their  brethren  en- 
tirely concurring  in  their  sentiments,"  they  were  enabled  to  transmit 
a  respectable  sum.  They  accompanied  it  v/ith  an  Address,  in  which, 
together  with  the  explanation  which  has  been  given,  they  stated,  that, 
*'  in  opening  that  separate  subscription,  they  were  actuated  by  a  wish 
of  entering  into  an  early  correspondence  with  the  Society  ;  not  only 
for  the  purpose  of  enabling  them  to  promote,  in  the  best  manner,  its 
interests  in  the  island,  but  also  with  the  hope  that  they  and  their  bre- 
thren might  be  made  instruments  of  extending  the  usefulness  of  the 
Institution  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  colony.  Of  that  portion  of  the 
people  which  could  read,  very  many,  they  had  reason  to  believe, 
were  competent  to  pay  the  Society's  prices  for  their  Bibles  ;  but  there 
were  many  also,  they  presumed,  who  had  not  the  means  of  doing  so  ; 
and  they  begged  to  assure  the  Society,  that  they  should  be  happy  to 
aid  its  benevolent  views,  by  disposing,  according  to  their  best  judg- 
ment, of  Bibles  to  persons  of  that  description,  at  reduced  prices,  to 
whatever  extent  the  Society  might  think  proper  to  employ  them." 
Jn  conclusion,  they  offer  their  "  sincere  wishes,  that  God  ma}^  con- 
tinue to  bless,  with  the  most  abundant  success,  the  pious  and  truly  be- 
nevolent exertions  of  the  Society,  in  dispersing  the  word.of  truth  and 
salvation  throughout  the  world  !" 

The  disposition  manifested  by  these  parochial  clergymen  to  assist 
the  views  of  the  Society,  not  only  by  pecuniary  aid,  but  also  by  per- 
sonal exertion,  added  much  to  the  value  of  this  communication.  Two 
hundred  and  fifty  Bibles,  and  one  thousand  Testaments,  were  there- 
fore ordered  to  be  placed  at  their  disposal,  in  addition  to  a  supply 
previously  despatched. 

When  this  transaction  is  deliberately  reviewed  ;  when  it  is  consi- 
dered with  what  promptitude  and  generosity  the  different  classes  of 
persons  throughout  the  island,  emulated  each  other  in  contributing 
to  a  Society  with  the  merits  of  which  they  had  so  recently  been  n«ade 

54 


414  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  Ifl. 

acquainted  ;  when  it  is  further  considered,  that  the  contribution, 
which  would  have  been  splendid  at  any  time,  was  made  at  a  period 
of  general  embarrassment — "  when"  (to  use  the  language  of  Mr. 
Cooke)  "  the  distresses  of  the  planters  were  so  exceedingly  great, 
that  many  of  them  were  compelled  to  sell  their  working  cattle,  in  or- 
der to  pay  their  taxes,  and  clothe  their  slaves  ;"  the  whole  proceeding 
assumes  a  character  which  gave  to  all  the  parties  concerned  in  it  a 
just  title  to  our  respect  and  admiration. 

While  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  was  thus  widely  diffu- 
sing the  influence  of  its  object,  and  contracting  progressively  new  re- 
lations and  engagements  with  foreign  countries,  its  domestic  adminis- 
tration proceeded  with  similar  activity,  and  the  measures  which  it 
adopted  were  followed  by  a  correspondent  extension  of  encourage- 
ment and  support.  Of  the  truth  of  this  assertion  the  number  and 
importance  of  the  newly-formed  Auxiliary  Societies  exhibit  a  decisive 
testimony  ;  and  to  the  more  particular  consideration  of  these  Institu- 
tions our  attention  shall  now  be  directed. 

It  has  already  been  stated,  in  a  former  part  of  this  chapter,  that 
not  fewer  than  seventy-tive  Auxiliary  Societies  were  formed  in  the 
interval  between  the  eighth  and  the  ninth  Anniversaries  of  the  Pa- 
rent Institution.  By  these  new  Establishments  an  interest  was  created 
on  behalf  of  the  Society,  where  it  had  hitherto  been  almost,  if  not 
altogether,  imknown  ;  ground  was  brought  into  occupation  which  had 
not  been  cultivated  before ;  and  the  cause  acquired  an  addition  to  its 
territorial  influence,  as  well  as  to  its  pecuniary  resources. 

Under  the  patronage  ot  the  Bishop  of  St.  David's  the  counties  of 
Caermarthen  and  Pembroke,  and  the  town  of  Aberystwyth,  in  Car- 
diganshire, with  a  return  of  nearly  1100/.  were  added  to  the  contri- 
butory counties  in  South  AVales  ;  while,  in  the  northern  division  of 
the  Principality,  the  counties  of  Merioneth,  Caernarvon,  and  Anglesea, 
under  the  patronage  of  Sir  Watkin  William  Wynne,  Bart,  and  the 
Earl  of  Uxbridgc,  (now  Marquis  of  Anglesea,)  together  with  certain 
places  of  inferior  importance,  united  themselves  to  the  general  Asso- 
ciation, with  contributions  exceeding,  in  the  aggregate,  2,500/. 

Of  the  remaining  British  Societies,  eleven  were  established  for  en- 
tire counties  ;  viz.  for  those  of  Chester,  Fife  and  Kinross,  Gloucester, 
Kent,  Northampton,  Perth,  Rutland,  Somerset,  Surrey,  and  Wilts; 
several  for  cities,  or  districts  of  great  consideration  ;  and  eight  for 
the  central  position  of  London  and  Southwark. 

The  county  Societies  were,  for  the  most  part,  introduced  under 
the  recomipendatiou  of  the  most  powerful  patronage  ;  and  but  few 


THAP.  1.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  415 

cases  occurred  in  which  those  did  not  appear  at  the  head  of  these  lo- 
cal Institutions,  who  stood  the  highest  in  their  respective  viciniiies, 
for  rank,  and  property,  and  general  estimation. 

Among  the  advantages  derived  from  the  county  Establishments, 
was,  the  accession  of  many  personages  to  the  general  cause,  who, 
but  for  such  an  expedient,  might  either  have  remained  ignorant  of  its 
real  merits,  or  have  wanted  a  sufficient  inducement  to  give  it  their 
support.  The  influence  of  local  attachment,  co-operating  with  other 
considerations  of  propriety  and  duty,  would  give  to  the  claims  of  a 
Society  for  disseminating  the  Scriptures,  a  recommendation  not  easily 
resisted :  and  the  transition  would  be  natural  from  the  countenance 
of  its  object  as  domestic  and  particular,  to  the  appi'obation  of  the 
same  object,  as  foreign  and  universal. 

Another  advantage,  in  the  same  direction,  was,  the  confirmation,  in 
a  variety  of  instances,  of  that  patronage  which  had  been  previously 
obtained  and  enjoyed.  Many  persons,  who,  upon  a  general  persua- 
sion of  its  excellence,  had  lent  their  sanction  to  the  Parent  Society, 
were  induced  to  examine  more  particularly  into  its  merits,  previously 
to  their  allowing  their  names  to  appear  as  patrons  of  local  Societies. 
Their  decision,  therefore,  in  favour  of  this  latter  measure,  added 
weight  to  their  suffrage  in  behalf  of  the  former.  By  countenancing 
the  establishment  of  Auxiliary  Societies,  they  renewed  the  pledge  of 
their  attachment  to  the  Parent  Institution,  and  acquired,  at  the  same 
time,  an  additional  motive  for  interesting  themselves  in  its  support 
and  defence.  The  application  of  this  remark  may  be  extended  to 
those  whose  friendship  for  the  cause  had  been  decidedly  approved  ; 
but  found  another  opportunity  of  evincing  itself  by  this  new  and  un- 
equivocal attestation.  Of  such  opportunities  the  Episcopal  Patrons 
of  the  Parent  Society  were  not  backward  in  availing  themselves.  It 
has  already  been  mentioned,  that  the  Bishop  of  St.  David's  promoted 
the  formation  of  Auxiliary  Societies  in  a  portion  of  his  diocese  ;  and 
it  may  be  added,  that  the  Bishop  of  Salisbury  (within  whose  diocese, 
and  under  his  own  auspices,  the  first  Auxiliary  Society  had  been 
formed)  acted  in  a  similar  manner,  by  accepting  the  office  of  Patron 
to  the  Auxiliary  Society  for  the  county  of  Wilts. 

Of  the  Societies  which  have  been  specified  as  established  for  coun- 
ties, much  of  an  interesting  nature  might  be  said,  if  the  limits  of  this 
History  would  allow  it.  Referring,  however,  to  the  printed  accounts 
of  the  proceedings  at  their  formation,  the  author  will  only  advert  to 
to  such  as,  from  peculiar  circumstances,  appear  to  require  more  par- 
ticular notice. 


41(5  HlSTOhV  OF  THE  BRITIdM  [PART  Ilf . 

The  XorLhamptonshire  Society  was  dislinguished,  by  enjoying,  at 
its  formation,  on  the  7th  of  May,  1812,  the  presence  and  presiding 
services  of  his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Grafion,  Lord  Lieutenant  of  the 
county.  This  was  the  second  instance  in  which  the  cliair  of  a  Bible 
Meeting  was  filled  by  a  personage  of  that  rank.  His  Grace  the  Duke 
of  Bedford  had  set  the  example  in  his  own  county  the  preceding 
year;  and  the  Duke  of  Grafion  adopted,  on  the  present  occasion,  a 
simihu"  course  at  Northampton.  What  added  to  the  value  of  this 
conduct,  on  the  part  of  the  Duke,  was,  the  interest  which  (as  well  as 
his  illustrious  predecessor)  he  took  in  tlie  business  of  the  Meeting-, 
and  the  evidence  he  gave  of  having  made  the  subject  a  matter  of  pre- 
vious and  personal  investigation.  "  That  there  exists"  (said  his 
Grace)  "  a  want  of  the  Bible  among  the  poor,  I  am  fully  persuaded, 
not  only  from  repeated  declarationrs  to  this  effect  by  others,  but  from 
ray  own  personal  knowledge  :  and  it  is  within  my  own  observation, 
that,  in  one  parish  alone,  there  are  no  less  than  125  families  without 
a  Bible." 

A  melancholy  interest  was  also  given  to  this  Meeting,  by  the  painful 
consideration,  that  the  day  on  which  it  was  held,  had  been  fixed  with 
a  view  to  accommodate  the  convenience  of  the  illustrious  Member 
for  Northampton,  and  Prime  Minister  of  his  Sovereign,  the  Right 
Hon-  Spencer  Perceval,  "  in  whom  private  excellence  and  public 
virtue  equally  united ;  whose  attachment  to  the  Bible  Society  com- 
4ienced  with  its  origin,  and  grew  with  its  increase  ;*  and  whose  elo- 
quent tongue  would  have  been  employed  in  its  service  on  that  occa- 
sion, if  the  hand  of  an  assassin  had  not  driven  him  to  his  grave, 
amidst  the  lamentations  and  eulogies  of  men  of  every  name  in  the 
church,  and  every  party  in  the  state."! 

The  Gloucestershire  Society  was  formed  under  the  patronage  of 
Jhe  Dukes  of  Norfolk  and  Beaufort,  who  allowed  their  names  to  be 

*  The  following:  circumsfauce  may  be  adduced,  as  one,  out  of  many  proofs,  of 
Mr.  Percevars  sincere  attachment  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and 
of  his  wakeful  solicitude  for  its  welfare. 

In  the  month  of  October,  ISIO,  by  IMr.  Percevars  desire,  the  author,  and  his  col- 
league, Mr.  Hughes,  had  an  interview  with  him  iu  Downing-Streel  5  when  they 
were  interrogated,  whether  the  patent  of  the  King's  Printer,  then  on  the  eve  of 
being  renewed,  occasioned  any  obstruction  to  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  in 
Ireland,  through  (he  medium  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  .'\fler  ex- 
pressing his  friendship  for  the  Society,  Mr.  Perceval  dismissed  the  Secretaries, 
with  an  assurance  that  nothing  should  be  allowed  to  enter  into  the  patent,  upon 
Its  renewal,  which  might  be  likely  to  interfere  with  the  useful  plans  of  the  Society 

\.  .Vutbor's  speech  at  Nortljaminou. 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  417 

associated,  as  joint  Presidents  of  the  Institution.*  It  had  been  the 
universal  desire  of  all  the  parties  concerned  in  its  formation,  that  the 
learned  and  amiable  Bishop  of  the  diocese  should  lend  it  his  valuable 
countenance  ;  and  a  respectful  application  was  made  to  his  Lordship, 
through  the  Mayor  of  Gloucester,  with  a  view  to  that  end.  To  this 
application  the  Bishop  repUed  in  the  following  terms : 

"  Mr.  Mayor, 
"  I  am  this  day  honoured  with  a  letter,  signed  by  yourself,  and  by 
eight  other  most  respectable  gentlemen.  The  purport  of  the  letter 
is,  to  intimate,  that  his  Grace  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  and  his  Grace  the 
Duke  of  Beaufort,  will  be  Presidents  of  a  Society,  which  is  to  be  es- 
tabhshed  in  this  county,  in  aid  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety. The  compliment  of  being  a  Vice  President  is  paid  me.  I 
return  thanks  for  that  compliment,  but  beg  to  decline  it. 

"  From  two  Societies  already  established,  viz.  '  The  Society  for 
Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,'  and  '  The  Society  for  Propagating 
the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,'  great  spiritual  advantages  are  already 
diffused,  not  only  over  this  kingdom,  but  also  in  every  quarter  of  the 
globe,  through  the  distribution  of  Bibles,  accompanied  with  Prayer- 
Books,  and  the  appointment  of  Ministers  capable  of  explaining  the 
Holy  Scriptures.  I  humbly  conceive  those  two  Societies  have  claims 
on  the  Clergy  of  the  Estabhshment  for  all  the  pecuniary  aid  and 
mental  exertion,  which  can  possibly  be  contributed  by  them  in  sup- 
port of  those  ancient  and  chartered  Societies. 
I  am, 

Mr.  Mayor, 
With  high  respect  for  yourself. 

And  the  Gentlemen  Subscribers, 
Your  most  obedient  Servant, 
GEORGE  ISAAC  GLOUCESTER." 
aiauctstcry  Aug.  4,  IS12. 

The  insertion  of  this  reply  in  the  Gloucester  Herald  excited  some 
alarm  among  the  friends  of  the  proposed  Society,  who  were  aware 
how  much  influence  would  be  attached  to  the  opinion  and  advice  of 

*  The  author  cannot  allow  himself  to  omit  the  tribute  which  is  due  to  the  Rev. 
J.  W.  Cunningham,  who  kiuilly  supplied  his  place  at  the  forraation  of  this  Societyj 
and  by  his  eloquent  exertions  materially  contributed  to  the  success  of  the  day. 
The  Rev.  Charles  Hoarc,  Rector  of  Biandford,  and  the  Rev.  Edward  Mansfield, 
Vicar  of  Bisley,  whose  addresses  on  the  occasion,  though  dissimilar  in  character, 
■v«'c  equally  inipressire.  desf^rvc  also  to  be  n^cntioned  with  particular  respect. 


418 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BRIJISH  [PART  ill' 


so  respectable  and  candid  a  Prelate.  Under  tliis  impression,  they 
forwarded  to  the  author  the  paper  which  contained  the  reply  ;  and  as 
the  Address  which  he  transmitted  by  return  of  post,  adverts  to  a  class 
of  objections  which  continue  to  be  urged  to  the  prejudice  of  the  So- 
ciety, he  trusts  he  shall  be  excused  for  inserting  it  at  length. 


To  the  Right  Rev.  the  Lord  Bishop  of  Gloucester. 

"  My  Lord,  Aug.  ^^,lS^2. 

"  I  trust  I  shall  not  be  considered  as  taking  too  great  a  liberty,  in 
offering  a  few  remarks  on  your  Lordship's  reply  to  the  request  of  a 
deputation,  inviting  your  Lordship  to  become  a  Vice  President  of  a 
Gloucestershire  Auxiliary  Bible  Society. 

"  The  ground  of  your  Lordship's  declining  a  compliance  with  that 
request,  is  stated  to  be  '  the  claims  which  the  Societies  for  Promoting 
Christian  Knowledge,  and  Propagating  the  Gospel,  have  upon  the 
Clergy  of  the  Establishment,  for  all  the  pecuniary  and  mental  exer- 
tions which  can  possibly  be  contributed  by  them,  in  support  of  those 
ancient  and  chartered  Societies.' 

"  Your  Lordship  has  an  unquestionable  right,  and  so  have  the 
Clergy  of  the  established  Church,  to  contribute  their  pecuniary  aid 
and  mental  exertion,  in  whole  or  in  part,  to  such  Institutions  as  may 
appear  to  your  Lordship,  and  that  body,  to  deserve  such  sacrifices  ; 
but  1  cannot  believe,  that  your  Lordship  would  wish  to  be  understood 
as  prescribing  to  yourself,  or  recommending  to  your  Clergy,  to  ab- 
sorb all  their  zeal,  and  sink  all  their  charitable  money,  in  the  cause 
of  those  two  Societies.  Your  Lordship  and  your  Clergy  are  mem- 
bers of  so  many  other  charitable  bodies,  that  I  cannot  but  consider 
the  doctrine  contained  in  your  letter  as  requiring  limitation,  and  only 
importing,  that  neither  money  nor  activity  should  be  employed  in  pro- 
moting any  Institution  which  may  have  an  injurious  operation  on  the 
interests  of  those  venerable  and  chartered  Societies.  To  this  doc- 
trine the  patrons,  supporters,  and  advocates  of  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society,  most  cordially  subscribe  ;  and  by  the  practical 
application  of  it  they  are  willing  that  the  claims  of  their  Institution 
on  your  Lordshi|)'s  countenance,  and  that  of  the  Clergy  of  the  Esta- 
blishment, should  be  tried. 

"  There  can,  my  Lord,  be  nothing  hostile  to  the  chartered  So- 
cieties, in  the  jn-inciple  of  the  Institution  which  I  am  defending  ;  for  it 
distributes  not  a  rival  Bible  to  theirs— it  gives  precisely  the  same,  and 
gives  it  on  a  scale,  and  to  an  extent,  which  no  funds  or  instruments  with- 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  419 

in  the  possibility  of  their  attainment,  from  the  limited  nature  of  their 
constitution,  could  ever  effect. 

"  I  go  a  step  farther,  my  Lord :  I  affirm,  that  the  principle  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  is  friendly  and  auxiliary  to  those 
chartered  Institutions.  It  relieves  the  funds  of  those  venerable  So- 
cieties from  the  article  of  heaviest  expenditure — Bibles  ;  and  thereby 
facihtates  their  peculiar  and  characteristic  operations,  in  supporting 
schools,  maintaining  missionaries,  and  diffusing  Books  of  Common 
Prayer,  Companions  to  the  Altar,  Catechisms,  and  such  publications 
as  relate  to  the  doctrine  and  discipline  of  the  Established  Church. 

"  In  this  manner,  my  Lord,  the  Institution  which  I  am  defending, 
was  considered  by  the  Prelates  who  originally  patronized,  and  by  those 
who  continue  to  patronize  it.  Those  Prelates,  like  your  Lordship, 
Tvcre  zealously  attached  to  the  chartered  Societies  in  connexion  %vith 
the  Established  Church :  and  their  names  and  known  services  in  the 
cause  of  tnose  Societies  lend  no  small  confirmation  to  the  positions 
which  I  have  advanced.  It  will  not  easily  be  credited,  that  an  Insti- 
tution can  be  prejudicial  to  the  chartered  Societies,  or  the  Established 
Church,  which  (not  to  mention  others)  numbers  a  Porteus,  a  Bar- 
rington,  and  a  Burgess,  among  its  Mitred  Patroos  and  invariable 
friends. 

"  And  what,  my  Lord,  has  been  the  fact  ?  What  testimony  does  the 
experience  of  eight  years  avouch,  in  the  question  of  hostility  or  rivalry 
between  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  and  the  chartered  So- 
cieties ?  That  the  latter  have  abimdantly  prospered.  It  was  natural  that 
this  result  should  follow,  from  the  principles  which  I  have  already 
laid  down  ;  but  it  is  most  material  to  remark,  that  it  has  followed  ;  and 
your  Lordship  needs  not,  I  am  sure,  be  told,  to  how  serious  a  bulk 
the  exertions  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  have  contri- 
buted to  swell  the  Annual  Reports  of  those  chartered  Societies,  by 
augmenting  the  list  of  their  subscribers.  The  very  zeal  which  is  mani- 
fested in  the  advertisement  of  this  week  corroborates  the  argument  I 
am  pressing  ;  and  should  a  Diocesan  Committee  be  established  at  Glou- 
cester, (which  I  trust  will  be  the  case,)  it  will  not  be  easy  to  deprive 
the  friends  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  in  that  place  and 
vicinity,  of  tlie  merit  of  having  materially  contributed  to  its  establish- 
ment. 

"  But,  my  Lord,  when  this  Diocesan  Committee,  and  all  the  Dio- 
cesan Committees  throughout  England  and  Wales,  shall  have  been 
established,  will  the  aggregate  of  them  all  be  competent  to  their  own 
work,  and  that  which  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  professes 


420  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITI:?^!  [PART  lU. 

to  undertake  ?  Your  Lordship  says,  and  says  truly,  that  these  char- 
tered Societies  have  '  already  diffused  great  spiritual  advantages,  not 
only  in  this  kingdom,  but  also  in  every  quarter  of  the  globe  ;'  but  your 
Lordship  will,  I  am  sure,  agree  with  me,  that  if  much  religious  good 
has  already  been  done  both  at  home  and  abroad,  much,  very  much, 
remains  yet  to  be  done ;  more,  I  fear,  than  all  the  Societies  now  in 
existence  will  be  able  to  accomplish  for  many  years  to  come.  If 
we  could  overlook  the  want  of  the  Scriptures  in  Britain,  (which  is 
now  ascertained  to  be  great  beyond  previous  conception,)  we  could 
not  forget  the  want  of  them  in  Ireland,  and  the  importance  of  meeting 
it  with  an  adequate  and  immediate  supply.  Nor  could  we,  I  think, 
forget,  without  something  very  hke  a  sinful  omission,  the  claims 
which  come  upon  us  from  the  prodigious  population  in  our  numerous 
and  extended  possessions  abroad.  Our  empire  in  the  East  would 
swallow  up  very  large  resources  ;  and  if  the  isles  of  Java,  of  Bourbon, 
and  of  France,  which  are  now  asking  for  the  Scriptures,  were  dis- 
carded, we  could  not,  I  think,  remain  insensible  to  the  appeal  which 
has  lately  been  made,  with  the  countenance  of  the  Government  in 
Bengal,  in  behalf  of  nearly  amiUion  native  Christians,  throughout  the 
Peninsula  and  Ceylon,  who  are  in  want  of  a  Bible.  I  forbear  enu- 
merating the  interesting  claims  brought  upon  us,  in  these  times  of  dis- 
traction and  impoverishment,  by  prisoners  of  war,  by  needy  alhes, 
and  by  nations  soliciting  a  supply  of  the  Scriptures  in  their  respective 
languages  from  our  gratuitous  kindness.  The  documents  in  our  An- 
nual Reports  exhibit  these  claims  in  so  distinct  and  affecting  a  manner, 
that  I  anticipate  from  your  Lordship's  perusal  the  fullest  conviction 
both  of  their  justice  and  their  force. 

"  And  now,  my  Lord,  I  would  take  the  liberty  to  ask,  with  all  hu- 
mility, but  at  the  same  time  with  becoming  explicitnoss,  whether  your 
Lordship  is  willing  that  the  progress  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society  should  be  stayed,  and  the  arduous  and  indefinite  labours  of 
that  Institution,  in  diffusing  the  records'of  eternal  life  throughout  our 
own  and  every  other  land,  should  be  devolved  on  the  two  chartered 
Societies,  about  which  your  Lordship  is  so  laudably  zealous  ?  If  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  be  not  liberally  supported,  (and 
this  can  be  elTectually  done  only  by  the  establishment  of  heal  Soci- 
eties,) then  one  of  these  consequences  must  inevitably  follow  :  cither 
the  chartered  Societies  must  charge  themselves  with  the  duty  of  uni- 
versallv  difTusiug  the  Scriptures  ;  or  tlie  expectations  of  millions  must 
be  di'^appointcd,  and  their  spiritual  wants  remain  unsupplicd.  Your 
Lordsliip  must.  I  think,  bo  sonsible,  that  \.\\o  Jnrmrr  of  these  alterna- 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  ^21 

tives  can  never  be  expected  to  take  place  ;  and  you  are,  I  am  sure, 
among  the  last  persons  in  the  kingdom  who  would  wish  to  bring  about 
the  latter. 

"  I  cannot,  my  Lord,  conclude  this  letter,  written  hastily,  but  not 
inconsiderately,  without  renewing  my  apology  to  your  Lordship  for 
the  liberty  which  I  have  taken.  I  feel  tenderly  for  the  honour  of  the 
Church  over  which  your  Lordship  presides  :  I  consider  it  both  enti- 
tled and  required  to  take  the  lead  in  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety;  and  I  cannot  but  hope,  that,  upon  reviewing  the  merits  of  the 
Institution,  your  Lordship  will  decide  in  its  favour ;  and  add  to  the 
number  of  its  Episcopal  Patrons  a  name,  which,  from  its  aUiancewith 
learning,  moderation,  and  piety,  is  deservedly  dear  to  the  members 
of  the  Established  Church,  and  to  good  men  of  every  denomination. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be, 
My  Lord, 
Your  Lordship's  very  faithlul  Servant, 
Jl  Clerical  Member  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society.''^ 

The  formation  of  the  Chester  Society  was  rendered  memorable  by 
the  appearance  and  exertions  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gisborne,  attending  by 
request  as  the  author's  representative  from  the  Parent  Society,  and 
who  advocated  the  cause,  with  great  effect,  in  an  argumentative  and 
eloquent  address.  Adverting  to  the  objection  advanced  against  the 
Institution  from  the  existence  of  similar  Societies,  Mr.  Gisborne  has 
these  just  and  forcible  remarks. 

"  Of  the  Society  for  Propagating  the  Gospel,  of  the  Society  for 
Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  of  the  Naval  and  Military  Bible  So- 
ciety, of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Societj'— of  these,  and  all 
other  Institutions,  formed  in  Great  Britain  or  in  other  countries,  for 
the  diffusion  of  the  Scriptures,  I  would  say.  The  world  is  too  wide 
for  them  all.  When  years  and  generations  shall  have  passed  away, 
however  diligently  each  of  these  Societies  shall  have  laboured,  it 
would  still  see  the  limits  of  the  district  on  which  it  had  been  exerting 
itself,  enlarging  before  its  eyes,  or  would  discover  portions  within 
that  district  yet  uncultivated,  and  would  rejoice  in  the  accession  of 
every  new  labourer  to -the  boundless  field.  I  lament  to  perceive, 
that  by  many  persons  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  has  been 
represented  as  opposed  to  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Know- 
ledge ;  I  am  concerned,  and  I  may  be  allowed  to  say,  that,  wlien  full 
information  respecting  the  Bible  Society  is  universally  attainable,  I 
am  not  only  concerned,  but  ashamed,  to  hear  argumentation,  and  to 
55 


422  HISTOKY  OF  THE  BRITISH  (fART  III. 

read  title-pages,  professing  to  assign  reasons  for  giving  the  preference 
to  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  over  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  Preference  !  Before  we  are  told  of  pre- 
ference, before  we  are  directed  to  inquire  into  questions  of  prefer- 
ence, let  it  be  made  out  that  there  is  incompatibility — let  it  be  made 
out  that  there  is  contrariety — let  it  be  made  out  that  there  is  compe- 
tition." 

"  In  fact,"  (adds  Mr.  Gisborne)  "  the  Societies  for  Propagating  the 
Gospel,  and  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society,  and  all  other  Associations,  in  whatever  land,  for 
spreading  the  Holy  Scriptures,  ought  to  regard  themselves  as  parallel 
columns  of  a  combined  army,  marching  onward,  side  by  side,  for  the 
subjugation  of  a  common  foe  :  each  of  them  prepared  and  watchful 
to  render  assistance  to  the  other  columns,  but  never  interfering  with 
their  progress,  uever  interrupting  their  exertions.  Each  of  these 
columus  may  be  distinguished  by  standards  somewhat  different  from 
those  of  the  rest — each  of  them  may  discriminate  itself  by  some  pe- 
culiarities in  tlie  form  or  colour  of  its  regimentals — each  of  them  may 
wield  w  eapons  in  some  degree  exclusively  its  own ;  but  they  are  all 
united  in  a  general  cause;  and  to  each  of  the  individual  columns  that 
man  would  be  the  most  pernicious  counsellor — to  the  general  cause 
that  man  would  be  the  most  dangerous  adversary,  who  should  per- 
suade one  of  the  columns  jealously  to  turn  the  line  of  its  direction  ob- 
liquely, to  cross  upon  the  course,  and  thwart  the  operations  of  its 
neighbour." 

For  the  insertion  of  the  following  passages — in  which  the  duty  of 
the  members  of  the  Established  Church  is  so  forrihiy  ilpscribed,  and 
so  happy  a  reference  is  made  to  the  luemory  of  the  late  venerable 
Porteus,  successively  Bishop  of  Chester  and  London — no  apology  will 
be  needed. 

"  When  fresh  inquiries  into  the  condition  of  our  poor,  with  respect 
to  the  possession  of  the  Scriptures,  are  constantly  bringing  to  light 
additional  proofs  of  the  extent  of  the  deficiency  ;  when  the  rapidly 
increasing  population  of  the  kingdom,  as  evinced  by  the  parliamen- 
tary investigations,  sends  forth  new  multitudes  in  need  of  supply ; 
when  the  miseries  of  war  on  the  Continent  render  the  Bible  more 
difficult  to  be  there  procured,  more  requisite  ibr  instruction  and  for 
consolation,  more  desirable,  more  likely  to  be  efficacious  ;  wlien  the 
very  signs  and  circumstances  of  the  times  render  every  effi)rt,  which, 
under  the  grace  of  God,  we  can  make  for  the  salvation  of  our  fellow- 
creatures,  more  powcffully  impressive,  more  adapted,  humanly  speak- 
ing, to  be  successful — shall  not  we  rouse  ourselves  ?     Shall  not  we 


CHAP.  I.]  ANB  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIBTV.  423 

listen  to  calls  of  duty,  thus  enforced  by  far  more  than  ordinary  con- 
siderations and  incitements  ?     And  shall  those  among  us  who  are 
members  of  the  Church  of  England,  be  told,  that  if  in  this  sacred 
undertaking  they  give  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  to  Christians  of 
every  other  denomination,  they  are  enemies  to  the  Establishment  ? 
Shall  we  be  told,  that  by  co-operating  with  those,  who,  as  to  some 
points,  differ  from  us,  in  circulating  the  Scriptures,  in  spreading  that 
volume  on  which  the  foundations  of  the  Church  of  England  rest,  we 
are  injuring  her  foundations  ?     Shall  we  be  told  that  the  weakest  of 
her  batteries  is  shaken,  that  the  slightest  of  her  ornaments,  or  the 
most  slender  of  her  pinnacles,  trembles  ?     When  nineteen  of  the 
Bishops  and  Archbishops  of  England  and  Ireland,  (I  believe  from  re^ 
cent  information  that  I  might  add  to  the  number,  but  I  am  desirous  of 
keeping  strictly  within  the  line  of  certain  truth,)  when  nineteen  of 
these  Prelates  have  stood  prominent  as  friends,  as  members,  or  as 
leaders,  of  the  Bible  Society  :  shall  such  an  accusation  be  advanced  ? 
— There  was  a  Prelate,  now  removed  from  earth  and  its  concerns  ;  a 
Prelate,  on  whose  friendly  kindness  to  myself  I  may  be  permitted  to 
reflect,  with  grateful  satisfaction ;  a  Prelate,  whose  figure  and  coun- 
tenance are  yet  present  to  the  recollection  of  many  among  those 
whom  I  am  addressing ;  a  Prelate,  whose  Christian  virtues  are  re- 
membered with  veneration  by  all — there  was  a  Prelate,  whose  very 
name  might  be  in  this  place  sufficient  to  repel  the  charge.     That 
Prelate  had  cherished  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  from  its 
birth  :  he  had  watched  over  its  growing  youth  ;  he  had  rejoiced  in  its 
rising  manhood. — Living,  he  had  patronized  that  Society  with  his 
countenance  and  his  bounty — dying,  he  did  not  forget  it.     That  Pre- 
late has  now  experienced  how  blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the 
Lord.     He  rests  from  his  labours  ;  and  his  works  have  followed  him ; 
and  among  those  works,  his  good  deeds  on  behalf  of  the  Bible  So- 
ciety have  their  place.     That  sun  is  set ;  but  this  horizon  long  may 
glow  with  its  reflected  beams.     The  brightness  of  that  Prelate's  ex- 
ample irradiates  the  path  of  the  Bible  Society  over  lands  from  which 
he  is  taken  away  ;  and  shines  to  lead  other  Bishops  of  Chester,  and 
other  Bishops  of  London,  to  be — what  once  was  Bishop  Porteus." 
A  second  class  of  Societies  specified,  were  those  which  were  esta- 
blished for  a  limited  district.     Of  these,  some  were  included  within 
the  counties  already  named,  but  altogether  independent  of  the  County 
Societies.     Such  were  the  following ;  viz.  the  Congleton,  Stockport, 
Bourton,  Stroud,  Cinque  Ports,  Canterbury,  Chard,  Frome,  Pether- 
ton,  Wellington,  Camberwell,  Clapham,  Dorking,  and  Kingston  Soci- 
eties.    The  other  counHos  which  gave  birth  to  District  Societies. 


424  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  IPxVRT  III. 

were  Cornwall,  Devonshire,  Durham,  Essex,  Hampshire,  Middlesex, 
Northumberland,  Oxfordshire,  Warwickshire,  AVorcestershirc,  and 
Yorkshire;  and  the  districts  which  they  occupied,  were  respectively 
as  follows  :  Launrcston  and  East  Cornwall,  Biddeford,  Kingsbridge, 
Tavistock,  Durham,  Stockton,  Portsmouth,  Hackney,  and  Newington, 
Edmonton  and  North-East  Middlesex,  Woodford,  and  South-West 
Essex,  Noith  Shields,  Tindale  Ward,  Herdey  on  Thames,  West 
Bromvvich  and  Wedncsbury,  Stourbridge,  Beverley,  Doncaster,  and 
Pontefract ;  to  which  must  be  added,  those  of  the  independent  isles 
of  Guernsey  and  Man. 

The  formation  of  these  Societies,  though  instituted  for  districts  of 
a  limited  range,  and  for  the  most  part  in  counties  already  incorporated 
in  Auxiliary  Establishments,  added  much,  both  to  the  patronage  and 
the  funds  of  the  General  Association.  The  Earl  of  Liverpool,  as 
Lord  Warden  of  the  Cinque  Ports,  accepted  the  oflice  of  Patron  of 
the  Auxiliary  Society  established  at  Dover  for  that  section  of  the 
Kentish  coast ;  and,  although  his  Lordship  was  prevented,  by  public 
business,  from  fulfilling  his  engagement  to  preside  at  the  Meeting  in 
which  it  was  formed,  the  declaration  of  his  sentiments  was  too  strong 
and  explicit  to  leave  any  doubt  of  his  friendship  to  the  cause.  "  The 
Society"  (said  his  Lordship,  in  his  reply  to  the  Mayor  of  Dover) 
•'has  my  best  wishes,  and  will  ever  receive  my  warmest  [support." 
Such  a  declaration  is  particularly  valuable,  as  comiug  from  the  Prime 
Minister  of  the  country ;  and  it  deserves  to  be  stated,  that  his  Lord- 
ship's conduct,  not  only  at  Dover,  but  also  at  Maidstone,  and  at  West- 
minster, where  Societies  were  established,  was  strictly  conformable 
to  the  spirit  of  that  friendly  declaration.*     Other  names  of  high  dis- 

•  The  following  account  of  Lord  Liverpool's  conduct  in  presiding  at  the  Second 
Anniversary  of  the  Cinque  Ports  Society  on  the  5tlj  of  Dcceinher,  1815,  lends  such 
confirmation  to  what  is  stated  iu  the  text,  that  no  apology  will  be  required  for  au- 
ticipating  it : 

"On  taking  the  chair,  the  IN'oblc  Earl  a-lverted  to  the  elevated  rank  to  which, 
under  the  superintendence  of  Divine  Pro»idcnce,  this  nation  had  been  raised  in 
thcesimationof  Europe,  and  which  rendered  it  of  the  highest  importance  that  wc 
should  vindicate  our  right  to  this  elevation,  by  showing  that  Britain,  great  as  she 
confessedly  was  in  arts  and  arms,  was  no  less  justly  entitled  by  her  high  tone  of 
moral  fei  ling  to  the  same  {ire-eininunce  in  this  respect,  which  she  had  so  happily 
attained  in  every  otlxr.  It  became,  under  those  circumstances  of  gratifying  dis- 
tinction, our  paramount  duty  to  labour  to  extend  the  benign  inducnce  of  Christi- 
anity, the  knowledge  of  pure  and  undefiled  religion,  even  to  the  utmost  bounds  of 
the  earth.  His  Lordship  remarked,  that  the  foundation  of  this  Society  had  bcca 
laid  at  a  period  when  wc  ourselves  were  suti'ering  I'rom  tJie  pressure  of  national 
diflicnlty  and  distress,  and  when  all  around  us,  the  very  bonds  of  civilized  society, 
were  nearly  burst  asunder.    Surely  then  it  became  us,  now  that  through  the  Di- 


CHAP.  I]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  ^25 

tinction  might  be  mentioned,  as  having  become  allied  with  the  Biilish 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  through  the  medium  of  these  District 
Auxiliaries. 

The  funds  derived  from  them,  were  also,  as  it  has  been  intimated, 
very  considerable.  The  scale  of  contribution  varied  according  to 
the  wealth  and  population,  and,  still  more,  the  zeal,  of  the  district  in 
which  it  was  raised.  Among  the  examples  of  a  productive  subscrip- 
tion, it  may  be  permitted,  without  disparagement  to  the  other  Socie- 
ties, to  mention,  that  the  Henley  Society  returned  450/.  the  South 
West  Essex  600/.  the  North  East  Middlesex  750/.  and  the  Clapham 
1200/. 

Much  might  be  extracted  from  the  proceedings  in  the  formation  of 
these  District  Societies,  both  to  enrich  these  pages,  and  to  gratify  the 

tine  blessing  prosperity  was  smiling  on  us  with  her  choicest  favours,  not  to  relax 
our  exertions,  but  with  increased  ardour  to  pursue  our  beneficent  course,  firmly  re- 
solved, whether  in  prosperity  or  adversity,  to  persevere  in  our  eflTorls,  until  the 
whole  world  should  be  illumined  with  the  light  of  Divine  Revelation. 

"  On  receiving  the  thanks  of  the  meeting,  his  Lordship  entered  more  particularly 
into  the  nature  and  merits  of  the  Institution.  As  a  member  of  the  Established 
Church,  from  education  and  habit,  but  much  more  from  consideration  and  convic- 
tion, he  was  particularly  desirous  of  promoting  its  interests  to  the  utmost  of  his 
ability.  Under  this  impression,  he  had  recently  appeared,  on  a  public  occasion, 
as  a  supporter  of  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge :  and  he  was 
anxious  to  extend  the  influence  and  resources  of  that  Institution.  But  he  saw  no 
reason  whatever,  why  he  should  not  at  the  same  time  afibrd  to  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society  every  assistance  in  hie  power,  and  why  he  should  not  evince 
an  equal  anxiety  to  promote  its  success.  The  objects  of  the  two  Societies  were 
OJie ;  both  dispersed  the  pure  and  uncorrupted  word  of  God.  This  being  the  case, 
he  should  always  consider  it  an  honour  to  aid  these  and  all  other  Societies  which 
had  the  same  object  in  view,  and  were  labouring  to  effect  the  same  benevolent  end 
— the  dissemination  of  Christianity  throughout  the  habitable  globe.  lie  was  a 
friend  to  the  Bible  Society,  because  it  could  operate  in  situations  where,  from  local 
circumstances,  or  the  prevalence  of  different  religious  sentiments,  the  Society  for 
Promoting  Christian  Knowledge  would  not  obtain  admission.  The  universality  of 
the  single  and  exclusive  object  proposed  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Societv, 
and  its  consequent  tendency  to  unite  all  Christians  (however  divided  on  subjects  of 
minor  concern)  in  the  bonds  of  Christian  sympathy  and  benevolence,  gave  it,  iu 
his  Lordship's  mind,  a  powerful  claim  to  universal  support.  He  concluded  a  speech 
of  great  energy,  liberality,  and  decision,  by  stating,  that,  in  having  accepted  the 
office  of  President  of  this  Society,  he  had  considered  himself  as  only  performing 
an  act  of  duty ;  and  if  his  influence  should  have  the  happy  effect  of  benefiting  the 
Society,  one  great  cud  which  he  had  in  view  in  joining  it  was  fully  answered  ;  and 
as  to  the  future,  he  pi  .^jjcd  himself  to  continue  the  steady  and  zealous  friend  and 
supporter  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  as  long  as  he  lived."  It  de- 
serves to  be  added,  that,  on  quitting  the  chair,  his  Lordship  presented  the  Society 
with  a  second  donation  of  bOl 


426  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  Hi. 

reader ;  but  our  limits  will  not  allow  this  indulgence.  It  would,  how- 
ever, be  improper  to  omit  stating,  in  how  able  a  manner  the  cause 
was  pleaded,  at  the  establishment  of  the  Clapham  Society,  by  Zachary 
Macaulay,  and  Charles  Grant,  Jun.  Esqrs.  Their  speeches  exhibited 
respectively  the  powers  of  dispassionate  argumentation  and  splendid 
eloquence  ;  and  they  were  among  those  of  the  detached  publications 
which  have  been  circulated  to  the  greatest  extent,  and  with  the  best 
effect. 

Of  the  services  rendered  to  the  general  cause  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society  by  Mr.  Macaulay,  the  author  feels  a  disposi- 
tion to  say,  what  a  respect  for  personal  delicacy  will  not  allow  him 
fully  to  express.  It  was  the  author's  happiness  to  introduce  that 
gentleman  to  a  place  in  the  first  Committee  ;  and  to  those  who  are 
acquainted  with  the  soundness  of  his  judgment,  the  equanimity  of  his 
temper,  and  the  steady  warmth  of  bis  piety  and  benevolence,  it  will 
be  unnecessary  to  observe,  how  much  the  affairs  of  the  Society  have 
profited  by  his  useful  advice  and  his  active  co-operation.  Of  the  late 
Rev.  John  Venn,  the  truly  pastoral  Rector  of  Clapham,  it  may  be 
allowed  to  speak  with  less  reserve.  But  in  fact  the  Clapham  Auxili- 
ary Bible  Society,  as  raised  principally  by  his  exertions,  is  itself  one 
of  those  monuments  which  will  perpetuate  his  memory.  The  closing 
words  of  his  introductory  address,  as  equally  honourable  to  the  cha- 
racter of  the  Society,  and  to  his  own  religious  feehngs,  must  not  be 
suppressed. 

"  There  are  many  excellent  charitable  Societies  in  this  kingdom ; 
they  are  its  honour  and  glory  ;  but  among  them  I  know  not  one  more 
pure  in  its  design  than  this.  For  what  is  its  design,  but  that  of  com- 
municating to  all  men  the  words  of  the  blessed  God  ?  I  know  none 
more  simple  in  its  principle  :  it  is  like  all  the  great  principles  in  na- 
ture, which  are  remarkable  for  their  simplicity,  and  on  that  very 
account  produce  such  great  effect|u  I  know  none  which  tends  so 
directly  to  the  happiness  of  mankina,  as  this.  By  every  obligation, 
therefore,  of  benevolence  to  man  and  regard  to  God,  we  are  bound 
to  circulate  the  Holy  Scriptures  among  our  fellow-creatures." 

It  remains  to  notice  the  Auxiliary  Societies  of  London  and  South- 
wark,  which,  from  their  peculiarity  and  importance,  may  require  to 
be  treated  of  as  constituting  a  separate  class,  distinct  from  either  the 
County  or  District  Societies  already  described. 

The  Southwark  Society  was  formed  on  the  3d  of  June,  1C12,  under 
the  Presidency  of  the  Earl  of  Rothes,  who  delivered  bis  sentiments 
on  the  general  subject,  from  the  chair,  with  much  clearness,  liberal- 
ity, and  decision.     Earl  Spencer,  a  Vice  President  of  the  Northamp- 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  427 

tonshire  Society,  consented  to  accept  a  similar  office  in  that  for  the 
Borough  of  Southwark;  and  took  an  opportunity,  in  a  letter  of 
apology  to  the  President,  for  not  attending  the  Meeting,  to  express 
his  opinion  of  the  measure,  in  language  which  could  not  be  mis- 
understood. 

"  Assure  the  Committee,"  (writes  the  Noble  Earl,)  "  that  I  shall 
be  very  glad,  as  V^ice  President  of  the  proposed  Society,  to  give 
your  Lordship,  and  the  rest  of  the  members,  the  best  assistance  in 
my  power,  in  furtherance  of  an  object  so  truly  congenial  to  the  genu- 
ine principles  of  Christianity,  and  likely  to  prove  so  highly  beneficial 
to  the  best  interests  of  all  classes  of  Society." 

Among  the  steps  preparatory  to  the  establishment  of  this  Society, 
was  on  inquiry  into  the  local  circumstances  of  the  poor  as  to  the 
want  of  the  Scriptures  among  them ;  and  the  following  result  of 
a  partial  and  indiscriminate  examination  was  given  as  a  fair  criterion 
of  the  state  of  the  district,  containing  a  population  of  nearly  130,000 
souls. 

"  In  925  families,  comprising  4,508  individuals,  2,745  can  read, 
and  only  395  have  Bibles  and  Testaments.  Of  the  530  families  who 
are  thus  destitute  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  more  than  400  expressed  a 
strong  desire  to  possess  them  ;  many  of  whom  professed  a  willingness 
to  pay  for  them,  so  far  as  their  very  limited  means  would  admit :  14 
of  those  families  have  never  seen  a  Bible  ;  and  about  60  are  Roman 
Catholics,  a  large  proportion  of  whom  are  extremely  desirous  of 
copies." 

On  the  basis  furnished  by  this  and  corresponding  representations, 
the  proposed  Institution  was  accordingly  formed.  So  sanguine  were 
its  Committee  in  their  prospects,  that  they  ventured  to  assert,  in  their 
Address  at  its  formation,  that  though  not  the  first  in  point  of  time,  it 
would  be  second  to  none  in  diligence,  ardour,  and  generositv."  A 
return  of  2,832/.  19x.  2d.  within  the  year,  followed  up,  as  it  has 
been,  by  a  progressive  increase  both  of  activity  and  contribution, 
compels  us  to  admit  that  the  assertion  has  been  justified,  and  the 
pledge  redeemed. 

Scarcely  had  the  Southwark  Auxiliary  Society  been  established, 
when  measures  were  taken  to  effect  a  similar  Institution  for  the  city 
of  London.  For  a  considerable  time  past,  some  friends  of  the  cause 
had  united  their  counsels,  with  a  view  to  produce  such  a  distribution 
of  the  metropolis,  as  might  lead  to  the  establishment  of  a  system  of 
productive  and  efficient  Auxiliary  Societies  within  its  precincts  and 
immediate  vicinity.  Among  those  who  took  the  lead  in  these  pro- 
visionary  dehberations,  were,  the  Rev.  Josiah  Pratt,  Richard  PhilUps. 


428  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  111. 

Benjamin  Neale,  and  Gurney  Barclay,  Esqrs.  together  vviih  Major 
(now  Colonel)  Handtield,  and  Captain  (now  Major)  Close.  The  re- 
?ult  of  their  labours,  in  which  they  were  assisted  with  advice  and 
co-operation  from  various  quarters,  was,  a  determination  to  insulate 
the  city  of  London,  and  to  divide  the  remaining  territory  in  such  a 
manner  as  a  consideration  of  local  circumstances  should  appear  to 
recommend. 

In  consequence  of  this  decision,  no  time  was  lost  in  maturing  the 
preparatory  arrangements  for  carrying  the  first  part  of  the  design 
into  execution.  These  having  been  completed,  the  City  of  London 
AuxiUary  Bible  Society  was  regularly  formed,  on  the  6th  of  August, 
1812,  at  a  public  Meeting  in  the  Egyptian  Hall  of  the  Mansion  House, 
the  Right  Hon.  the  Lord  Mayor  (Sir  Claudius  Stephen  Hunter, 
Bart.)  in  the  Chair :  and  it  was  enacted  by  the  regulations  thea 
passed,  that  the  Lord  Mayor  for  the  time  being  should  be  considered 
the  President  of  the  Institution. 

The  proceedings  of  this  Meeting  were  of  too  important  a  cha- 
racter to  be  dismissed  with  a  merely  transitory  notice.  The  follow- 
ing extracts  from  some  of  the  speeches  will  enable  the  reader  to 
form  a  judgment  of  the  interest  which  this  memorable  occasion 
excited. 

The  Rev.  Dr.  Brunnmark,  Chaplain  to  the  Swedish  Embassy,  in 
describing  the  effect  of  British  charity,  as  it  was  felt  by  foreign  na- 
tions, adverted  to  an  occurrence,  demonstrative  of  this  feeling,  in  the 
Swedish  providence  of  Dalecarlia,  which  he  thus  simply  and  em- 
phatically related. 

"  After  Sweden  was  forced  to  make  peace  with  France,  and  declare 
against  England,  the  usual  war-prayer  continued  to  be  read  in  all  the 
churches.  The  Dalccarlians  asked,  who  were  the  enemies  of  the 
country  ?  and  when  they  were  told  that  the  English  were  meant  by 
that  name, — '  No,  no,'  exclaimed  they,  '  the  English  are  not  our  ene- 
mies ;  they  are  our  best  friends  ;  they  sent  us  corn  to  sow  our  land, 
when  in  our  distress  we  had  consumed  even  the  grain  intended  for 
seed  :  they  sent  us  medicine  for  our  sick  and  wounded  soldiers,  and 
woollen  blankets  for  our  hospitals : — and,  what  is  more  than  all,  they 
have  lalchj  sent  ns  the  Bible  !  P  The  Dalecarlians  thereupon  requested 
v)f  their  ministers  to  discontinue  the  war-prayer,  which  soon  after- 
wards was  permitted  to  be  done." 

"  This,*'  (adds  Dr.  Brunnmark)  "  is  one  instance  of  many,  how  this 
Society  endears  to  the  nations  abroad  the  British  name — liow  it 
gathers  blessings  from  all  quarters  on  the  inhabitants  of  this  highly- 
favoured  island  :  and  surely  ^t'.ch  a  Society  cannot  but  meet  with  your 


€HAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  429 

warmest  approbation,  and  most  cordial  support.  And  in  recommend- 
ing those  to  a  continuance  of  your  favour,  for  whom  I  have  ventured 
to  address  you  this  day,  permit  me  to  assure  you,  that  I  join  them 
when  they  bless  you,  that  I  join  them  when  they  pray  for  you,  and 
that  I  shall  also  join  thera  as  a  glad  witness  on  that  glorious  day  when 
they  shall  rise  in  myriads,  and  bear  testimony,  that  it  was  you  who 
taught  them  to  know  and  love  Him  who  on  that  day  shall  sit  on  His 
Throne,  to  confess  them  before  His  Fatheu,  who  have  confessed  Him 
before  the  world." 

The  speech  of  the  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  was  distinguished 
by  those  qualities  which  give  such  a  character  of  peculiar  excellence 
to  all  his  compositions.  His  allusion  to  the  earthquake  in  the  Carac- 
cas,  and  the  assassination  of  Mr.  Perceval,  both  which  had  then  re- 
cently occurred,  made  a  deep  impression  on  the  audience,  and  will 
always  be  read  with  interest  and  admiration. 

"  It  has  been  observed,"  (said  the  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,) 
*'  by  your  Lordship,  and  by  a  Gentleman  near  me,  (Mr.  Rowcroft,) 
as  matter  of  surpise,  that  such  an  establishment  as  that  now  intended, 
should  not  have  been  formed  before,  in  the  city  of  London.  It  may, 
indeed,  be  considered  as  a  proof  of  that  of  which  the  history  of  these 
times  affords  many  memorable  examples,  that  the  nmys  of  God  are  not 
as  our  ways,  or  his  thottghts  as  our  thoughts.  It  would,  to  our  judgment, 
have  seemed  probable  that  such  an  Institution  as  the  Bible  Society, 
so  admirably  calculated  to  diffuse  good  will  and  harmony  among  man- 
kind, would  have  arisen  in  a  period  of  general  tranquillity  ;  but  it 
appears  to  be  the  design  of  Providence,  that  the  thunder  of  univer- 
sal war  should  be  the  harbinger  of  the  still  small  voice  of  the  gospel 
of  peace.  We  live,  my  Lord,  in  times  in  which  both  the  natural  and 
political  world  are  convulsed  to  their  centres.  We  have  heard  within 
these  few  months  of  a  great  and  magnificent  city,  which  has  been 
shattered  into  ruins  by  a  tremendous  visitation,  and  we  know  not,  in 
the  mysterious  counsels  of  Providence,  what  may  be  our  fate.  But 
if  such  a  scene  of  affliction  and  terror  should  await  us  also,  if  these 
massive  pillars  should  give  way,  and  every  tower  around  us  should  be 
torn  up  from  its  base,  how  could  we  be  found,  under  such  awful  cir- 
cumstances, better  employed  than  in  considering  how  we  may  promote 
the  knowledge  of  the  Gospel,  and  advance  the  salvation  of  mankind  ? 
Although,  by  the  blessing  of  Providence,  and  from  causes  not  fully 
imderstood,  our  climate  has  been  hitherto  exempted,  and,  we  may 
hope,  will  continue  to  be  so,  from  these  physical  evils  by  which,  in 
less  happy  countries,  nature  is  subverted,  yet  there  ai-e  convulsions  of 
the  moi^il  world,  not  less  terrible  in  their  effects,  and  in  one  respect 


430  UISTOKY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III. 

even  more  dreadful  to  contemplate,  as  they  involve  not  only  siifftring, 
but  guilt.  We  have  lately  seen,  in  the  crimes  by  which  this  metro- 
polis has  been  polluted,  symptoms  of  a  most  awful  kind.  In  other 
parts  of  the  country,  we  have  heard,  upon  incontrovertible  evidence, 
what  nothing  short  of  incontrovertible  evidence  could  have  induced 
us  to  believe,  so  abhorrent  is  it,  not  only  to  all  our  moral  feelings, 
but  to  the  long-established  character  of  the  nation,  that  Societies 
have  been  formed,  bound  together  by  oaths  of  assassination. 

"  In  the  very  sanctuary  of  our  laws,  in  the  very  place  of  meeting 
of  our  Parliament,  we  have  seen  one  of  the  best  of  men,  and  most 
upright  of  ministers,  one  of  the  brightest  ornaments  of  our  Senate 
by  his  talents,  and  of  Society  by  his  virtues,  snatched  away  by  brutal 
violence — a  man  whom  we  are  this  day  peculiarly  bound  to  deplore, 
as  a  steady  friend  and  firm  supporter  of  the  Bible  Society,  and  as  a 
man  warmly  attached  to  the  religion  of  his  country,  and  living  under 
the  constant  influence  of  its  principles.  But  that  such  a  crime  should 
have  been  committed,  I  am  bound  especially  to  lament,  as  I  cannot 
but  remember,  with  impressions  of  unceasing  awe  and  regret,  that 
a  black  deed  of  assassination  has  been  the  means  of  placing  me  in 
a  situation  so  difficult  and  arduous,  that  the  peculiar  blessing  of 
Providence  can  alone  enable  me  successfully  to  fuhil  its  important 
duties." 

As  the  Provisional  Committee,  to  whose  zeal  and  labours  the  esta- 
blishment of  the  Society  is,  in  a  great  measure,  to  be  ascribed,  con- 
sisted chiefly  of  young  men,  this  circumstance,  so  honourable  to  the 
youthful  character,  and  which  had  appeared  to  such  advantage  on  a 
similar  occasion  in  the  University  of  Cambridge,  was  not  overlooked 
by  those  who  addressed  the  Meeting  in  the  Egj^ptian  Hall. 

Two  of  the  young  men,  to  whom  the  tribute  of  thanks  voted  to 
that  Provisional  Committee  applied,  Benjamin  Neale,  and  Gurney 
Barclay,  Esqrs.  added,  by  their  respective  addresses,  not  a  little  to 
the  interest  of  the  day.  The  former  demonstrated  the  ricccsiity  lor 
such  an  Institution  as  that  which  was  then  j>reparing,  for  the  city  of 
London,  by  a  pointed  reference  to  the  facts  which  had  come  under 
the  observation  of  himself  and  his  colleagues. 

"  It  might  really  have  been  thought,"  (said  Mr.  Neale,)  "  that  iii 
a  city  of  benevolence  like  this,  a  great  want  of  the  Scriptures  could 
iiot  have  existed.  Actual  investigation  has,  however,  proved  that  the 
contrary  is  the  fact;  and  after  an  investigation  of  above  150(1  fami- 
lies, the  Committee  find  that  more  than  half  have  neither  a  Bible  nor 
a  Testament.  And  this  has  not  been  an  inquiry  in  merely  one  part 
ef  the  city.     If  we  had  chosen  to  aet  iu  «o  disingenuous  a  manner, 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  431 

we  could  have  shown  you  a  district  where  more  than  three-fourths 
of  the  inhabitants  are  not  in  possession  of  the  Book  of  God.  But  we 
have  made  an  indiscriminate  search,  and  the  result  has  been,  that  we 
are  authorized  to  say,  that  more  than  half  the  poor  famiUes  in  the 
city  of  London  are  destitute  of  the  best  blessing  which  God  ever  be- 
stowed upon  man.  I  have  had  but  an  inconsiderable  share  in  this 
business,  when  compared  with  others.  One  among  tlie  Committee, 
a  woi'thy  friend  now  present,  visited  above  500  families  ;  but  among 
the  few  which  I  visited,  I  found  one  house  in  which  there  were  eight 
families,  comprising  above  fifty  individuals,  and  in  that  house  not  one 
Bible  was  to  be  found." 

Mr.  Barclay  described,  with  equal  ingenuity  and  feeling,  "  the  ad- 
vantages which  the  members  of  the  Society  themselves  would  derive, 
by  having  their  minds  more  frequently  and  seriously  directed  to  the 
truths  of  the  Holy  Scriptures."  "  And  here"  (said  Mr.  Barclay) 
"  I  must  be  allowed  to  point  out  to  your  notice  a  very  strildng  and 
distinguishing  feature  in  the  Bible  Society.  In  other  charities  we 
are  recompensed,  I  may  say,  amply  recompensed,  by  the  satisfiction 
of  doing  good,  by  the  pleasure  which  arises  from  administering  relief 
to  the  wants  of  others.  But  in  the  Bible  Society,  in  addition  to  all 
this,  the  benefits  we  are  conferring  upon  others  are  reflected  back 
upon  ourselves  ;  the  very  remedies  we  are  applying  to  the  diseases 
of  our  poorer  neighbours,  in  passing  through  our  hands,  administer 
to  our  own  welfare  and  advantage. — The  physician  heals  himself. 

"  In  the  course  of  the  inquiry  which  has  been  instituted  in  various 
parts  of  this  city,  among  the  poor,  some  have  been  found,  who, 
though  destitute  of  every  worldly  comfort,  yet  have  proved  them- 
selves to  be  rich  in  heavenly  knowledge.  And  if  that  inquiry  had 
been  extended  among  the  affluent,  there  would  doubtless  have  been 
found  some  instances,  where,  though  there  was  abundance  of  the 
things  of  this  world,  yet  there  was  a  lack  of  that  treasure  which  nei- 
ther moth  nor  rust  can  corrupt,  nor  thieves  break  throttgh  and  steal. 
Would  it  then  be  possible,  under  such  circumstances,  that  no  should 
be  actively  employed  in  investigating  and  relieving  the  nccessilios  of 
those  around  us,  and  at  the  same  time  be  insensible  to  our  own  weak 
and  destitute  condition  ?  We  could  not  assist  in  pouring  the  streams 
of  sacred  knowledge  over  our  neighbours'  barren  and  thirsty  soil, 
without  perceiving  that  our  own  land  equally  required  its  fertilizin" 
influence. 

"  In  this  metropolis  we  more  particularly  require  to  be  reminded 
of  these  important  truths.  It  is  called,  and  truly  called,  a  great,  a 
rich,  and  a  powerful  city ;  but  greatness,  and  riches,  and  power,  are 


432'  HISTORY  OF  lOE  BlUf ISH  [PART  III. 

dangerous  possessions.  In  the  countij,  surrounded  on  every  side  by 
the  wonderful  works  of  nature,  we  have  a  thousand  objects  to  remind 
us  of  the  great  Creator  of  the  universe.  But  here,  environed  on 
every  side  by  the  perishable  worksof  man,  enveloped  in  a  mist  which 
shuts  out  the  face  of  the  heavens,  and  through  whicli  even  the  great 
luminary  of  day  looks  '•  shorn  cf  his  beams,"  and  wrapped  up  i-n  the 
eager  pursuit  of  our  own  private  interests,  we  more  than  ever  stand 
in  need  of  being  reminded,  that  tee  are  but  men.'''' 

William  Allen,  Esq.  terminated  the  proceedings  of  the  day  ;  and  the 
few,  but  impressive  words  which  he  uttered,  derived  an  additional 
weight  from  the  consideration  of  their  coming  from  a  member  of  the 
Society  of  Friends,  and  a  man  of  distinguished  philanthropy  and  puWic 
usefulness. 

"  I  am  glad"  (said  Mr.  Allen)  "  of  the  opportunity  afforded  me  tO' 
stand  forward  thus  publicly  as  an  advocate  for  the  universal  diffusion 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  to  state,  that  this  cause  is  also  dear  to  the 
religious  Society  to  which  I  belong.  The  conduct  of  our  chief  Ma- 
gistrate, on  this  day,  will,  I  trust,  be  a  source  of  consolation  to  him 
whenever  he  reflects  upon  it  at  any  future  period  of  his  life.  And 
indeed,  while  I  see  the  Minister  of  England,  and  the  first  Magistrate 
of  its  metropolis,  thus  exerting  themselves  in  the  cause  of  religion,  I 
will  not  despair  of  my  country.  Henceforward  I  shall  value  my  pri- 
vileges as  a  citizen  of  London  more  highly  than  ever." 

The  City  of  London  Auxihary  Society  having  been  thus  successfully 
established,  active  preparations  were  now  made  for  covering  the 
ground  by  which  this  central  Society  was  nearly  surrounded,  with 
similar  auxiliary  Institutions.  On  the  20th  of  August,  1812,  the  plan, 
concerted  for  this  purpose,  was  issued  and  distributed.  It  contained 
an  arrangement  for  six  Societies  ;  viz.  the  Westminster,  the  North- 
West  London,  the  Bloomsbury  and  South  Pancras,  the  North  London 
and  Islington,  the  North-East  London,  and  the  East  London  ;  and  was 
accompanied  by  a  topographical  chart,  on  which  the  hmits  of  each  So- 
ciety were  accurately  delineated.  FroA'isionat  Conrmittees  had  been 
constituted  within  these  several  divisions  ;  and  at  the  3Ieeting  which 
definitively  settled  the  plan  for  distributing  the  nretropolLs  in  the  man- 
ner described,  an  aggregate  Committee,  consisting  of  the  Secretaries 
of  the  different  Provisional  Committees,  togetiier  with  Gurney  Barclay, 
Esq.  Major  Handlield,  the  Rev.  Josiah  Pratt,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Tarn, 
were  charged  with  the  duly  of  carrying  the  olijects  of  tlie  plan  into 
effect. 

On  the  15th  of  October,  1012,  the  East  London  Auxiliary  Society 
was  formed,  and  tlie  establishment  of  the  others  followed,  as  their 


CHAP.  1.1  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  433 

preparations  were  respectively  completed  ;  the  Westminster  on  the 
17th  of  December,  the  North  London  and  Islington  on  the  19th,  the 
Bloomsbury  and  South  Pancras,  on  the  25th  of  February,  the  North- 
East  on  the  16th,  and  the  North-West  on  the  18th  of  March,  1813. 

The  patronage  acquired  by  these  Establishments  comprehended  no 
inconsiderable  proportion  of  the  rank,  and  opulence,  and  talent,  which 
are  to  be  found,  either  occasionally  or  regularly,  within  the  precincts 
of  the  metropolis.  At  the  head  of  those  who  thus  became  connected 
with  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  must  be  placed  their 
Koyal  Highnesses  the  Dukes  of  York,  Kent,  Cumberland,  Sussex,  and 
Cambridge  ;  and  to  these  high  and  honourable  names  might  be  added  a 
numerous  list  of  Noblemen,  public  Functionaries,  and  Commoners  of 
the  first  distinction. 

The  proceedings  at  the  formation  of  these  sectional  Societies  were 
regulated,  as  neaiiy  as  might  be,  by  a  principle  of  uniformity ;  and, 
with  the  exception  of  the  difference  occasioned  by  the  rank  and  talent 
of  the  speakers  and  conductors,  and  by  certain  other  contingent  cir- 
cumstances, they  were  only  so  many  copies  of  one  approved  and  well- 
constructed  model. 

The  basis  of  the  proceedings  was,  in  every  case,  a  formal  and  ac- 
credited statement,  on  the  part  of  the  Provisional  Committee  of  the 
division,  representing  the  condition  of  the  poor  population  included 
within  it,  as  to  the  want  of  the  Holy  Scriptures.  This  statement,  the 
result  of  a  personal  and  systematic  investigatiion,  did  not  confine  itself 
to  a  general  report  on  the  object  for  Avhich  the  inquiry  was  instituted, 
but  discriminated  between  those  who  could,  and  those  who  could  not 
read,  in  order  to  show  how  many  were  competent  to  make  a  proper 
use  of  the  boon  intended  to  be  conferred.  To  this  it  may  be  added, 
that  the  course  of  the  investigation,  Avhich,  taking  the  entire  range  of 
London  and  Southwark  into  the  account,  extended  to  more  than 
17,000  families,  led  to  the  unexpected  and  painful  discovery,  that  half 
the  population  of  the  labouring  classes  in  the  metropolis  of  the  British 
empire,  were  destitute  of  the  Holy  Scriptores.*  The  pain  arising 
from  such  a  representation,  was,  however,  not  a  little  reHeved  by  the 
assurance,  (in  which  all  the  returns  concurred,)  that  a  strong  dispo- 
sition had  been  manifested  by  the  poor,  in  general,  to  become  pos- 

*  Some  of  the  cases  which  these  inquiries  brought  to  light,  exhibited  the  want  of 
the  Scriptures  as  prevailing  to  a  deplorable  extent.  Not  to  mention  others,  among- 
858  families,  containing:  3000  individuals,  in  one  part  of  the  Bloomsbury  divi- 
sion, only  ihiriy-cight  Bibles  icere  found.  How  advantageous,  both  to  the  indivi- 
duals and  the  commnnifj',  that  such  an  evil  should  have  been  disnovered,  in  order 
'hat  the  remedy  for  it  might  be  applied  ' 


43.4  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  II'ART  IH. 

sessed  of  the  sacvetl  treasure,  and  that  many  declared  themselves 
ready  to  make  no  ordinary  sacrifice  in  order  to  be  able  to  acquire  it. 

The  Earl  of  Moira,  Lord  Teignmoulh,  the  Chairman  of  the  Blid- 
dlesex  Quarter  Sessions,  C.  Grant,  Esq.  M.  P.  (as  representative  of 
the  Duke  of  Bedford,)  and  their  Royal  Highnesses  the  Dukes  of  Kent 
and  Sussex,  severally  presided  at  the  formation  of  the  six  Societies,  in 
the  order  in  which  they  have  been  named  ;  and  they  were  supported 
by  the  attendance  and  exertions  of  persons  high  in  station,  and  emi- 
nent in  ability,  who,  rising  above  their  political  differences,  evinced 
a  magnanimous  agreement  in  countenancing  and  advocating  a  cause 
to  which,  as  Christians,  they  professed  an  equal  attachment,  and  ac- 
knowledged a  common  obligation. 

The  union  of  men  in  the  support  and  recommendation  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  whose  political  sentiments  were  diametri- 
cally opposed  to  each  other,  had,  by  the  frequency  of  its  occurrence, 
become,  in  a  manner,  familiar  to  the  friends  of  the  Institution.  But 
every  former  triumph  of  this  description  was  lost  in  the  splendour  of 
that  which  was  exhibited  at  the  Westminster  Meeting,  when  Lord 
Castlereagh  and  the  late  Samuel  Whitbread,  Esq.  were  seen  person- 
ally united  in  recommending  the  formation  of  the  Westminster  Aux- 
iliary Bible  Society,  and  respectively  moving  and  seconding  the  reso- 
lutions by  which  it  was  to  be  established. 

The  following  brief  extracts  from  each  of  their  speeches  on  that 
occasion,  will  show  how  completely  they  harmonized  in  approving  the 
principles  upon  which  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  all 
its  Auxiliaries,  are  founded. 

"  I  trust"  (said  Lord  Castlereagh)  "  that  I  feel  as  strongly  attached 
as  any  man  to  the  particular  merits  of  that  religious  system,  which,  as 
an  individual,  I  profess — to  the  established  religion  of  the  government 
under  which  we  live  :  but  I  hope  I  shall  not  be  suspected  of  indifler- 
ence  to  that  religion,  when  I  reflect,  with  gratitude  and  self-satisfaction, 
that,  amid  those  shades  of  difference  which  divide  Christians  among 
themselves  at  home,  we  are  all  united  under  the  same  standard, 
which  it  is  now  our  object  to  plant  to  a  still  wider  extent.  We  should 
always  recollect,  while  we  earnestly  pursue  that  which  appears  to 
ourselves  to  be  most  consistent  with  reason,  and  with  our  duty,  that 
the  points  which  separate  the  Christian  world  are  small  and  unimpor- 
tant, compared  with  the  great  truths  which  all  acknowledge,  and  with 
the  great  bond  of  union,*  the  word  of  God,  wliich  coiuiects  all  Chris- 

*  The  moral  cftcct  of  tliiii  union,  (which  it  is  (he  object  of  the  adversaries  of  the 
Society  to  disbolve,")  is  one  of  the  grandest  rccomiucndations  of  tlie  Institutiou. 


CHAP.  1.5  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SQCIETV.  435 

tians  together  m  one  society  of  common  interest.  No  religious  differ- 
ence or  controversial  points  should  impede  the  great  principle  upon 
which  this  Institution  is  founded  ;  namely,  that  of  dehvering  the  unso- 
phisticated word  of  God,  without  comment,  in  the  purest  text,  to  all 
mankind,  of  every  persuasion,  to  read  it,  to  ponder  upon  it,  and  to  im- 
prove their  own  practical  conduct  by  the  unerring  rules  of  wisdom 
which  it  contains."* 

"■  I  second,  with  hearty  cordiality,"  (said  Mr.  Whitbread,)  "  the 
motion  that  has  been  made  by  Lord  Castlereagh,  and  I  recommend  the 
rules  which  have  been  read,  to  your  adoption  ;  because,  having  been 
concerned  in  the  formation  and  conduct  of  Auxiliary  Bible  Societies 
in  other  places,  I  am  confident,  from  experience,  that  they  are  suited 
to  the  object.  Very  few  words,  indeed,  it  will  become  me  to  say, 
after  what  you  have  heard  ;  and  in  the  presence  of  an  assembly,  all  of 
whom  feel  an  impulse,  in  common  with  myself,  I  have  no  doubt,  to 
contribute  to  the  utmost  of  their  power  to  the  propagation  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  No  plan  has  hitherto  been  devised,  which  is  likely  to 
diffuse  the  knowledge  of  the  word  of  God  so  universally  as  this.  No 
project  has  ever  been  so  universally  successful :  if  you  were  to  desire 
any  evidence,  whether  ablessing  attends  upon  these  Institutions,  I  would 
produce  to  you  this  fact,  that  we  who  hei'e  assemble,  and  those  who 
assemble  in  other  places,  to  promote  the  same  work,  do,  as  it  were, 
drop  our  worldly  selves,  do  rise  above  ourselves,  to  aspire  to  that 
immortality  which  the  word  of  God  doth  preach  and  promise  ;  for  all 
the  meetings  which  I  have  attended,  (and  they  have  been  more  than 
one  or  two,)  upon  occasions  like  the  present,  and  all  the  meetings  of 
which  I  have  read,  have  exhibited  (as  I  am  sure  this  meeting  will 
exhibit,)  a  scene  of  perfect  and  blessed  unanimity,  without  dissension 
ur  difference  of  opinion." 

On  this  incident,  so  honourable  to  the  living  fame  of  one  of  these 
characters,  and  the  respected  memory  of  the  other,  the  pen  of  a  cele- 

"  It  is  not  simply"  (says  Mr.  V^msittarl)  "  to  the  diffusion  of  the  Bible,  but  to  the 
ro-operatiou  of  all  Christians  to  diffuse  it,  and  to  the  effect  of  that  co-operation  on 
our  own  hearts,  that  I  look,  not  only  for  the  establishment  of  Christian  faith,  bui 
the  extension  of  Christian  charity." 

Letter  to  John  Coker,  Esq, 

*  The  Ri<?ht  Hon.  George  Rose,  M.  P.  expressed  his  sentiments  ou  the  merits 
of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  in  a  brief,  but  very  decisive  manner : — 
"  In  proportion''  (said  IVIr.  Rose)  "  as  furtherance  is  given  to  the  attainment  of  the 
objects  of  that  Society,  the  peace  and  happiness  of  the  world  will  he  promoted."  It 
.should  be  added,  that  these  sentiments  have  been  confirmed,  by  the  conduct  of  the 
Right  Hon.  Gentleman,  in  the  patronage  ami  persevering-  support  of  a  Branch  Bible 
Society  at  Southampton. 


436  HlSTOllY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III. 

brated  female  writer  has  furnished  us  with  a  very  appropriate  re- 
flection. 

"  It  is  indeed  a  spectacle,  to  warm  the  coldest,  and  to  soften  the 
hardest  heart,  to  behold  men  of  the  first  rank  and  talents  ;  statesmen, 
who  have  never  met  but  to  oppose  each  other  ;  orators,  who  have 
never  spoken  but  to  differ ;  each  strenuous  in  what,  it  is  presumed, 
he  believes  right,  renouncing  every  interfering  interest,  sacrificing 
every  jarring  opinion,  forgetting  all  in  which  they  differed,  and  think- 
ing only  on  that  in  which  they  agree,  each  reconciled  to  his  brother, 
and  leaving  his  gift  at  the  altar,  offering  up  every  resentment  at  the 
foot  of  the  cross."* 

Passing  over,  as  the  author  is  compelled  to  do,  the  various  ad- 
dresses which  adorned  these  meetings,  and  of  which  many  will  be 
read  with  admiration,  while  a  taste  for  eloquence  exerted  in  the 
cause  of  piety  shall  survive,  he  will  close  this  detail  with  a  brief  ex- 
tract from  the  speeches  of  the  Earl  of  Moira,  and  the  Bishop  of 
Cloyne,  delivered,  the  one  at  the  East  London  Meeting,  with  which 
the  cycle  of  the  metropolitan  Auxiliaries  commenced,  and  the  other 
at  the  North-West,  with  which  that  cycle  concluded. 

Adverting  to  the  alarm  excited  in  certain  quarters  by  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  the  Earl  of  Moira  thus  eloquently  ex- 
claimed : 

"  And  is  an  association,  cemented  together  for  the  most  praise- 
worthy purpose,  to  be  restricted  in  its  progress,  from  an  apprehen- 
hion  that  it  may  interfere  with  the  religious  Establishment  of  this 
country  ?  Are  you  to  suppose,  because  the  doctrines  of  a  particu- 
lar church  are  not  to  be  attached  to  it,  that  therefore  it  is  levelled  at 
that  church  ?  It  was  the  great  boast  of  the  Reformers,  of  those  who 
were  our  leaders  in  the  cause  of  truth,  that  they  called  on  their  op- 
ponents to  peruse  the  sacred  volume,  and  from  it  judge  whether  the 
I'^stablished  Church  did  not  stand  on  the  eternal  and  immutable  basis 
of  truth.  It  has  been  the  boast  of  the  Church  of  England,  to  court 
that  scrutiny  ;  and  no  longer  would  I  support  that  church,  of  which  1 
am  an  affectionate  and  zealous  member,  than  while  it  stood  fort!), 
and  offered  itself  to  fair  and  candid  examination.  This,  indeed,  would 
be  a  most  unworthy  pretence  for  obstructing  the  dispersion  of  the 
Scriptures ;  a  pretence  which,  methinks,  the  church  should  be 
foremost  to  disclaim.  It  is  my  firm  conviction,  at  least,  that  the  cir- 
culation of  the  Bible  is  so  far  from  being  perilous  to  the  church  or 
(he  state,  that  tlie  strengtii  and  security  of  both  will  be  in  exact  pro- 
f)ortion  to   the   extent  of  that  circulation.     While  you  spread  the 

*  Hannah  More's  Christian  Morals,  vol.  ii-  p.  17, 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOBEIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  ^3^ 

knowledge  of  divine  truth,  you  enlarge  the  stock  of  human  happi- 
ness, because  you  cherish  and  enforce  human  morality,  you  engage 
it  in  the  support  of  subordination  and  good  government ;  and  thus  is 
religious  instruction  subservient  to  the  best  interests  of  the  commu- 
nity. The  contents  of  the  sacred  volume  are  such  as  never  can  be 
made  formidable  to  society,  otherwise  than  by  the  most  blasphemous 
misconstruction.  They  inculcate  moral  duty  in  so  perspicuous  a 
manner,  that  the  conduct  of  an  individual,  guiding  himself  by  their 
precepts,  must  be  pure  and  upi^ight.  Such  are  the  Scriptures  ;  and 
the  more  generally  they  are  known,  the  more  is  society  improved ; 
the  more  is  the  stability  of  government  secured !" 

The  Bishop  of  Cloyne,  having  in  view  the  same  groundless  objec- 
tion to  the  Society,  gave  it  the  following  perspicuous  and  emphatical 
refutation :  • 

"  As  an  old  member  of  the  Parent  Society,  I  rejoice  in  the  sight 
of  this  numerous  and  respectable  meeting,  convened  for  the  purpose 
of  forming  an  Auxiliary.  I  am  proud  of  the  healthy  and  vigorous 
offspring  rising  on  every  side  around  tliat  Parent ;  and  I  do  think  its 
signal  and  honest  merits  have  fixed,  and  are  fixing,  themselves  every 
day  upon  the  firm  and  broad  basis  of  decided  public  opinion.  That 
there  should  be  learned  and  respectable  men,  (and  such  men,  I  am 
afraid,  are  to  be  found,)  who  object  to  our  principle,  and  are  alarmed 
at  our  progress,  is  to  me  matter  of  pure  and  simple  astonishment. 
Will  any  one  of  this  assembly  stand  forward,  and  tell  us,  that  to  give 
a  Bible  to  a  poor  man  who  is  unable  to  purchase  one,  is  unbecoming 
a  Christian  assembly  ?  Will  any  one  stand  forward,  and  tell  us,  that 
to  be  at  the  expense  and  difficulty  of  translating  the  Bible  into  a 
foreign  language,  and  to  send  it  into  a  country  where  the  name  of  a 
Bible  has  hardly  ever  been  heard,  is  likely  to  produce  very  danger- 
ous consequences  ?  No,  Gentlemen  ;  I  know  proofs  to  the  contrary  ; 
and  I  agree  with  the  noble  Lord  who  spoke  last  but  one,  that  in  Ire- 
land the  limits  of  this  Institution  are  spreading  every  where  :  I  see 
and  converse  every  day  in  my  own  neighbourhood  with  men  who 
have  been  beyond  measure  benefited  by  the  exertions  of  the  Society. 
Go  on,  then,  Gentlemen,  in  the  name  of  God  ;  spread  the  word  of 
God,  without  the  opinions  of  man,  throughout  every  part  of  the 
world  ;  translate  it  into  every  language,  and  send  it  into  every  coun- 
try. And  if  this  be  a  crime,  it  is  one  of  a  very  singular  nature  ;  for 
our  Saviour  set  the  example,  the  apostles  followed  it,  and  God  him- 
self has  commanded  and  sanctioned  it." 

The  author  has  taken  a  latitude,  in  recording  the  formation  of  the 
London  Auxiliary  Bible  Societies,  for  which  both  their  local  and  their 
S7 


438  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  llf. 

general  importance  will,  he  presumes,  be  considered  a  sufficient 
justification.  Besides  the  provision  made  by  these  Societies  for  the 
metropolitan  poor  ;  the  splendour  which  they  added  to  the  patronage 
of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  ;  the  contribution  which 
they  brought  to  its  funds ;  and  the  effective  co-operation  which  they 
secured  to  its  labours,  were  circumstances  which  entitled  them  to 
particular  attention.  Nor  should  it  be  forgotten,  that  they  possess  an 
influence  which  is  not  to  be  estimated  merely  by  their  local  dimen- 
sions, or  their  numerical  strength.  They  comprehend,  as  including 
the  metropolis  of  the  empire,  "  so  large  a  proportion  of  whatever  is 
distinguished  in  the  nation,  so  general  an  assem.blage  of  its  various 
parts,"  that  their  union  in  the  cause  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  "  could  not  fail  to  convey,  to  all  parts  of  the  country,  the 
conviction  of  public  feeling,  or  to  strike  foreign  nations,  as  the  col- 
lected homage  of  Britain  to  J^cr  Saviour  and  her  God.'"* 

While  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  was  advancing  in  this 
prosperous  course,  the  controversy,  which  had  slept,  was  on  a  sud- 
den revived  by  an  incident,  which,  from  its  singularity,  as  well  as 
from  the  confirmation  it  afforded  to  the  general  argument  in  favour 
of  the  Institution,  deserves  to  be  recorded. 

In  his  Reply  to  Professor  Marsh's  "  Inquiry  into  the  Consequences 
of  neglecting  to  give  the  Prayer  Book  with  the  Bible,"  Mr.  Vansit- 
tart  had  wai-ncd  the  Professor  of  a  difhculty  to  which  his  principle 
might  expose  him,  if  called  upon  to  contend  with  a  Papist, 

"  The  danger  of  the  perversion  of  Scripture,"  (said  Mr.  Vansit- 
tart,)  "  on  which  you  so  much  insist,  is  the  very  argument  used  by 
the  Papists,  in  defence  of  the  denial  of  the  Bible  to  the  laity.  And, 
indeed,  to  such  a  length  do  you  cari-y  your  argument,  that  /  do  not 
knoTJs  what  anszver  you  could  give  to  a  Catholic  Doctor,  n;ho  shoidd  jus- 
tijij  the  practice  of  his  church  by  your  authority.'''' 

It  is  probable,  that  at  the  time  when  he  suggested  this  warning, 
Mr.  Vansittart  had  as  little  expectation  as  any  of  his  readers,  that  the 
principle  of  his  antagonist  would  really  be  put  to  the  trial.  Such 
was,  however,  the  case.  For,  in  the  month  of  December,  1812,  a 
publication  appeared,  under  the  following  title  :  "  A  Congratulatory 
Letter  to  the  Rev.  H.  Marsh,  D.  D.  &c.  on  his  judicious  Inquiry  into 
the  Consequences  of  neglecting  to  give  the  Prayer  Book  with  the 
Bible  ;  together  with  a  Sermon,  on  the  inadequacy  of  the  Bible  to 
be  an  exclusive  Rule  of  Faith,  inscribed  to  the  same,  by  the  Rev. 
Peter  Gandolpliy,  Priest  of  the  Catholic  Church." 

*  Vr'estmiLSitcr  Address. 


CHAP.   1.3  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  439 

In  tlie  opening  of  liis  Congratulatory  Letter,  the  Roman  Catholic 
Priest  thus  addresses  the  Protestant  Professor. 

"  It  is  impossible  for  me  to  express  to  you  the  pleasant  sensations  I 
have  experienced,  while  lately  reading  a  little  tract,  from  your  pen, 
entitled,  An  Inquiry  into  the  consequences  of  neglecting  to  give 
THE  Pkayer  Book  with  the  Bible.  The  perus:il  of  this  little  work 
induced  me  to  purchase  your  correspondence  with  Mr.  Vansittart  on 
the  same  subject,  together  with  your  sermon  at  St.  Paul's  Church, 
London,  on  June  3,  1813.  You  may  easily  conceive,  then,  with  what 
real  delight  and  satisfaction  I  observed,  that,  in  these  writings,  you 
contend  for  this  principle  ;  '  True  religion  cannot  be  Ibund  hy  the 
Bible  alone.''  The  soundness  of  this  doctrine  was  originally  contested 
by  Luther ;  and,  as  you  well  know,  has  been  a  subject  of  dispute  be- 
tween Catholics  and  Protestants,  from  that  period  to  the  present  time. 
Allow  me,  then,  to  congratulate  you  and  religion,  on  the  bold  and 
manly  manner  in  which  you  have  given  up  this  vital  principle  of 
Protestantism.  To  err  is  the  common  accident  of  our  nature  ;  but  to 
acknowledge  error,  is  the  act  of  the  hero  and  the  saint !"  The 
Priest,  having  cited  a  passage  from  the  Inquiry,  terminating  thus. 
"  HoAv,  therefore,  can  we  know,  if  we  give  the  Bible  only,  what  sort 
of  Protestantism  Avill  be  deduced  from  it?"  thus  exclaims, — "  Indeed, 
Sir,  I  cannot  sufficiently  admire  the  ingenuity  and  masterly  manner 
in  which  you  urge  the  necessity  of  another  rule  of  faith,  besides  the 
Bible  only.  It  is  a  coup  de  grace  to  the  old  principle  of  the  Reform- 
ers ;  from  which,  I  think,  they  can  never  recover.  And  it  is  given  in 
the  true  Catholic  style  of  boldness,  which  convinces  me  that  you  feel 
your  own  strength."  In  another  part,  the  Priest,  discerning  what 
appears  to  him  coincidence  between  the  Professor's  sentiments  and 
his  own,  says, — "  Your  principle  is  mine :"  and,  having  pursued  the 
comparison  to  some  length,  takes  leave  of  the  Professor  with  the  fol- 
lowing pointed  salutation : 

"  Once  more,  I  congratulate  you  and  myself,  on  the  opposition 
which  you  make  to  the  Bible  alone.  It  was  in  the  persuasion  that 
we  entertain  a  common  sentiment  on  this  subject,  that  I  determined  to 
publish  and  dedicate  to  you  a  Sermon,  well  calculated,  as  I  conceive, 
to  strengthen  all  those  arguments  you  have  advanced  in  your  own 
publications.  Praying  God,  that  it  may  be  only  a  prelude  to  a  union  of 
sentiments  on  other  points,  it  is  respectfully  inscribed  to  you,  by,"  &c. 

To  this  extraordinary  and  unvv-elcome  congratulation,  which,  with 
the  majority  of  the  public,  he  had  at  first  expected  to  find  "  only  a 
pasquinade  under  a  fictitious  name,"  the  Margaret  Professor  repUcd, 


440  HISTORr  OF  THE  BRITISH  iPARfin. 

with  his  usual  promptitude  and  dexterity ;  disclaiming  the  intentions 
ascribed  to  him  by  the  Cathohc  Priest,  of  giving  up  the  vital  principle 
of  Protestantism,  and  defending  himself  against  the  charge,  by  some 
nice  distinctions  between  arguing  willi  Dissentients  and  arguing  with 
Churchmen.*  With  scarcely  less  promptitude,  quite  as  much  dex- 
terity, and  a  great  deal  better  success,  the  Catholic  Priest  retorts 
upon  the  Professor  the  rejected  accusation  ;  and,  while  he  admits  that 
the  Professor  does  not  say,  in  terms,  that  "  true  religion  cannot  be 
found  in  the  Bible  alone,"  j^et  he  contends,  that  the  principle  advan- 
ced and  argued  upon  by  the  Professor,  leads  directly  and  legitimately 
to  such  a  conclusion. 

"  Plowever,"  (says  the  Catholic  Priest,  with  a  degree  of  sarcastic 
pleasantry,  for  which  the  Professor's  reasonings  against  the  Bible  So- 
ciety had  given  too  just  occasion,)  "  although  I  complimented  yoUj 
in  my  first  Letter,  on  the  manly  manner  in  which  you  had  surren- 
dered this  vital  principle  of  Protestantism,  I  observe,  that  you  arc 
still  wavering  between  the  right  and  the  wrong, — still  hesitating  be- 
fore you  finally  renounce  the  untenable  principle  of  your  Church. 
You  seem  to  have  clothed  yourself  in  Catholic  armour,  unconscious 
of  the  banners  under  which  you  were  fighting.  But  let  us  take  cou- 
rage in  consistency,  and  our  cause  will  never  fail  to  triumph ;  having 
thrown  away  your  own  arms,  as  it  is  a  Catholic  weapon  that  you  have 
seized,  it  is  from  a  Catholic  you  should  learn  how  to  manage  it." 

The  Bishop  of  St.  David's,  in  a  Charge  which  will  be  hereafter 
more  particularly  noticed,  thus  pertinently  describes  the  ground  and 
the  issue  of  this  singular  controversy. 

"  The  objection  to  the  distribution  of  the  Bible  tvithout  the  Prayer 
Book,  is,  in  its  principle,  of  so  anti-Protestant  a  complexion,  that  Ro- 
man Catholics  claim  the  chief  supporter  of  it  as  their  friend,  and  have 
congratulated  him  on  renouncing  the  great  principle  of  the  Reforma- 
tion. The  learned  objector  to  the  Bible  Society  has,  indeed,  rejected 
the  insidious  congratulation  ;  but  in  vain  :  the  Popish  writer,  in  hi.s^ 
second  Address,  still  maintains,  that  the  objector  has  abandoned  the 
ground  on  which  the  Reformation  was  established,  namelj',  the  autho- 
rity of  the  pure  word  of  God."t 

There  is  so  happy  a  coincidence  with  these  sentiments,  in  the  pi- 
ous Bishop  Wilson's  Address  to  an  unknown  benefactress,  who  had 
largely  supphed  the  Isle  of  Man  with  Bibles,  &c.  that  an  extract  from 
it  will  form  a  proper  sequel  to  this  account. 

*I^.  Marsh's  Reply,  p.  1.  t  Charge,  p.  1? 


CHAP.  I.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  44j 

*'  Your  commendable  zeal  to  restore  and  promote  the  hwianledge 
and  love  of  the  Bible,  at  a  time  when  this  sacred  book  is  attacked  by 
infidels,  and  too  much  neglected  by  Christians,  will,  we  would  hope, 
be  imitated  at  least  by  all  such  as  consider,  that  the  Christian  religion 
at  first,  and  afterwards  the  Reformation,  which  we  all  pretend  to 
yalue,  were  carried  on,  and  established,  by  publishing  and  dispersing 
the  Scriptures  in  the  language  of  every  nation." 

"  And  indeed"  (adds  the  Bishop)  "  it  is  to  be  suspected,  that  many 
of  those  who  now  set  themselves  so  industriously  to  revile  the  reve- 
lation and  doctrines  oi  the  Bible,  are  in  the  service  of  that  church 
which  denies  Christians  the  free  use  of  the  Bible."* 

But  to  return  to  what  more  immediately  respects  the  state  of  the 
Society.  The  symptoms  of  its  growing  strength  and  prosperity  have 
already  been  described,  as  they  manifested  themselves  in  the  progres- 
sive appearance  of  so  many  new  and  promising  auxiliaries.  To  these 
must  be  added  the  evidences  afforded,  to  the  same  effect,  in  the  pro- 
ductive subscriptions,  and  the  improved  organization  of  the  auxiliaries 
which  had  been  previously  established.  Their  pecuniary  returns 
evinced  how  deeply  they  felt  the  importance  of  the  general  object, 
while  their  local  exertions  demonstrated  a  no  less  earnest  sohcitude 
for  its  accomplishment  within  the  sphere  of  their  own  particular  ju- 
risdiction. 

The  addition  of  six  to  the  number  of  contributory  Societies  in 
Scotland,  (making  the  total  amount  to  seventeen  ;)  together  with  Ae 
vigour  and  hberahty  so  conspicuously  displayed  by  them  all,  furnished 
a  most  convincing  testimony,  that  the  cause  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society  was  acquiring  a  continual  accession  of  influence  in  that 
part  of  the  island. 

The  progress  in  Ireland  was  still  more  conspicuous.  The  number 
of  branches  to  the  Hibernian  Bible  Society  (the  Parent  Institution  of 
the  sister  kingdom)  increased,  within  the  year,  from  eight  to  tliirty- 
five ;  and  the  issue  of  Bibles  and  Testaments,  which  in  no  former 
year  had  exceeded  12,000,  amounted  in  this  to  40,000. 

Thus  flourishing  abroad,  and  supported  at  home ;  with  a  gross  in- 
come  of  76,455/.  Is.  and  an  issue  of  202,580  copies  of  the  Scrip- 
tures ;  and  uniting  in  its  behalf  the  prayers,  thanksgivings,  and  bene- 
dictions  of  natives  and  loreigners,  of  persons  of  almost  every  rank 
in  society,  every  condition  in  hfo,  and  every  denomination  in  reli- 

*  Bishop  Wilson's  dedication  to  an  unknown  benefactress  of  Dibles.  %cc.  prefixed 
to  his  Treatise  on  the  l^prd'?  .Supper. 


442  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  111. 

gion,  Ihe  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  proceeded  to  celebrate 
its  Ninth  Anniversary  on  tbe  3d  of  May,  1813. 

A  new  feature,  both  of  dignity  and  of  interest,  was  put  upon  these 
annual  solemnities,  by  the  presence,  on  this  occasion,  of  their  Royal 
Highnesses  the  Dukes  of  Kent  and  Sussex.  These  illustrious  per- 
sonages, waiving,  with  true  royalty  of  heart,  the  distinction  to  which 
their  rank  would  have  entitled  them,  took  their  station  on  either  side 
of  the  chair,  while  the  Noble  President,  who,  in  obedience  to  their 
Royal  Highnesses'  commands  alone,  consented  to  occupy  it  in  their 
presence,  recited,  from  a  Report  prepared,  as  usual,  by  himself,  the 
transactions  which  had  taken  place  during  the  ninth  year  of  the 
Institution. 

The  scene  was  peculiarly  grand  and  imposing,  in  which  Princes 
and  Prelates,  Peers  and  Commoners,  Pastors  and  People,  were  seen 
harmoniously  associated  in  the  joyful  celebration  of  those  triumphs 
which  had  been  granted,  in  great  measure,  through  their  instru- 
mentality, to  the  cause  of  Divine  Revelation.  Such  a  scene  of  con- 
cord and  mutual  gratulation  is,  in  fact,  the  highest  eulogium,  and  the 
best  defence,  of  that  Institution  to  which  it  owes  its  existence.  In 
this  respect,  above  all  other  Establishments,  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society  "  constitutes  an  era  in  the  modern  history  of  Chris- 
tianity ;  presenting  the  delightful  spectacle  of  the  followers  of  the 
great  Founder  of  our  religion,  of  whatever  sect  or  denomination,  and 
however  separated  from  each  other  by  marked  or  evanescent  lines 
of  distinction  on  points  of  doctrine  or  of  discipline,  here  at  least  find- 
ing a  point  of  contact  and  a  bond  of  union ;  gathering  themselves 
together  under  the  banner  of  the  Gospel ;  unanimous  in  the  ortho- 
doxy of  diffusing  through  the  world  that  universal  text  of  the  faith 
and  doctrine  of  them  all,"* 

On  the  whole,  when  the  circumstances  of  the  Meeting  are  atten- 
tively considered  ;  the  nature  and  variety  of  the  facts  which  were  de- 
tailed, the  rank  and  station  of  the  parties  who  were  assembled,  and 
the  tone  of  sentiment  and  feeling  which  prevailed,  the  Ninth  Anni- 
versary will  be  found  to  have  comported  with  the  transactions  which 
it  was  appointed  to  commemorate  ;  and  the  words  of  the  Psalmistt 
may  be  cited  as  expressing,  by  anticipation,  the  moral  of  both. 


*  Sec  the  very  able  and  luminous  speech  of  John  Hardy,  Esq.  Recorder  of 
Leeds,  in  takiiic:  the  Chair,  as  President  of  the  Leeds  Auxiliary  Bible  Society, 
October  2r},  181 L 

i  Psalm  cxlviii.  11,  12,  13. 


CHAP.  1.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  443 

*'  Kings  of  the  earth,  and  all  people  ;  princes  and  all  judges 
of  the  earth  ;  both  young  men  and  maidens,  old  men  and  chil- 
dren let  them  praise  the  name  of  the  lord  :  for  his  name  alone 
is  excellent  ;  his  glory  is  above  the  earth  and  the  heaven." 


CHlPTEli  IT 


1813—14. 

From  the  account  which  has  been  given  of  the  Society's  progress 
in  the  acquisition  of  influence,  connexions,  and  support,  it  will  have 
been  inferred,  that  the  increase  of  its  business  must  have  kept  pace 
with  its  prosperity ;  and  that  every  addition  to  its  means  would  add 
proportionally  to  the  duties  of  its  conductors.  In  %vhat  degree  those 
duties  had  accumulated,  at  the  period  to  which  this  chapter  refers, 
could  not  be  shown  without  the  introduction  of  such  details,  as  are 
inconsistent  with  the  design  and  the  limits  of  this  work.  Some  light 
may,  however,  be  thrown  upon  the  subject,  by  a  brief  review  of 
those  objects  to  which  the  attention  of  the  Society  was  principally 
directed,  and  of  which  it  seems  material,  on  other  grounds,  that  some 
description  should  be  furnished. 

The  first  and  highest  of  those  objects,  and  that  which  afforded  the 
greatest  occupation,  was,  the  provision  of  such  copies  of  the  Scrip- 
tures as  were  wanted  both  for  domestic  and  for  foreign  circulation. 
This  department  comprehended  three  classes :  first,  versions  in  the 
languages  of  the  United  Kingdom  ;  secondly,  those  in  the  current  lan- 
guages of  the  Continent ;  and  thirdly,  those  in  languages  and  dialects 
less  generally  cultivated  and  known. 

In  providing  editions  in  the  languages  spoken  through  the  United 
Kingdom,  every  practicable  eflbrt  was  made  to  increase  the  issues 
from  the  authorized  presses,  (the  only  presses  employed  in  this 
case,)  and  to  secure  the  applicants,  as  much  as  possible,  from  the 
mortification  of  disappointment  or  delay.  So  greatly,  however, 
had  the  applications  increased,  that  not  the  united  exertions  of  the 
two  Universities,  and  the  King's  Printer,  stimulated  by  every  con- 
sideration of  duty  and  emolument,  and  still  further  urged  by  the  most 
pressing  importunity,  were  able  to  supply  the  London  Depository 


444  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  lU. 

with  copies,  in  any  measure  proportioned  to  the  wants,  or  even  the 
moderated  claims,  of  the  subscribers.  To  what  an  amount  this  de- 
mand had  arisen,  and  in  how  rapid  a  progression  it  continued  to  aug- 
ment, the  reader  may  perceive,  by  observing,  that,  after  an  issue, 
within  the  first  eight  years,  of  431,939  copies  of  the  Scriptures,  and 
of  301,394  in  the  ninth  year  only,  not  fewer  than  352,569  copies 
were  delivered  from  the  Depository  in  the  course  of  the  tenth  year ; 
namely,  from  December  31,  1812,  to  December  31,  1813. 

Nor  did  the  conductors  of  the  Society  allow  themselves  to  be  so  far 
impelled  by  their  eagerness  to  satisfy  the  wishes  of  the  claimants,  as 
to  overlook  what  was  due  to  the  character  of  the  Institution,  and  the 
permanent  interest  and  edification  of  the  community.  To  furnish 
copies  of  the  Scriptures  according  to  the  authorized  version,  without 
note  or  comment,  and  to  give  them  such  advantages  of  typography 
and  binding  as  might  adapt  them  for  acceptable  and  durable  use, 
were  considerations  which,  under  every  pressure,  were  kept  steadily 
and  conscientiously  in  view. 

The  desire  of  the  Welsh  to  possess  a  Bible  on  a  large  type  in 
their  vernacular  tongue  had  been  frequently  urged  on  their  part,  and 
received  at  length  the  consideration  it  deserved.  A  contract  was 
made  with  His  Majesty's  Printer,  to  furnish  an  edition  of  the  descrip- 
tion required  ;  and  the  late  Rev.  Mr.  Charles  was  requested  to  renew 
his  friendly  services,  by  furnishing  the  typographical  corrections  of 
the  text  from  which  it  was  to  be  printed.  In  gratitude  to  divine  Provi- 
dence, it  should  be  recorded,  that  the  life  of  this  laborious  and  disin- 
terested man  was  continued  till  he  had  witnessed  the  completion  of  a 
work  which  will  be  a  perpetual  monument  of  his  accurate  learning, 
patient  industry,  and  indefatigable  attention  to  the  spiritual  welfare  of 
his  countrymen.  If  to  what  has  been  observed  relative  to  the  English 
and  Welsh  Scriptures  be  added,  the  attention  which  was  paid  to  those 
in  the  Gaelic,  Irish,  and  Manks,  (the  two  last  of  which  were  stereo- 
tvpcd.)  every  thing  will  have  been  said  which  is  necessary  to  acquaint 
the  reader  with  what  was  doing  in  the  languages  of  the  United  King- 
dom. 

A  second  branch  of  this  department  regarded  a  similar  provision 
of  copies  in  the  cui'rent  foreign  languages,  for  aliens  resident  in  the 
British  dominions,  and  in  such  other  parts  of  the  world  as  did  not 
possess  the  means  of  providing  them.  To  this  head  may  be  referred, 
the  F'rench,  Dutch,  German,  Spanish,  Portuguese,  Italian,  and  Danish 
languages ;  in  the  three  first  of  which  the  entire  I>ible  was  printed  ; 
and,  in  all,  large  and  repeated  editions  of  the  Testament :  while 
copies  in  the  Swedish,  Fiauish,  and  certain  other  languages,  which. 


CHAP.  Ill  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  445 

from  their  limited  currency,  occasioned  but  a  partial  and  incidental 
demand,  were  imported  from  the  Continent,  as  circumstances  ap- 
peared  to  require  them. 

It  is  obvious  that  such  provident  exertions  must  have  materially 
promoted  the  convenience  of  those  who  would  otherwise  have  had  to 
seek,  in  a  distant  repository,  for  supplies  which  were  thus  brought 
home  to  their  doors.  But  the  advantage  conferred  went  greatly  be- 
yond that  of  mere  accommodation.  The  Scriptures,  so  prepared, 
and  tendered  to  aliens  by  individuals  of  the  nation  in  which  they  re- 
sided, and  with  which,  in  not  a  few  cases,  theii*  own  was  at  war, 
could  scarcely  fail  to  awaken  a  more  than  ordinary  attention  to  the 
sacred  oracles  themselves,  and  to  excite,  at  the  same  time,  not  a  little 
kind  feeling  towards  the  authors  of  so  inestimable  atad  unexpected  a 
benefaction.  Add  to  this,  that,  as  gratuitous  distribution  was  chiefly 
resorted  to,  where  foreigners  were  concerned,  the  sense  of  obliga- 
tion would  be  strengthened  by  the  conviction  of  disinterestedness  on 
the  part  of  the  donors ;  and  the  value  of  the  gift  be  enhanced  by  the 
generosity  with  which  it  was  conferred.  In  confirmation  of  these 
remarks  may  be  adduced  the  following  extract  from  an  Address  of 
"  the  President,  Pastor,  Trustees,  Churchwardens,  and  Elders  of 
the  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  in  London,"  in  acknowledgment  of  a 
donation  of  1000  copies  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  to  the  numerous 
Swedes  and  Finlanders  resident  in  Great  Britain. 

"  Permit  us  to  assure  you,  that  it  will  be  a  delightful  duty  with  us, 
to  distribute  this  blessing  in  such  wise,  as  with  the  help  of  God  to  meet 
the  object  of  the  donors  ;  which  is,  in  other  words,  that  the  name  of 
our  common  Lord  and  Saviour  may  be  known  and  glorified  more  and 
more.  It  is  a  pleasing  reflection  to  us,  that,  while  the  ravages  and 
vicissitudes  of  war  have  promiscuously  plunged  thrones  and  nations 
into  misery  and  distress,  the  cause  of  religion  has  stood  unmoved  in 
the  midst  of  these  ruins  :  founded  on  the  "  Rock  of  Ages,"  the  power 
of  darkness  has  fruitlessly  endeavoured  to  obstruct  its  way,  which  is 
by  the  word  of  God.  It  is  the  peculiar  glory  of  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society,  to  have  been  the  favoured  instrument  of  distri- 
buting consolations  more  lasting  than  the  pillars  of  heaven.  Your 
Bibles  have,  in  these  days  of  wo,  afforded  comfort  to  thousands  and 
tens  of  thousands.  It  is  through  you,  in  a  great  measure,  that  the 
sweet  promises  of  the  Almighty  have  reached  the  ears  of  distant 
nations  and  individuals,  and  raised  them  from  ignorance  or  despair  to 
a  sure  and  a  better  hope.  It  is  through  you,  also,  that  the  road  to 
everlasting  life  has  been  lighted  up  to  many  a  benighted  and  misled 
wanderer  :  and  while  we  ioin  vou  in  our  humble  thanks  at  the  throne 


44tJ  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITIfciH  [PART  ill 

of  grace  for  these  mighty  things  which  God  has  wrought  through  you, 
we  feel  it  our  duty,  in  the  next  place,  to  express  our  warmest  grati- 
tude to  the  Society  at  large,  whose  organ  you  are,  and  who,  by  this 
noble  donation,  have  enabled  us  to  effect  what  we  have  long  wished 
for,  but  which  the  necessitous  state  of  our  finances  has  hitherto  pre- 
cluded us  from  doing, — to  dispense  freely  that  dear  book  which  is  the 
best  friend  to  those  in  health,  the  best  comforter  to  the  sick,  and  an 
invaluable  companion  to  the  traveller,  whether  by  sea  or  land.  It  is 
our  earnest  prayer,  that  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord  may  further  the 
knowledge  of  salvation  among  all  nations,  and  continue  his  blessings 
upon  a  Society  which  has  the  eternal  welfare  of  the  whole  human 
race  for  its  imperial  object." 

A  third  branch  was,  (as  has  been  mentioned,)  the  preparation  of 
versions  in  those  languages  which  were  either  wholly  new  to  sacred 
literature,  or  further  removed  than  any  of  the  preceding,  from 
general  cultivation  and  use.  Such  were  the  Modern  Greek,  the  Es- 
quimaux, the  Ethiopic,  and  the  Syriac. 

In  the  Modern  Greek,  so  favourable  a  reception  had  been  given  tn 
the  New  Testaments  printed  in  that  language,  that  a  second  edition 
was  found  necessary  to  supply  the  demand  in  the  Levant,  the  islands  * 
of  the  Archipelago,  and  certain  other  Greek  stations  ;  and  steps 
were  taken,  in  the  course  of  this  year,  to  produce  a  superior  im- 
pression, from  the  text  t  already  adopted,  but  with  the  advantage  of 

*  Among  the  incidents  of  a  pleasing  nature,  which  occurred  in  the  circulation  of 
the  Modern  Greek  Testaments,  was  that  of  their  finding  their  way  into  the  Greek 
Regiment,  at  Zaiitc,  commanded  by  Colonel  (now  General)  Chnrch. 

"  A  few  Testaments"  (said  that  officer)  "  which  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  pro- 
cure, were  greedily  sought  after  throughout  Greece.  The  desire  to  have  numbers 
is  expressed  by  constant  applications  to  that  effect."  In  consequence  of  this  re- 
port, General  Church  was  induced,  on  returning  from  London  to  his  military  sta- 
tion, to  take  charge  of  a  considerable  number  for  distribution. 

t  The  following  Declaration  in  favour  of  the  Society's  edition  of  that  text,  (8«'e 
vote,  p.  205,)  was  transmitted  from  Constantinople,  in  January,  1815,  by  the 
Rev.  H.  Lindsay,  (Chaplain  to  the  Embassy  at  the  Porte,)  who  added,  that  the 
Patriarch,  in  giving  it,  observed,  that  "  he  considered  the  object  of  the  Society 
highly  laudable.'* 

«  CYRIL,   ARCHBISHOP  OF  CONSTANTINOPLE,   NEW  ROME,   AND 
OECUMENICAL  PATRIARCH. 

"  Our  Ix>wUncss  notifies,  by  this  present  Patriarchal  Declaration,  that,  having 
examined  accurately,  and  with  the  necessary  attention,  the  Edition  of  the  New 
Testament  in  two  languages,  Hellenic  and  Romaic,  published  in  England  by  the 
Society  there  estnbli.shed,  of  Uritish  Typography,  by  .'ohu  Tilling,  at  Chelsea,  iu 
the  year  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  ten  of  the  incarnation  of  Christ  our  Sa- 
viour, we  have  found  in  it  nothing  false  or  erroneous;  wherefore  we  have  judge»l 


CH.\F.Jf.]  AiND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  447 

a  careful  and  elaborate  revision.  From  the  good  effect  which  the 
Gospel  of  St.  John  had  been  seen  to  produce  among  the  converted 
Esquimaux,  encouragement  was  given  to  the  translation  of  the  re- 
maining portions  of  the  Testament  into  that  dialect.  The  first  three 
Gospels,  as  prepared  by  the  late  Rev.  Mr.  Burghardt,  had  already 
been  printed;  and  they  were  despatched  this  year  to  the  missionary 
settlement  on  the  coast  of  Labrador.  Of  the  Ethiopic,  and  the  Sy- 
riac,  it  will  be  necessary  to  speak  somewhat  more  in  detail. 

The  attention  of  the  Committee  was  first  drawn  to  the  Ethiopic 
Scriptures,  in  December,  1810,  by  the  Directors  of  the  Edinburgh 
Bible  Society  ;  who,  prompted  by  a  suggestion  from  a  member  of 
their  body,  the  Rev.  George  Paxton,  Professor  of  Divinity  to  the 
Antiburgher  General  Associate  Synod,  recommended  (he  subject  to 
the  consideration  of  the  Parent  Society. 

In  the  Address  which  contained  the  suggestion,  Mr.  Paxton  repre- 
sented the  case  of  the  Christians  in  Abyssinia,  as  having  a  particular 
claim  to  be  considered  in  a  plan  for  the  general  distribution  of  the 
Scriptures.  After  describing  the  early  conversion  *  of  the  Abys- 
einians  to  Christianity,  their  unshaken  adherence  to  the  profession  of 

right  to  give  permission  for  it  to  be  used  and  read  by  all  pious,  united,  and  ortho- 
dox Christians;  to  be  sold  in  the  Booksellers'  shops;  aud  to  be  bought  freely  by 
all  who  wish  it,  without  any  one  making  the  least  hesitation :  for  the  manifestation 
of  which,  this  our  present  Patriarchal  Declaration  has  been  issued, 

"  fn  the  iliirtcenih  day  of  the  month  of  December,  1814." 

The  original  is  in  ancient  Greek :  tlxat  being  the  language  in  which  public  docu- 
ments  are  written.  < 

"  There  are"  (says  Mr.  Haygarth)  •'  three  different  languages  in  use  through 
Greece; 

"  1st.  The  ancient  Greek,  ('Exx»v/xj),)  in  which  the  service  of  the  church  is 
written.  It  is  used  solely  in  ecclesiastical  affairs.  The  letters  of  the  Patriarchs  to 
the  Archbishops  and  Bishops,  their  proclamations  and  excommunications,  are 
written  in  this  language,  corrupted,  however,  by  the  introduction  of  a  few  modern 
expressions. 

"2nd.  The  M/|ci-B£t§^:<|oc,  or, 'Atxo-Eaxdi/kw,  a  language  possessing  not  the 
purity  of  the  ancient,  nor  the  corruption  of  the  modern  Greek.  The  author  of  the 
Byzantine  History  wrote  in  this  idiom.  This  work  ends  in  1462,  nine  years  after 
the  taking  of  Constantinople. 

«  3d.  The  'PafxctiKx,  called  also  Ui^x,  or,  'ATry^c-TgnuiKH,  which  is  at  present 
in  general  use  in  writing  and  conversation." 

See  «  Greece,  a  Poem,  with  Notes,  Classical  Illustrations,  and  Sketches  of  the 
Scenery,  by  William  Haygarth,  Esq.  A.  M."— a  work  abounding  in  accurate 
knowledge,  liberal  sentiment,  and  interesting  description. 

*  The  Abyssinians  were  converted  to  Christianity  in  the  year  333 ;  their  reli- 
gious tenets  are  those  of  the  Greek  Church. 


t)4B  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  IJl. 

it  under  the  peculiar  temptations  and  discouragements  to  which  they 
had  been  exposed,  the  declension  of  vital  Christianity  among  them, 
from  the  want  of  religious  instruction,  their  disposition  and  ability  to 
peruse  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  the  opportunity  of  communication 
at  that  time  existing,  and  which,  if  lost,  might  "  not  be  recovered  for 
ages," — the  benevolent  author  thus  feehngly  concludes  his  appeal : 

"  The  road  to  Abyssinia,  which  has  been  for  a  long  time  considered 
as  shut  against  every  stranger,  is  now  happily  opened,  and  a  more  in- 
timate acquaintance  with  Britain  is  becoming  an  object  of  desire  to 
their  rulers ;  and  who  knows,  if  the  event  has  not  been  ordered  by 
divine  Providence  for  the  purpose  which  is  now  suggested  ?  Mr. 
Salt  is  at  present  in  Abyssinia,  op  the  part  of  our  Government,  en- 
deavouring to  settle  a  commercial  intercourse  between  the  two  na- 
tions ;  and  if  that  desirable  purpose  be  accomplished,  the  principal 
difficulty  is  removed,  and  the  Scriptures  may  be  introduced  with  ease. 
The  Ethiopic  Bible  is  to  be  found  in  Europe,  perhaps  in  the  library 
of  the  Parent  Society,  or  it  may  be  procured  from  Abyssinia ;  and 
Ethiopic  scholars  may  also  be  found  to  superintend  the  impression. 
Allow  me  to  ask,  Shall  we  not  step  forward  to  strengthen  the  things 
which  remain,  and  which  are  ready  to  die  ?  Shall  we  hesitate  to  re- 
store that  people,  who  have  so  long  stretched  out  their  hands  unto 
God,  from  the  savage  state,  the  darkness  of  Paganism,  or  the  delu- 
sions of  Mahommed  ?  Surely  it  is  wiser  to  blow  up  the  dying  spark 
into  a  flame.  It  is  an  object  which  our  plan  embraces  :  it  is  a  duty 
which  the  divine  law  requires :  to  which  the  finger  of  Providence 
seems  to  be  directly*  pointing :  and  which  the  charity,  inculcated  by 
our  holy  religion,  strongly  recommends." 

The  subject,  thus  suggested  and  enforced,  appeared,  under  all  its 
aspects,  of  such  grave  importance,  that  a  Sub-Committee  was  ap- 
pointed, of  which  Viscount  Valentia  and  Henry  Salt,  Esq.  were  con- 
stituted Members,  for  the  purpose  of  considering  the  best  means  of 
furnishing  the  Abyssinians  with  the  Holy  Scriptures.  The  result  of 
the  inquiries  pursued  by  this  active  and  intelligent  Sub-Committee, 
and  of  their  repeated  deliberations  during  a  period  of  nearly  eighteen 
months,  was,  a  recommendation  to  print  some  portion  of  the  Ethiopic 
Bible  by  way  of  experiment,  and  to  abstain  from  any  greater  under- 
taking till  Sir  Evan  Nepean  (at  that  time  proceeding  as  Governor  to 
Bombay)  should  have  ascertained  whether  a  complete*  copy  of  the 

*  The  following  is  Mr.  Bruce's  statement  on  the  Ethiopic  Scriptures,  as  they 
exist  in  Abyssinia. 

"The  Abyssinians  have  the  whole  Scriptures  entire,  as  we  L«ve,  and  couut  the 
same  number  of  books  j  but  they  divide  theni  in  another  maancr,  at  least  in  pri- 


CHAP.  11.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  44,9 

Bible  could  be  obtained  from  Abyssinia.  Conformably  with  this  re- 
commendation, an  order  was  immediately  given,  that  the  Book  of 
Psalms,  and  the  Gospels  of  St.  Matthew  and  St.  John,  in  the  Ethiopia, 
should  be  printed  from  the  text  of  Ludolph.  It  has  since  appeared, 
that,  while  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  were  preparing  this 
supply  of  copies  in  the  learned  language  of  Abyssinia,  a  translation 
had  been  commenced,  and  was  proceeding,  at  Grand  Cairo,  under  the 
direction  of  the  French  Charge  d'Affaires,  Monsieur  Asselin,  into  the 
Aroharic,  or  vulgar  dialect  of  the  country.  A  correspondence  has 
been  opened  with  Monsieur  Asselin;  and,  from  his  high  literary 
qualifications,  as  attested  by  that  accomplished  orientalist,  and  friend 
of  the  Institution,  Baron  Silvester  de  Sacy,  of  Paris,  there  is  good 
reason  to  hope,  that,  through  the  blessing  of  God,  the  Abyssinians 
will,  in  due  time,  become  possessed  of  the  Scriptures  in  a  dialect  with 
which  they  are  familiar,  and  in  which  no  portion  of  the  divine  word 
has  hitherto  been  printed.* 


vate  hands :  few  of  them,  from  extreme  poverty,  being  able  to  purchase  the  whole, 
either  of  the  historical  or  prophetical  books  of  the  Old  Testament.  The  same  may 
be  said  of  the  New ;  for  copies  containing  the  whole  of  it  are  very  scarce.  Indeed, 
no  where,  unless  in  churches,  do  you  see  more  than  the  Gospels,  or  the  Acts  of  the 
Apostles,  in  any  person's  possession;  and  it  must  not  be  an  ordinary  man  that  pos- 
sesses even  these. 

"  Many  books  of  the  Old  Testament  are  forgotten  ;  so  that  it  is  the  same  trouble 
to  procure  them  even  in  churches,  for  the  purpose  of  copying,  as  to  consult  old 
records  long  covered  with  rubbish." 

Mr.  Salt,  who  quotes  largely  from  Mr.  Bruce,  relative  to  the  deplorable  state  of 
the  Abyssinians  as  to  re]igiou$  instruction,  and  their  favourable  disposition  to  re- 
ceive it,  says,  that  his  own  observations  tend  fully  to  corroborate  that  account. 
"  I  believe  them,  in  general,"  (observes  Mr.  Salt,)  "  to  be  possessed  of  most  ex- 
cellent inclinations,  with  great  quickness  of  understanding,  and  an  anxious  desire 
of  improvement ;  and  I  am  fully  persuaded,  that  there  is  no  part  of  the  world  where 
European  influence  might  be  excited  with  more  beneficial  effects  than  in  Abyssi- 
»ia." 

♦  Monsieur  Asselin  (in  a  communication  to  the  Society)  speaks  of  the  Scrip- 
tures in  the  Ethiopic  as  likely  to  be  very  serviceable  in  Abyssinia,  as  it  is  the  only 
language  in  which  their  books  have  been  written,  and  which,  amidst  the  variety  of 
dialects,  is  universally  studied.  Of  the  Amharic,  as  spoken  at  Gondar,  he  observes, 
that  it  is  the  prevalent  dialect  in  the  eastern  parts  of  Africa  which  border  on  the 
equator ;  and  that  it  is  through  this  dialect  all  intercourse  is  maintained  between 
the  natives  of  Abyssinia,  and  the  Arabians  and  the  Negroes  of  the  interior.  "  S'il 
existe  (adds  Monsieur  Asselin)  un  peuple  sur  la  terre  auquel  le  but  que  se  propose 
la  Soci6t6  de  la  Bible  soit  eminemment  utile,  c'estsans  doute  au  peuple  Abyssinien. 
Car  sa  premiere  etude  est  celle  de  la  Bible,  son  premier  besoin  spirituel  est  I'Evan- 
5file,  qu'il  lit  et  relit  constarament  tous  les  jours." 


450  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART.  III. 

The  printing  of  the  Syriac  New  Testament  originated  in  a  sugges- 
tion of  Zachary  Jllacaulay,  Esq.  and  it  was  chiefly  undertaken  with  a 
view  to  supply  the  want  so  affectingly  described  by  the  late  Rev.  Dr. 
Buchanan,  as  existing  in  the  Syrian  churches  of  Travancore.  The 
Syriac  is  the  learned  language,  and  the  language  of  the  church;  and 
the  Malayalini  (or  Malabai')  the  vernacular  language  of  the  country. 
The  Scriptures  are  read  by  the  Priests  from  manuscript  copies  in  the 
former,*  and  expounded  in  the  latter  to  the  people.  With  the  steps 
which  were  taking,  through  the  Calcutta  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  to 
furnish  an  accurate  and  complete  version  of  the  New  Testament  in 
the  Malayahm,  or  dialect  of  the  country,  the  reader  is  acquainted : 
how  desirable  it  was,  that  to  this  should  be  added  a  similar  edition  in 
the  Syriac,  he  may  form  some  opinion  from  the  following  statement : 

"  I  produced"  (said  Dr.  Buchanan)  "  a  printed  copy  of  the  Syriac 
New  Testament.  There  was  not  one  of  them  who  had  ever  seen  a 
printed  copy  before  ;  they  admired  it  much  ;  and  every  Priest,  as  it 
came  into  his  hands,  began  to  read  a  portion,  which  he  did  fluently, 
while  the  women  came  round  to  hear.  I  asked  the  old  Priest  whether 
I  should  send  them  some  copies  from  Europe.  '  They  would  be  worth 
their  weight  in  silver,'  said  he.  The  same  Priest  afterwards  added 
the  significant  words — '  Our  church  languishes  for  xaant  of  the  Scrip- 
tures.^ "t 

Influenced  by  this  consideration,  and  others  of  a  kindred  nature,  the 
Committee  determined  to  print  a  handsome  edition  of  the  Syriac 
Testament :  and  Dr.  Buchanan,  with  his  usual  zeal  and  munificence, 
engaged  to  prepare  the  text,  and  superintend  the  execution  of  the 
work,  at  his  own  expense.  For  this  purpose  he  took  up  his  residence 
at  Broxbourne,  in  Hertfordshire,  in  order  to  be  near  the  press  :  but 
he  had  not  proceeded  beyond  the  26th  chapter  of  the  Acts  of  the 
Apostles,  when  a  period  was  put  to  those  labours  which,  for  more 
than  eighteen  years,  had  been  unintermittedly  directed  to  the  spiritual 
improvement  of  British  India,  and  to  the  general  advancement  of 
Christianity  in  every  part  of  the  world.  On  the  decease  of  Dr.  Bu- 
chanan, the  work  did  not  languish.  Another  instrument  was  provi- 
dentially raised  up  in  the  person  of  the  self-taught  and  very  able 

"  If  there  exist  a  people  on  the  face  of  the  earth  to  wliom  the  object  of  the  Bible 
Society  may  be  eniiiicutiy  useful,  it  is  without  doubt  the  Abyssinians.  For  tlieir 
first  study  is  the  Bible,  their  first  spiritual  want  is  that  of  the  Gospel,  which  they 
constantly  read  over  and  over  every  day." 

*  The  Syric  Scriptures  were  first  brought  into  India  in  the  year  325 
t  Christisin  Researches,  &c.  p.  118. 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  Art 

orientalist,  Mr.  Lee  :*  and,  with  the  learned  advice  and  assistance  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Usko  and  Dr.  Adam  Clarke,  this  gentleman  is  perform- 
ing his  task  in  such  a  manner  as  to  justify  a  hope  of  its  being  very  ac- 
curately and  satisfactorily  completed. 

From  this  sketch  of  the  printing  department  alone,  some  idea  may 
be  formed  of  the  business  which  had  arisen,  and  continued  to  arise, 
out  of  the  measures  necessary  to  provide  a  competent  stock  of  Bibles 
and  Testaments  for  the  central  Depository  in  London. 

Next  to  the  labour  of  preparing,  in  this  way,  original  editions,  and 
of  renovating  those  which  had  become  exhausted,  was  that  of  distri- 
buting them,  according  to  the  proportion  in  which  they  were  respect- 
ively wanted,  both  at  home  and  abroad.  The  performance  of  this 
service,  involving  many  details  both  of  inquiry  and  of  calculation, 
which  discreet  and  conscientious  dispensers  of  the  public  liberality 
could  not  allow  themselves  to  overlook,  gave  occasion  to  much  and 
very  anxious  employment. 

If  to  these  offices  of  provision,  and  of  distribution,  be  added  that 
of  general  superintendence ;  including,  under  that  term,  the  corres- 
pondence with  Societies  and  individuals,  dispersed  over  so  wide  a 
field,  and  requiring  to  be  addressed  in  so  many  different  languages, 
it  will  appear,  that  the  duties  attached  to  the  management  of  the  In- 
stitution, were  become  in  a  high  degree  onerous  and  important. 

Having  put  the  reader  in  possession  of  this  information,  concerning 
the  internal  direction  of  the  Society's  affairs,  the  author  will  proceed 
to  describe  the  transactions  which  constitute  its  proper  history ;  ob- 
serving, in  the  course  of  his  narration,  as  nearly  as  circumstances  will 
permit,  the  track  prescribed  by  the  geographical  relations  of  the 
several  countries,  and  the  chronological  order  of  the  Societies  esta- 
blished within  them. 

Of  the  Bible  Societies  at  Berlin,  Basle,  Stockholm,  Abo,  and  St. 
Petersburg,  it  may  be  stated,  in  general  that  they  continued  to  pro- 
secute their  several  undertakings  with  great  zeal,  and  with  effects 
proportioned  to  the  extent  of  the  sphere  which  they  respectively  oc- 
cupied, and  the  resources  of  which  they  were  possessed. 

The  completion  of  the  second  edition  of  the  Bohemian  Bible,  which 
left  the  press  in  November,  1813,  was  a  proof  of  the  perseverino-  ex- 
ertions of  the  Berlin  Society ;  and  the  grant  of  a  loan  to  enable  it  to 

*  Mr.  Lee  is  engaged  in  the  employment  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society  :  and 
it  ought  to  be  mentioned,  to  the  honour  of  that  body,  that  they  very  liberally  ten- 
dered the  use  of  his  services,  iu  the  embarrassment  occasioned  bv  the  painful  event 
recorded  in  the  text. 


452  HISTORY  OP  THE  BRITISH  IPART  III. 

make  good  its  pecuniary  engagments,  was  an  equal  proof  of  the  confi- 
dence and  solicitude  with  which  its  exertions  continued  to  be  regarded 
by  the  Parent  Society  in  London. 

The  Evangelical  Society  at  Stockholm  persevered  in  its  labours 
with  unceasing  activity  and  success  ;  having  printed  2000  Bibles,  and 
6000  Testaments,  in  the  preceding  year,  and  distributed  gratuitously 
a  large  proportion  of  them  among  a  numerous  body  of  necessitous  and 
grateful  receivers.  To  this  Institution,  always  characterized  by  an 
energy  beyond  its  means,  a  fresh  donation  of  200Z.  was  transmitted  ; 
which,  arriving  in  a  moment  of  need,  was  peculiarly  seasonable , 
drew  forth  the  warmest  acknowledgments  ;  and  enabled  the  Society  to 
purchase  materials  for  printing  an  additional  number  of  Bibles  and 
Testaments.  An  important  change  took  place  in  this  Society,  in  the 
month  of  September  of  this  year,  when  the  Hon.  G.  Leyonmark,  con^ 
strained,  through  infirmity,  to  retire  from  the  office  of  President,  was 
succeeded  by  His  Excellency,  Baron  Rosenblad,  Minister  for  the 
Home  Department,  a  Nobleman  of  the  highest  rank  in  Sweden,  and  to 
whose  good  offices  with  the  Government,  the  Stockholm  Society  had 
been  essentially  indebted,  from  its  first  establishment.  The  answer 
of  Baron  Rosenblad  to  the  deputation  which  announced  to  him  the 
wishes  of  the  Society  that  he  should  become  their  President,  is  too 
,  memorable  to  be  omitted :  Considering  this  as  a  direction  of  di- 
vine Providence,  I  cannot  decline  accepting  the  Office.  The 
Baron's  account  of  principles  upon  which  he  had  acted,  as  expressed 
in  his  introductory  speech,  on  the  1st  of  October,  1813,  forms  a  ver}' 
striking  commentary  on  his  own  admirable  text,  and  may  suggest 
matter  for  reflection  to  persons  of  elevated  condition,  and  great  se- 
cular employment,  in  every  part  of  the  world  : 

"  Gentlemen,  I  have  considered  your  call  as  the  finger  of  Provi- 
dence, pointed  by  that  unerring  Hand,  which,  unseen,  directs  the  con- 
duct of  mortals,  and  always  with  a  view  to  lead  them  nearer  to  him- 
self The  principal  part  of  my  life  has  been  occupied  in  my  extensive 
and  laborious  official  engagements  ;  and  the  unceasing  care  I  have 
been  obliged  to  exerc'.se,  in  order  to  accomplish  their  many  im- 
portant duties,  has  not  seldom  awakened  in  me  the  painful  reflection, 
that  but  a  small  portion  of  my  time  had  been  alike  laboriously  de- 
voted to  advancing  the  cause  of  religion.  But  now,  although  in  the 
autumn  of  life,  a  gracious  Providence  has  been  pleased  to  open  to  me 
a  new  field,  and  thereby  favoured  me  with  an  opportunity  of  correcting 
my  past  neglect :  placing  me,  through  its  kind  guidance,  within  this  not 
only  more  exalted,  but  also  more  peaceful  sphere  of  action  :  in  order 


THAP.  n.l  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV. 


453 


that  I  may  do  my  part  in  furthering  and  supporting  the  important  ob- 
jects of  this  Society.  To  do  so  is  my  resolution  ;  nay,  the  very  desire 
of  my  heart." 

In  the  course  of  this  speech,  which  is  not  more  remarkable  for  ar- 
dent piety  than  for  just  conceptions  of  religious  truth,  and  enlight- 
ened views  of  Christian  policy,  this  revered  Nobleman  adverts,  in 
the  most  striking  manner,  to  the  reign  of  infidelity,  and  its  happy  ter- 
mination : 

"  We  have  outlived  the  awful  period  when  the  doctrine  of  the 
atonement  of  Christ  was  shrouded  in  darkness.  Mournful  was  the 
lot  of  those  who  confessed  His  nam«.  For  almost  an  entire  century, 
did  infidelity,  with  unblushing  front,  deride  the  revealed  will  of  God, 
and  either  openly  or  secretly  undermine  the  sacred  foundations  of  the 
Gospel  doctrine.  The  deleterious  poison,  having  worked  its  way 
among  what  are  called  the  most  enlightened  nations  of  Europe,  and 
established  its  influence  in  their  higher  circles,  soon  spread  abroad 
among  the  mass  of  the  people  ;  and  rolled  on  in  fearful  torrents  of  ini- 
quity, carrying  with  it  a  sweeping  destruction  wherever  it  went. — 
We  have,  truly,  the  most  abundant  cause  for  thankfulness  to  a  gra- 
cious God,  for  having  preserved  our  native  land  from  such  scenes  of 
desolation.  We  dare  not,  however,  deny,  that  even  among  us  were 
found  an  increased  indifference  to  the  word  of  God  ;  and,  with  raany, 
a  bold  contempt  of  it.  Not  a  few  were  ashamed  to  confess'  the  name 
of  Jesus :  and  have  we  not  ourselves  had  to  endure  long  discourses 
upon  religion,  in  the  course  of  which  we  scarcely  once  heard  that 
blessed  name  mentioned,  before  which,  however,  every  knee  shall 
bow,  whether  it  be  upon  earth,  or  under  the  earth — But  the  promises 
of  God  are  fulfiUing  ;  for,  '  Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away,  but  my 
words  shall  not  pass  away.'  (Luke  xxi.  33.)  And,  '  Upon  this  Rock 
will  I  build  my  Church,  and  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against 
her.^  Gospel  light  is  dawning  again  on  those  nations  where  the  shadow 
of  death  sat  almost  enthroned  ;  and  barriers  are  raising  against  '  the 
abomination  of  desolation.' 

"  In  a  certain  country,  most  powerful  because  of  its  veneration  for 
religion,  and  consequently  for  the  laws  ;  where,  as  a  result,  the  wel- 
fare of  the  public  and  of  individuals  rests  on  the  surest  foundation  ;  a 
Society  was  established,  and  in  times  too  while  the  whirlwinds  of  deso- 
lation were  yet  laying  waste  the  earth  ;  the  aim  and  glorious  object 
of  this  Society  embrace  a  distribution  of  God's  holy  word  and  Gospel 
light,  through  the  whole  habitable  globe.  That  revered  Society, 
which  has  also  held  forth  its  friendly  and  generous  hand  to  our  Swe- 
dish Evangelical  Institution,  has  found  in  its  zeal  and  liberalitv  a  s:tr- 
.59 


454  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III. 

cess  which  so  utterly  exceeds  the  power  of  all  human  effort,  as  evi- 
dently to  proclaim — that  the  finger  of  God  is  in  it :  his  guardian  care 
is  therein  distinctly  unveiled." 

After  expatiating  on  the  useful  employment  of  the  Society  over 
which  he  has  been  called  to  preside,  the  noble  orator  concludes  his 
Address  with  the  following  pious  and  emphatical  prayer. 

"  Eternal  Saviour  of  the  world,  strengthen  and  support  the  desire 
Thyself  hast  graciously  awakened  in  this  Society :  that  all  the  mem- 
bers of  it  may  work  as  one  man  :  and,  with  full  purpose  of  heart,  spread 
abroad  that  heavenly  knowledge,  which  records  Thine  Atonement, 
Thy  Suffering,  and  Thy  Death.  Grant  success,  and  thy  richest 
blessing,  to  all  we  shall  do- towards  the  promotion  of  this  great  end. 
We  place  all  our  reliance  on  Thee  ;  and  rest  our  hope  of  a  gracious 
answer  to  our  supplications,  upon  that  wonderful  love  which  brought 
Thee  into  the  world  to  save  sinners." 

The  Society  at  Abo  continued  to  justify  the  opinion  formed  of  their 
spirit  and  assiduity.  To  enable  them  to  supply  the  Swedish  Fin- 
landers  with  copies  of  the  Scriptures,  the  sum  of  200/.  had  been 
placed  at  their  disposal,  for  the  purchase  of  Swedish  Bibles.  This 
commission  they  had  faithfully  executed ;  and  had  distributed  the  co- 
pies in  those  parishes  where  the  Swedish  still  continues  to  be  verna- 
cular ;  deeming  it  "  the  highest  satisfaction  to  be  made  active  instru- 
ments, in  the  hands  of  God,  for  spreading  abroad  an  experimental 
knowledge  of  the  doctrine  of  our  God  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ ;  such 
only  as  it  is  revealed  to  us  in  its  original  purity  in  the  sacred  volume." 
This  occupation  did  not,  however,  diminish  their  zeal  for  carrying 
into  effect  the  principal  design  of  their  establishment,  that  of  provi- 
ding the  Scriptures  in  the  Finnish  language,  for  the  general  popula- 
tion of  the  province.  With  this  view,  while  the  types  for  the  octavo 
edition  were  casting  at  St.  Petersburg,  their  minds  were  intent  upon 
doing  something  on  a  large  type,  for  the  benefit  of  the  aged  and  the 
poor,  whose  eye-sight  was  represented  as  greatly  injured  by  the  ac- 
tion of  confined  smoke  in  the  cottages  which  they  inhabit.  The  so- 
licitude manifested  by  the  Abo  Society,  "  for  the  everlasting  good"  of 
these  cottagers,  was  participated  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society ;  and  a  grant  was  made,  in  the  year  1814,  in  aid  of  the  pro- 
ject for  so  benevolent  and  necessary  a  work.  Though  the  province 
of  Finland  had,  but  a  few  years  ago,  been  desolated  hy  war  and 
famine,  the  subscriptions  contributed  to  the  funds  of  the  Society, 
more  than  tripled  the  highest  expectations  of  its  most  sanguine  friends. 
"  For  this,"  (says  the  President,  Count  Steinheil,)  "  no  doubt,  you 
will  join  us  in  blessing  God  ;  inasmuch  as  it  affords  a  decisive  proof, 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  455 

that  the  prevalence  of  infidelity,  of  indifference  to  divine  things,  and 
of  a  practical  levity,  not  less  destructive  than  either,  has  not  extin- 
guished, in  the  breast  of  this  generally  poor,  but  manly  and  industrious 
nation,  an  ardent  love  for  the  word  of  God  ;  and  a  pleasing  hope,  that 
he  will  lift  upon  them  the  light  of  his  reconciled  countenance  in 
Christ,  and,  with  temporal  peace  and  quiet,  grant  them  that  peace  of 
God  which  passeth  all  understanding,  and  which  shall  end  in  ever- 
lasting rest  in  a  better  world." 

Much  has  already  been  said  in  commendation  of  the  Basle  Society  ; 
and  it  must  further  be  observed,  that  every  step  in  the  course  of  its 
proceedings,  by^developing  new  traits  of  activity,  judgment,  and  per- 
severance, gives  it  fresh  claims  to  admiration  and  regard.  Rapid 
advances  were  made  in  the  edition  of  a  small  German  Bible,  (amount- 
ing to  10,000  copies,)  for  the  youth  in  their  schools :  this,  which 
issued  from  the  press  in  September,  1814,  was  shortly  after  followed 
by  a  fifth  edition  of  the  larger  Bible,  on  standing  types,  for  the  adults 
and  the  aged ;  and  scope  was  found  for  the  distribution  of  both, 
through  channels  which  were  continually  opening  in  new  and  unex- 
pected directions. 

Nor  we're  the  operations  of  this  diligent  and  improving  Society  con- 
fined to  the  members  of  the  Protestant  community.  The  disposition 
among  the  Catholics,  in  their  vicinity,  to  receive  the  Scriptures, 
opened  a  wide  field  for  benevolent  exertion.  Aided  by  pecuniary 
grants  from  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  the  Committee  at 
Basle  drew  largely  upon  the  Catholic  depositories  at  Ratisbon  and 
Marburg,  for  the  service  of  the  members  of  that  persuasion,  both  in 
Germany  and  Switzerland,  whose  applications  for  copies  appeared  to 
increase,  in  proportion  as  suppUes  were  administered. 

Similar  exertions  were  made  by  the  Zurich  Bible  Society,  which, 
besides  distributing  Bibles,  of  which  it  had  made  an  immediate  pur- 
chase, completed  an  edition  of  the  New  Testament,  on  large  types, 
in  the  month  of  January,  1814,  and  commenced  the  distribution  with 
great  diligence  and  liberality.  In  these  measures  it  obtained  a  zealous 
co-operation  from  the  Committees  at  SchafFhausen,  and  at  Chur. 
"  Present"  (said  the  Zurich  Society,  in  its  acknowledgment,  through 
its  Secretary)  "  our  most  sincere  thanks  to  that  Society  which  has  so 
generously  come  to  our  a.ssistance.  But  for  you,  we  should  not  pos- 
sess our  New  Testament.  Without  you,  we  should  not  have  been 
able  to  sell  cheaply,  or  give  away  600  Bibles  to  the  poor.  May  the 
Lord  reward  you !" 

As  the  course  of  the  narrative  has  brought  us  to  Switzerland,  it 
may  be  of  advantage  to  commence  the  enumeration  of  the  new  Soci- 


456  UISTOIIV  OF  THE  BRITISH  iPART  111. 

eties,  from  that  portion  of  Europe  ;  and  so  much  the  rather,  because 
of  the  near  relation  between  the  Society  now  first  to  be  mentioned, 
and  that  which  has  last  been  described. 

On  the  3d  of  July,  1813,  was  formed,  the  St.  Gall  Bible  Society, 
for  the  purpose  of  supplying  the  Canton  of  that  name,  as  well  the 
Catholic  as  the  Protestant  part  of  it,  with  the  Holy  Scriptures.  Of 
the  origin  of  this  Institution,  and  the  manner  in  which  its  establish- 
ment was  effected,  the  following  account  is  given  by  the  Very  Rev. 
G.  G.  Scherer,  Dean  of  the  Protestant  Clergy  of  St.  Gall,  and  Pre- 
sident of  the  Society,  in  his  eloquent  and  impressive  address  at  the 
first  anniversary  : 

"  Through  the  medium  of  our  respected  member,  Mr.  Gaspard 
Steiaman,*  very  liberal  contributions  had  previously  been  raised,  and 
more  than  800  Bibles,  and  3,300  Testaments,  from  Basle,  had  been 
distributed  in  different  parts  of  this  Canton.  Even  among  our  Catho- 
lic brethren,  under  the  fatherly  direction  of  the  excellent  Vicar- 
General,  Von  Wessenberg,  more  than  20,000  Testaments  have  been 
circulated  through  his  diocese,  since  the  period  of  his  entrance  upon 
his  functions ;  and  by  the  co-operation  of  several  diligent  and  en- 
lightened clergymen  of  that  persuasion,  the  Catholics  had  begun  to 
acknowledge  the  great  value  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  to  peruse 
them  with  pleasure  and  advantage.  All  these  circumstances  excited 
in  the  breast  of  the  highly  estimable  Mr.  Steinman,  a  desire  to  see  a 
Bible  Society  established  among  us  ;  that  wjth  united  zeal  we  might 
labour  in  the  cause  of  the  glorious  work  in  which  he  had  already 
been  so  actively  and  unremittingly  engaged.  At  his  request,  a  num- 
ber of  pious  and  respectable  persons  assembled,  on  the  3d  of  July, 
1813,  and  the  foundation  of  our  Bible  Society  was  laid." 

The  proceedings  of  this  Society  were  characterized  by  a  conti- 
nuance of  that  zeal  and  liberality  so  conspicuous  in  the  circumstances 
which  led  to  its  formation.  Intent  upon  fulfilling  the  design  of  its 
estabhshment,  its  Committee  entered  into  a  friendly  communication 
with  the  Society  at  Basle,  and  co-operated  with  that  Institution  in  sup- 

*  Some  lis^ht  will  be  thrown  on  the  character  of  this  venerable  man,  by  the  fol- 
lowing extract  from  one  of  his  letters : 

"  I  wish  to  work  while  it  is  called  to-day  ;  being  now  in  my  seventy-fourth  year, 
and  feeling  desirous  to  render  myself  useful  in  my  day  and  generation.  Our  Lord 
well  deserves  that  all  the  powers  of  our  body  and  soul  should  be  entirely  conse- 
crated to  him.  Blessed  be  his  name,  he  drew  nie  at  an  early  period  to  himself  3 
and  the  nearer  I  approach  the  grave,  the  more  I  rejoice  in  having  chosen  so  good 
a  Master,  and  been  privileged  by  bitii  to  contribute  in  any  small  degree  to  the 
building  of  his  spiritual  temple." 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  457 

plying  to  Pretestants  and  Catholics,  indifferently,  according  to  the 
versions  accredited  by  their  respective  communions,  the  oracles  of 
their  common  salvation.  By  the  liberal  and  truly  Christian  policy  of 
the  Vicar-General,  within  whose  jurisdiction  between  eighty  and 
ninety  out  of  the  one  hundred  Catholic  parishes  in  the  Canton  of  St. 
Gall  are  situated,  the  interdict  prohibiting  the  people  from  reading 
the  Scriptures  was  superseded ;  and  nearly  nine-tenths  of  the  Catho- 
lic population  throughout  the  Canton  were  not  only  permitted,  but 
encouraged  to  peruse  them. 

This  consideration  will,  of  itself,  render  the  St.  Gall  Society  a  pow- 
erful Auxiliary  to  the  Parent  Institution  (for  such  it  may  with  truth 
be  denominated)  at  Basle.  Aided  by  the  vigorous  co-operation  of 
the  Committees  at  Schaffhausen  and  Chur,  and  of  the  Societies  at 
Zurich  and  St.  Gall,  (not  to  mention  those  which  have  since  arisen, 
and  which  are  yet  progressively  arising,)  the  Basle  Society  may  be- 
come a  distinguished  luminary ;  perhaps  the  centre  of  a  system,  bj' 
means  of  which  the  light  of  Divine  Revelation  shall  be  permanently 
dispensed,  through  a  wide  circuit,  from  generation  to  generation. 

Germany  next  presents  itself  to  our  notice,  in  which  a  new  AuxiH- 
ary  appeared,  in  the  course  of  this  year,  under  the  denomination  of 
the  Wurtemberg  Bible  Institution.  This  Society,  which  appears  to 
have  originated  in  the  encouragement  given  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stein- 
kopff  when  visiting  his  native  country,  was  regularly  formed,  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1813,  under  the  sanction  of  His  Majesty  the  King  of  Wurtem- 
berg, who  granted  it  several  privileges,  and  placed  it  under  the 
superintending  care  of  the  Supreme  Directory  of  all  schools  and 
seminaries  of  education.  By  a  royal  decree,  bearing  date  the  16th 
of  February,  1813,  a  number  of  gentlemen,  who  had  freely  offered 
their  services,  were  appointed  by  the  King  a  Committee  of  adminis- 
tration ;  and  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  Society  were  finally  set- 
tled. Encouraged  by  the  grant  of  500/.  from  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  and  by  the  liberality  with  which  the  inhabitants 
of  Wurtemberg,  though  impoverished  by  the  war,  came  forward  with 
subscriptions  and  donations,  the  managers  of  the  Institution  proceeded 
with  alacrity  to  the  discharge  of  their  trust ;  and  an  edition  of  the 
German  Bible  was  put  to  press,  amounting  to  10,000  copies  of  the 
entire  Bible,  and  2,000  additional  Testaments.  "  Large"  (they  say) 
"  as  this  number  may  be,  it  can-aot  satisfy  the  demands  of  all.  Be- 
sides, it  may  stimulate  zeal  for  the  possession  of  this  invaluable  book  : 
for"  (they  add)  "  we  cherish  a  hope  of  better  times,  only  in  that  pro- 
portion in  which  an  attachment  to  the  divine  word,  and  a  prompt 


,158  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  HI. 

Gbedience  lo  its  precepts,  increase,''  To  this  sentiment,  at  once  so  just, 
and  so  worthy  of  general  attention,  was  united,  in  the  breast  of  these 
excellent  men ,  an  enlightened  and  affectionate  communion  of  spirit  with 
their  fellow-labourers  and  fellow-christians  in  that  Pai-ent  Institution 
to  which  they  professed  to  trace  the  origin  of  their  own.  After 
acknowledging  their  first  and  highest  obligation  to  "  God,  the  Father 
of  Lights,  from  whom  every  good  gift  and  every  perfect  gift  cometh," 
they  thus  express  the  feeUng  which  has  just  been  described.  "  To 
you  also,  our  warmest  thanks  are  due,  beloved  brethren ;  to  whom 
we  feel  most  closely  united  by  the  bonds  of  Christian  regard  and 
affection  ;  in  whose  footsteps  we  gladly  tread  ;  and  for  whose  munifi- 
cent gifts  we  acknowledge  ourselves  most  deeply  indebted.  It  affords 
us  real  delight  before  our  common  Lord,  frequently  to  remember 
those  absent  friends  of  ours,  whom  neither  seas  nor  mountains  can 
separate  from  that  spiritual  union  and  communion  which  is  cherished 
by  faith,  hope,  and  charity."  Reciprocating  this  feeling,  the  author 
cannot  refuse  the  tribute  of  his  sympathy  with  the  Wurtemberg 
Society  in  their  grief  for  the  loss  of  the  pious  Count  Seckendorf, 
Minister  of  State,  one  of  the  eajrUest  and  warmest  promoters  of  the 
Institution  ;  and  who  was  removed  from  its  concerns  very  shortly 
after  its  estabhshment : — "  even  in  a  dying  hour  adhering  closely  to 
Him  to  whom  he  had  consecrated  his  life."* 

The  removal  of  individuals,  in  whom  rank,  and  piety,  and  active 
benevolence,  have  been  happily  associated,  should  be  regarded,  as 
not  merely  a  local  or  a  national,  but  a  common  calamity  :  and  it  is  not 
among  the  least  of  the  advantages  arising  from  the  system  of  Bible 
Societies,  that,  by  opening  an  intercourse  between  the  divided  mem- 
bers of  Christ's  spiritual  churcii,  it  gives  them  a  mutual  interest  in 
each  other's  welfare,  and  disposes  them,  in  every  vicissitude  of  dis- 
tress or  prosperity,  to  lament  and  rejoice  together. 

The  Societies  newly  established  in  Sweden  next  demand  our  atten- 
tion. 

*  VVurtcmbcv*  Address.  Of  this  Nobleman  Mr.  Sfeinkopfl'  speaks  in  (he  fol- 
lowing terms: 

"  Count  Seekcndorf  was  a  Nobleman  of  a  truly  excellent  character.  Christian 
Himplicity,  unfeig^ned  humility,  condescending  kindness,  love  to  the  poor,  active 
benevolence,  a  catholic  spirit,  and  a  mo.st  devout  attachment  to  the  word  and  ser- 
vice of  God,  were  some  of  its  most  prominent  features.  He  was  highly  respected, 
and  greatly  beloved,  by  all  ranks  and  descriptions  of  people.  He  attended  the 
very  first  preparatory  Meetings  which  were  held  for  taking  into  consideration  the 
propriety  of  establishing  a  U'lirte'iibcrg  Bible  Institution,  and  much  assisted  the 
bappy  buccess  of  the  proposed  measures,  by  his  wise  counsels." 


CHAP.  lil  -WJD  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  459 

To  the  Evangelical  Society  in  the  capital  of  that  kingdom,  and  of 
whose  transactions  an  account  has  already  been  given,  three  were 
added  for  the  provinces  of  Gothenburg,  Westmania  and  Dalecarlia, 
and  Gothland.  They  vvere  severally  formed  by  a  concurrence  of 
the  first  authorities,  both  ecclesiastical  and  civil ;  and  placed  under 
the  patronage  of  the  Bishops  of  the  dioceses  within  which  they  were 
respectively  situated.  The  accomplishment  of  this  work  is  to  be 
ascribed  chiefly  to  the  exertions  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr.  Brunnmark,  who, 
upon  having  obtained  permission  of  his  Sovereign  to  leave  his  station 
as  Chaplain  of  the  Embassy  in  London,  for  four  months,  in  order  to 
revisit  his  native  country,  carried  out  with  him  full  powers  from  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  to  encourage  the  formation  of 
Bible  Societies  in  Sweden,  by  immediate  grants,  and  by  promises  of 
still  further  and  more  effectual  assistance.  This  office,  so  agree- 
able to  the  pious  and  benevolent  feelings  of  this  excellent  man,  he 
discharged  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  parties  concerned  in  its 
success. 

In  the  course  of  those  journeys  which  he  took  in  pursuit  of  this 
object.  Dr.  Brunnmark  ascertained  very  extensively  the  want  of  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  discovered  many  new  channels  for  future  distribu- 
tion, and,  from  a  fund  which  had  been  placed  at  his  disposal  by  the 
Society  whose  almoner  he  was,  administered  many  seasonable  and 
most  welcome  supplies,  in  cases  which  did  not  admit  of  delay. 

But  the  most  important  result  of  his  journey  and  exertions,  (so  far 
as  regarded  their  immediate  effects,)  was,  the  establishment  of  the 
three  Societies  before  enumerated  ;  to  the  description  of  which  it  will 
now  be  necessary  to  proceed. 

The  Gothland  Bible  Society,  the  seat  of  which  is  at  Wisby,  origin- 
ated in  a  present  made  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  of 
its  Reports,  and  certain  versions,  through  the  medium  of  Dr.  Brunn- 
mark, to  the  Consistorial  library  of  that  island.  The  receipt  of 
these  interesting  documents,  together  with  the  encouraging  offer 
of  aid  with  which  it  was  accompanied,  led,  through  the  interference 
of  the  Rev.  Martin  Gustafson,  Secretary  of  the  Consistory,  to  the 
adoption  of  those  measures  which  terminated  in  the  establishment  of 
the  Gothland  Bible  Society.  To  this  Institution  the  Bishop  of  Goth- 
land, with  whom,  in  a  casual  interview  at  Westeras,  Dr.  Brunnmark 
had  discussed  the  subject  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
and  of  the  plan  for  a  similar  Society  at  Wisby,  promised  to  give  his 
cordial  and  effective  support.  The  necessity  for  such  an  Estabhsh- 
ment  may  be,  in  some  measure,  inferred  from  the  statement  of  Mr. 


460 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  '.PART  III. 


Oustafson,  that  "  the  population  of  the  island  amounts  to  32,607,  of 
which  10,194  are  under  fifteen  years  of  age  ;  and  that  of  the  number 
between  the  ages  of  six  and  fifteen,  there  are  400  whose  education  is 
utterly  neglected." 

The  following  brief  address  of  the  Consistory  will  show  in  what 
spirit  the  Gothland  Society  was  formed,  and  what  expectation  might 
therefore  be  cherished,  of  its  future  activity,  and  success. 

"  Give  us  leave  to  request,  that  you  will,  in  your  able  and  proper 
manner,  present  to  the  Committee  of  that  wonder  of  the  Christian 
world,  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  in  London,  our  most 
unfeigned,  cordial,  and  respectful  thanks  for  thfeir  remembrance 
of  the  Consistory  of  this  island,  while  they  have  on  their  hands  under- 
takings for  the  honour  of  God  our  Saviour,  which  astonish  the  most 
zealous  of  his  servants.  May  the  choicest  blessings,  and  the  most 
abundant  outpourings  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  ever  rest  upon  the  mem- 
bers of  that  grand  and  most  useful  Society,  among  whom  you  are  so 
highly  favoured  as  to  have  your  lot  cast,  and  your  labours  assigned  !" 
The  first  step  towards  the  estabUshment  of  the  Arrosian  Bible  So- 
ciety,* was  taken  by  Dr.  Brunnmark,  on  his  arrival  at  Westeras, 
early  in  August,  1813.  The  warm  encouragement  given  to  the  plan 
of  a  Bible  Society  for  the  provinces  of  Westmania  and  Dalecarlia,  by 
the  venerable  Dean  of  Westeras,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Jedteur,  (the  Bishop 
being  at  that  time  on  a  visitation  in  Dalecarlia,)  and  by  the  members 
of  the  Consistory,  enabled  Dr.  Brunnmark  to  lay  the  foundation  of 
the  Institution  with  the  best  prospects  of  ultimate  success. 

Early  in  September,  Dr.  Brunnmark  having  returned  from  Stock- 
holm to  Westeras,  the  Provisional  Committee  assembled  ;  and,  having 
drawn  up  a  prospectus  of  the  intended  Bible  Society,  communicated 
it  to  the  Bishop,  who  sanctioned  it  with  his  approbation.  The  Go- 
vernor of  Westmania,  Baron  Liljencrantz,  the  Governor  of  Dalecarlia, 
Chevalier  Hans  Jerta,  and  the  Dean  of  Westeras,  were  then  elected 
Honorary  Members;  and  the  prospectus  was  ordered  to  be  printed. 
The  preparatory  measures  having  been  thus  matured,  the  13th  of 
October  was  appointed  for  the  definitive  meeting.  On  that  occasion, 
the  Bishop  of  Westmania  and  Dalecarlia  honoured  the  assembly  with 
his  presence,  and  dehvered  a  pious  and  impressive  Address  in  favour 
of  the  proposed  Institution,  concluding  with  this  striking  and  apposite 
exhortation  :  "  Let  us  work  while  it  is  day  ;  the  night  cometh,  when 
no  man  can  work."     The  Governor  of  Nericia  was  then  added  t" 

•  This  is  the  title  given  to  that  at  Westeras. 


CHAP.  Il.J  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  4g| 

the  list  of  Honorary  Members  ;  and  the  business  of  the  meeting  was 
completed.  This  Institution,  formed  under  such  auspices,  may  be 
justly  ranked  among  the  most  important  of  the  provincial  Establish- 
ments on  the  Continent:  Westmania  and  Dalecarlia,  for  which  it 
provides,  constituting  the  largest  Bishopric  in  Sweden,  and  containing 
a  population  of  200,000  souls. 

How  greatly  the  Scriptures  were  needed  in  these  provinces,  may 
be  learnt  from  the  testimony  of  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Lahlenius,  Rector  of 
Tillberga,  in  Westmania,  who  asserts,  that  "  during  his  many  years 
service  in  five  different  parishes,  he  had  perceived  with  sorrow, 
that  of  one  hundred  families  among  the  peasantry,  not  ten  were  in 
possession  of  a  Bible  ;  and  that  those  who  had  it  could  scarcely  use 
it,  the  blessed  book  being  old  and  mouldering.  "  And  where"  (ex- 
claims this  pious  Rector)  "  shall  means  be  found  among  a  poor  people, 
burthened  with  debts,  and  wars,  to  purchase  a  supply?  If  an  indi- 
vidual among  them  at  any  time  accumulates  a  sum  wherewith  he 
might  purchase  a  Bible,  (which  costs  from  five  to  six  rix  dollars,  and 
at  auctions  still  more,*)  he  has  a  thousand  other  wants  which,  hke  a 
strong  man  armed,  seize  upon  this  pittance."  The  disposition  of  the 
people  to  receive  the  Scriptures,  and  of  the  parochial  clergy  to  co- 
operate in  their  distribution,  may  also  be  collected  from  the  same 
respectable  authority, 

"  Our  common  people  set  an  inexpressibly  high  value  on  the  word 
of  life,  and  read  it  with  delight ;  they  ought  certainly  to  have  it  in 
their  own  possession.  Judge,  therefore,  of  my  surprise  and  joy, 
when  I  heard  of  your  proposition  of  establishing  a  Bible  Society  for 
these  provinces  :  you  will  see  that  your  countrymen  will  not  be 
insensible  to  this  excellent  plan.  For  my  part,  I  assure  you,  that  I 
shall  do  my  best  to  promote  it.  It  will  be  my  delight  to  place  the 
revealed  word  in  the  beggar's  hovel,  and  the  poorest  peasant's  cot- 
tage. Happy  shall  I  be,  when  the  hour  of  going  to  my  rest  is  come, 
should  I  but  leave  my  station  with  the  hope,  that  the  religion  of  our 
blessed  Redeemer  has  rooted  itself  deeply  among  us :  it  will  then 
be  transmitted  to  the  latest  generations."  The  impression  conveyed 
through  this  organ  of  the  parochial  clergy  will  receive  confirmation 
from  the  following  sentiments,  expressed  by  the  Bishop  and  the 
other  Directors  of  the  Westeras  (or  Arrosian)  Bible  Society,  in  their 
address  to  the  President  and  Committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society. 

''  "  When  a  copy  was  sold  at  an  auction,  it  fetched  even  ten  rix  dollars." 

Dr.  Brunnmarff 
60 


402  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  IH. 

Nov.  1,  1818. 
"  My  Lord  and  Gentlemen, 
"  We,  the  undersigned,  Governors  and  Members  of  the  mfant  Bible 
Society  at  this  place,  approach  you  with  our  most  respectful  ac- 
knowledgment for  the  valuable  and  highly  acceptable  donation  of 
200  Bibles,  and  600  New  Testaments,  which  it  has  pleased  you  to 
allot  to  us  from  that  fund  of  truly  Christian  philanthropy,  which  we 
trust  will  ever  continue  abundant,  as  long  as  there  is  a  corner  of  the 
world  where  the  name  of  the  Redeemer  and  his  divine  precepts  are 
unknown.  As  in  the  tremendous  struggle  between  political  light 
and  darkness,  which  has  ravaged  the  world  in  these  latter  days,  so  in 
the  spiritual  warfare  between  truth  and  falsehood,  your  nation  has 
stood  pre-eminently  great.  It  was  in  your  country  that  pohtical 
liberty,  at  one  time,  seemed  to  have  found  its  last  asylum  ;  it  was  in 
Great  Britain,  also,  that  the  sparks  of  Divine  Revelation,  threatened 
with  extinction  in  other  parts,  were  collected  into  a  radiant  body, 
which  is  now  illuminating  the  world.  Accept  of  our  heartfelt  con- 
gratulations, that  you  have  been  made  the  instrument,  in  the  hand  of 
God,  of  doing  so  much  essential  good  to  mankind  ;  and  permit  us  to 
assure  you,  that,  as  long  as  this  our  Society  exists, — and,  we  trust,  it 
will  never  cease  to  exist, — the  name  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society  will  remain  dear  to  us,  and  will  be  handed  down  to  our  chil- 
dren's children,  even  to  the  latest  posterity." 

The  Gothenburg  Bible  Society  was  first  planned  towards  the  close 
of  July,  1813.  Much  predisposition  to  such  an  Establishment  had 
been  excited  by  the  distribution  of  the  Reports  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  other  communications,  through  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Henderson  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Steiukopff,  while  severally  visiting 
at  Gothenburg. 

The  arrival  of  Dr.  Brunnmark  in  that  place,  on  the  19th  of  July, 
and  his  communication  with  Professor  Rosen,  led  to  such  active  and 
judicious  measures,  on  the  part  pf  the  latter,  as,  ripening  progress- 
ively during  Dr.  Brunnmark's  tour  through  the  country,  prepared 
the  way  for  a  public  Meeting,  and  the  conclusion  of  the  business,  on 
his  return.  That  event  took  place  on  the  30th  of  October ;  and, 
the  necessary  arrangements  being  completed,  the  proposed  Meeting 
was  held  on  the  4th  of  November,  in  the  Upper  Hall  of  the  Royal 
Gymnasium,  which  was  lighted  up  for  the  occasion.  The  Bishop  of 
Gothenburg,  the  aged  and  venerable  Dr.  Wingard,  took  the  chair, 
supported  by  Count  Rosen,  and  General  Count  de  la  Gardie,  Ambas- 
sador from  Sweden  to  the  Court  of  Madrid.     There  were  present 


CHAP.  I]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  453 

about  fifty  or  sixty  of  the  first  noblemen  and  gentlemen  in  the  town, 
both  civil  and  military ;  all  the  consistorial  members  and  clergy  ;  and 
not  a  few  respectable  foreigners.  The  Bishop  opened  the  business 
in  a  concise  and  appropriate  speech  ;  and  then  called  upon  the  Secre- 
tary, the  Rev.  Professor  Rosen,  to  explain  the  object  of  the  meeting  ; 
which  he  did  in  a  most  p&thetic  and  highly  interesting  manner. 

"  Are  we  not"  (exclaimed  the  Professor)  "  all  agreed,  that  the 
Bible  ought  to  be  found  in  every  house,  in  every  cottage  ?  But  can 
we,  without  grief,  answer  the  next  question, — Is  it  in  the  possession 
of  every  family  around  us?"  This  animated  speaker  was  followed 
by  His  Excellency  Count  de  la  Gardie,  who,  as  a  member  of  the 
Evangelical  Society  at  Stockholm,  took  a  cordial  interest  in  the  suc- 
cess of  the  business,  and  whose  manly  eloquence  (of  which,  during 
his  visit  to  this  country,*  he  gave  such  admirable  specimens)  must 
have  tended  greatly  to  promote  it. 

After  two  or  three  other  gentlemen  had  expressed  their  sentiments, 
Dr.  Brunnmark  delivered  a  final  Address.  The  Society  was  then 
formed,  under  the  designation  of  "  The  Gothenburg  Bible  Society ;" 
to  include  in  its  operations,  besides  the  town  of  Gothenburg  and 
its  suburbs,  (the  inhabitants  of  which  amount  to  about  24,000,)  the 
whole  of  the  provinces  of  Bohusia  and  Hallandia,  and  so  much  of 
West  Gothia  as  belongs  to  the  diocese  of  Gothenburg.  The  other 
customary  matters  were  settled  with  the  greatest  harmony;  and,  as 
two  Secretaries  were  found  necessary  for  this  important  station.  Pro- 
fessor Wingard,  a  son  of  the  venerable  Bishop,  readily  consented  to 
be  the  coadjutor,  in  that  office,  of  the  Rev.  Professor  Rosen,  The 
whole  concluded  with  a  request,  on  the  part  of  the  Bishop,  that  Dr. 
Brunnmark  would  present  the  cordial  thanks  of  the  Bible  Society  in 
Gothenburg,  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  in  London : 
but,  as  this  was  soon  after  done  in  an  Address  from  the  Bishop,  Di- 
rectors, and  Officers  of  the  Gothenburg  Society  themselves,  it  will 
gratify  the  Reader  to  see  how  they  express  their  feelings  on  this 
occasion. 

*  The  following  passage  in  a  letter  from  his  Exceiiency,  on  occasion  of  his  re- 
ceiving a  set  of  Reports,  will  show  the  warmth  of  his  attachment  to  the  general 
cause. 

"  I  entreat  you  to  be  my  interpreter  to  the  members  of  the  Bible  Society :  tell 
them,  that,  as  my  unlimited  regard  for  them  is  founded  upon  the  conviction  of  the 
great  benefits  which  have  arisen  from  their  endeavours  to  spread  a  more  general 
knowledge  of  the  holy  word  which  the  Almighty  God,  in  his  goodness,  has  sent 
down  upon  earth  for  a  saving  guide  and  consolation  to  his  children,  so  it  can  never 
be  shaken  or  weakened ;  and  that  it  is  my  principal  wish  to  co-operate,  whef  her 
near  or  far  off,  with  the  great  designs  of  this  noble  Society" 


464  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  ill. 

"  My  Lord  and  Gentlemen, 

"  It  is  with  the  greatest  satisfaction  that  we,  as  tl)e  organ  of  the 
Bible  Society  at  Gothenburg,  embrace  this  much  wished-for  oppor- 
tunity of  notifying  our  Establishment  to  the  very  respectable  body  of 
friends  to  religion  and  humanity,  which  constitute  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society  in  London,  as  also  to  acknowledge  our  deep  obliga- 
tion to  you. 

"  The  very  example  of  what  your  powerful  and  zealous  Society 
has  done,  was  in  itself  a  benefit  to  us  ;  and  we  rejoice  with  you,  who, 
in  addition  to  a  noble  zeal,  are  endowed  with  mighty  strength  for  act- 
ing in  this  glorious  cause,  although,  from  want  of  effective  means, 
our  own  exertions  must  remain  comparatively  insignificant.  But  your 
Society  has  not  only  set  us  a  most  encouraging  example  ;  it  has  still 
further  aided  us  in  the  execution  of  our  wishes,  by  presenting  us, 
through  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brunnmark,  with  200  Swedish  Bibles,  500  New 
Testaments,  and  100  rix  dollars,  bank  money  ;  a  liberality  which  we 
certainly  had  no  right  to  expect,  but  which,  nevertheless,  was  not  al- 
together unexpected  by  us ;  for  we  had  been  accustomed  to  read  and 
hear  of  the  kindness  with  which  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society 
has  stretched  out  the  hand  of  assistance  to  nations  far  and  near.  It 
appears  to  us,  as  if  the  generosity  of  your  Society,  noticing  our  first 
feeble  movements  in  the  cause  of  the  Bible,  had  aifectionately  has- 
tened to  lend  us  your  powerful  aid  ;  and  this  has  laid  a  lasting  foun- 
dation for  that  gratitude  and  good-will  which,  we  trust,  will  be  the  bond 
of  union  between  us  for  ages  to  come.  We  are  at  a  distance  from 
each  other,  as  to  the  earthly  spot  we  inhabit ;  but  our  views,  our 
joys,  and  hopes,  in  this  blessed  work,  are  the  same. 

"  To  express  all  that  we  feel  upon  this  occasion,  would  be  injpos- 
sible.  We  are  now  enhvened  by  the  pleasing  hope  of  being  able, 
in  conjunction  with  the  thousands  who  are  zealous  advocates  for  the 
Gospel  of  salvation,  to  apportion  to  our  needy  brethren  this  book  of 
heavenly  treasures ;  and  it  shall  be  our  principal  honour  and  delight, 
strictly  to  follow  the  divine  commandment  in  relation  to  our  fellow- 
creatures  :  '  Let  us  not  love  in  word,  neither  in  tongue  ;  but  in  deed, 
and  in  truth  :' — and  thus  we  trust,  also,  best  to  testify  our  gratitude  to 
you,  and  to  ensure  to  ourselves  the  continuance  of  your  good-will." 

To  this  Address  Lord  Teignmouth  replied  in  a  similar  spirit.  An 
extract  from  tliat  reply,  will  form  a  proper  sequel  to  this  account. 

"  That  it  has  pleased  Almighty  God  so  wonderfully  to  prosper  the 
proceedings  of  our  Institution  for  the  dissemination  of  his  holy  word, 
by  disposnig  the  hearts  of  Christians  all  over  tlic  world  to  unite  with 
zeal  and  affection  in  ibis  glorious  undertaking,  demands  our  increas- 


CHAP.  ll.J  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  465 

ing  gratitude,  and  devout  thanksgiving  ;  and  while  we  rejoice  in  being 
the  honoured  instruments  of  his  providence,  for  communicating  the 
gift  of  his  divine  bounty  to  our  fellow-creatures,  we  feel  it  our  duty 
to  say,  '  Not  unto  us,  O  Lord,  not  unto  us,  but  to  thy  name  be  the 
praise.' 

"  I  congratulate  your  Lordship  and  the  members  of  the  Society  ai 
Gothenburg,  in  my  own  name,  and  that  of  our  Committee,  on  your 
being  fellow-labourers  with  us,  in  this  s:reat  and  benevolent  work. 
Dr.  Brunnmark  has  most  highly  gratified  us,  by  his  report  of  the 
zeal,  cordiality,  and  unanimity,  which  marked  the  formation  of  your 
Institution  ;  and  we  trust  it  will  prove  a  permanent  and  extensive 
blessing  to  those  for  whose  benefit  it  is  intended. 

"  '  We  are'  (as  your  Lordship  truly  remarks)  '  at  a  distance  from 
each  other,  as  to  the  earthly  spot  we  inhabit :  but  our  views,  our  joys, 
and  our  hopes,  in  this  blessed  wox'k,  are  the  same.'  Let  us  pray,  that 
the  zeal  which  now  animates  the  Christian  world  to  promote  the  glory 
of  God,  by  the  diffusion  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  may  continue  to  in- 
crease, until,  by  his  blessing  on  their  collective  efforts,  all  the  ends  of 
the  earth  shall  see  the  salvation  of  our  God :  and  more  especially, 
that  his  holy  Avord,  thus  distributed,  may  become  '  a  lamp  unto  the 
feet,  and  a  light  unto  the  paths,'  of  those  who  receive  it." 

Such  were  the  immediate  consequences  with  which  Dr.  Brunn- 
mark's  tour  was  attended.  Animated  by  an  ardent  zeal  for  the  glory 
of  God,  a  patriotic  concern  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  his  beloved 
fellow-countrymen,  and  an  earnest  desire  to  extend  the  influence  of 
an  Institution  from  which  he  augured  the  happiest  consequences  to 
the  church  and  the  world,  he  travelled  more  than  1200  miles,  visited 
numerous  places  and  persons ;  and,  while  he  accomplished  many 
valuable  objects,  he  laid  a  foundation  for  the  attainment  of  one  which 
lay  the  nearest  to  his  heart,  and  which  has  since  been  most  happily 
realized — the  establishment  of  a  National  Bible  Society  in  the  capital 
of  Sweden,  under  the  sanction  of  its  Sovereign,  and  with  the  counte- 
nance and  support  of  the  first  personages  in  the  kingdom. 

For  these  important  and  gratuitous  labours  of  love,  the  Committee 
of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  participating  the  gratitude 
so  honourably  evinced  by  his  country,  presented  Dr.  Brunnmark  with 
all  that  he  would  consent  to  receive — the  respectful  tribute  of  their 
thanks.  What  value  he  set  on  this  testimony  of  approbation,  appears 
from  his  letter  of  acknowledgment,  in  which  he  asserts,  that  "  the 
circumstance  of  his  having  acted  with  such  men,  in  such  a  cause,  and 
been  held  not  unworthy  of  their  confidence,  would  mightily  cheer 
and  encourage  him,  during  his'best  days  of  strength  :  and,  should  it 


466  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  HI. 

please  God  to  extend  his  life  to  old  age,  would  then  be  like  a  balm 
and  cordial  to  his  heart."  The  affecting  consideration,  that  this  dili- 
gent and  faithful  servant  has  been  removed,  before  he  could  witness 
the  full  effect  of  those  exertions  in  which,  with  the  devotedness  of  a 
patriot,  and  the  zeal  of  a  martyr,  he  sacrificed  his  valuable  life,*  gives 
a  melancholy  interest  to  every  memorial  of  his  sentiments  ;  and  will, 
therefore,  heighten  the  feeling  of  admiration  with  which  the  following 
expressions  would,  under  any  circumstances,  be  read  : 

"  I  need  not  tell  you,  how  very  sensible  I  am  of  their  goodness  to 
me  and  to  my  native  land,  and  how  happy  I  should  feel,  if  I  were  but 
able  in  any  manner  to  shmv  my  gratitude.  But  what  man  cannot  do^ 
our  good  God  can  effect ;  and  to  Him  who  searches  the  heart,  I  turn, 
humbly  and  earnestly  imploring  his  choicest  blessings  on  a  Society 
whose  labours  tend  so  directly,  so  eminently,  and  effectually,  to  pro- 
mote his  glory  upon  earth,  in  the  temporal  and  eternal  welfare  of  all 
men  :  and  I  do  no  less  pray  for  his  blessing  on  those  individuals  who 
watch  upon  this  Zion's  mount,  and  whose  acquaintance  and  esteem  I 
shall  ever  cOtint  my  rejoicing  and  my  boast  in  the  Lord. 

"  Be  pleased  to  express  these  my  sentiments  to  the  Committee,  and 
recommend  me  to  a  continuance  of  their  good-will  and  friendship  ;  so 
that,  as  long  as  we  live,  we  may  live  in  each  other's  kindest  remem- 
brance and  prayers,  till  we  meet  again  in  that  land,  where  all  tongues 
and  languages  are  resolved  into  one  universal  language  of  thanksgiv- 
ing, praise,  and  glory  unto  Him  who  sitteth  on  the  throne  and  to  the 
Lamb,  for  ever  and  ever." 

The  formation  of  the  Danish  Bible  Society,  though  not  definitively 
completed  within  the  period  at  which  this  chapter  will  close,  was 
yet  so  far  advanced  towards  completion,  as  to  render  it  a  proper  sub- 
ject for  narration  in  this  place. 

In  consequence  of  repeated  communications  between  the  Bishop  of 
Zealand  and  several  persons  of  high  station  and  character,  a  plan  was 
concerted  for  establishing  a  Bible  Society  in  the  capital  of  Denmark. 
The  particulars  of  this  plan,  together  with  a  spirited  Address  to  the 
Danish  nation,  having  been  printed  and  circulated,  it  was  determined 

*  This  lamented  individual,  having  contracted  a  severe  cold  in  his  journeys  by 
rtight  and  by  day,  with  a  view  to  the  establishment  of  the  Swedish  National  Bible 
.Society,  sunk  under  the  effects  of  a  fever,  at  the  house  of  his  brother,  the  Rector 
of  Yltermora,  in  Dalccarlia,  on  the  1st  of  August,  1814  :  and  thus,  at  the  age  of 
41,  added  another  to  the  list  of  those  who  have  devoted  themselves  to  death,  "  for 
the  word  of  God  and  the  testimony  of  Jesus."  A  respectable  contribution  has 
been  made  by  the  friends  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  vested  in 
(rust,  for  the  benefit  of  his.  widow  and  orphans. 


CHAP.  U.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  4^7 

to  convene  a  public  Meeting  for  the  purpose  of  arranging  such  mea^ 
sures  (subject  to  the  approbation  of  his  Danish  Majesty)  as  were  ne- 
cessary to  the  accompHshment  of  their  object.  The  Meeting  took  place 
at  Copenhagen,  on  the  22d  of  May,  1814,  in  the  spacious  and  elegant 
Hall  of  the  Freemason's  Lodge,  and  was  fully  attended  by  ministers  of 
state,  and  gentleman  high  in  office,  ecclesiastical,  civil,  and  military,  to- 
gether with  a  great  number  of  the  most  respectable  citizens,  amounting 
in  the  whole  to  about  200  persons,  among  whom  were  one  of  the  Ca- 
tholic clergymen,  and  the  elder  of  the  Moravian  brethren. 

The  Bishop  of  Zealand  opened  the  business  with  an  appropriate  and 
very  animated  speech,  in  which  he  called  the  attention  of  the  audi- 
ence to  the  superlative  importance  of  religious  principle ;  the  decay 
of  that  principle,  which  for  a  series  of  years  had  become  so  strikingly 
visible  ;  the  sad  consequences  which  this  had  produced  on  society  ; 
and  the  best  means  of  remedying  the  evil,  namely,  the  more  general 
circulation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  the  excitement  of  a  more  ear- 
nest attention  to  their  perusal.  His  Lordship  then  pointed  out  what 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  had  done,  in  general,  for  the 
distribution  of  the  Scriptures  ;  specified,  in  particular,  their  operations 
with  respect  to  Denmark  and  Iceland  ;  and  concluded  by  describing 
the  field  which  the  Society  then  in  contemplation  would  occupy,  as 
the  sphere  of  its  proposed  exertions. 

After  this  speech  (which  produced  an  excellent  effect)  was  ended, 
a  proposition  was  made  for  a  suitable  application  to  the  King,  for  his 
sanction  to  the  projected  Institution.  The  Society  was  thus  provi- 
sionally formed ;  and  its  final  estabhshment  was  afterwards  effected, 
under  the  authority  of  His  Majesty's  approbation,  as  it  was  announced 
on  the  8th  of  August,  1814,  through  the  Royal  Danish  Gazette,  in  the 
following  terms. 

"  With  peculiar  pleasure  we  learn,  that  the  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Miinter, 
Bishop  of  Zealand,  and  several  others,  exert  themselves  to  estabhsh, 
in  our  kingdom  of  Denmark,  a  Bible  Society,  with  a  view  of  spread- 
ing religion  by  distributing  Bibles  to  the  people,  either  gratis,  or  for 
a  moderate  payment.  We,  therefore,  do  hereby  grant  to  the  said 
Society,  under  the  name  of  The  Bible  Society  in  our  Kingdom  of  Den- 
mark, our  highest  protection." 

This  event  was  officially  notified  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society  in  a  respectful  communication,  signed  by  the  Bishop  of  Zea- 
land and  the  Patrons  and  Officers  of  the  Danish  Society,  from  which 
the  following  is  an  extract. 

"  While  we  thus  announce  the  establishment  of  the  Danish  Bible 
Society,  we  know  not  how  to  express  our  grateful  feelings  relative  to 


468  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III. 

your  resolution  of  500/.  which  the  Rev.  Mr.  Steinkopff,  your  Secre- 
tary, aod  the  Rev.  Mr.  Henderson,  the  most  active  and  very  spirited 
promoter  of  our  undertaking,  have  announced  to  us  as  your  gift  The 
Danish  Bible  Societ}'^  have  charged  us,  accordingly,  to  offer  j^our 
J^ordship,  and  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  our  warmest 
thanks  for  this  your  generous  donation.  FuLaling  that  agreeable 
duty,  we  also  request  your  Lordship  to  believe,  that  the  Danish  Bible 
Society  will  never  forget  its  sacred  obligations  towards  your  Society, 
nor  at  any  time  swerve  from  those  principles  which  you  have  laid 
down  for  the  good  of  mankind.  With  this  view  we  are  fully  engaged 
in  circulating  through  all  the  provinces  of  Denmark  a  solemn  invita- 
tion to  Bishops,  Ministers  of  State,  Dignitaries  of  the  Church,  gentle- 
men high  in  oflfice,  landholders,  and  the  people  at  large,  to  assist  us  in 
these  salutary  measures  with  their  counsels  and  annual  contribu- 
tions." 

To  these  particulars  it  may  not  be  unacceptable  to  add  a  specimen 
of  the  manner  in  which  the  learned  and  eloquent  Bishop  of  Zealand 
advocated  the  cause  of  the  Society,  in  a  Latin  synodal  oration,  ad- 
dressed to  his  clergy. 

After  delineating,  in  very  just  and  striking  colours,  the  infidel  cha- 
racter of  the  times  but  recently  passed,  the  Bishop  thus  exclaims  : 

"  But  how,  within  a  short  time,  has  the  face  of  things  changed !  A 
greater  zeal  is  now  observed  for  the  cultivation  of  religion,  and  a 
greater  reverence  for  sacred  things.  Churches,  before  in  a  great 
measure  deserted,  are  again  crowded :  far  more  communicants  de- 
voutly attend  the  Lord's  Supper ;  and  the  preaching  of  the  cross  is 
no  longer  foolishness.  The  pure  fountains  of  our  most  holy  religion, 
the  Sacred  Scriptures,  are  eagerly  sought  for,  pp.Llished  in  various 
languages  of  Europe  and  Asia,  and  dispersed  in  great  numbers  among 
the  poor  and  necessitous."  "  Of  which  signal  kindness  to  the 
human  race,  a  great  part  is  due  to  that  Society,  instituted  in  Bri- 
tain about  ten  years  ago,  which,  from  small  heginuirigs,  has  attained 
vast  dimensions  ;  and  now,  by  its  zeal,  its  encouragement,  its  coun- 
siels,  its  aid,  and  its  supplier,  embraces  almost  the  whole  world  : 
with  this  single  end  in  view,  that  the  name  of  Christ  may  be  more  glo- 
rified among  Christians,  and  made  known  among  those  who  are  stran- 
gers to  it:  that  Christian  piety  may  largely  increase  in  all  Christian 
'•.ommunions,  and  true  felicity  may  take  deep  root  among  them.'"* 


♦  "  Scd  quantum  jam  iu  hoc  brevi  tempore  luutata  rerum  facies?  Nam  majus  jam 
cernitur  colendac  rcligionis  stadium,  major  rerum  sacrarura  reverentia:  tempia  a 
multis  direlicta  iteriim  frequentantur  ;  ad  cacram  scenam  longe  plures  pia  meute 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  4gg 

The  Bishop,  having  related  to  his  clergy  the  formation  of  the  Da- 
nish Bible  Society,  and  earnestly  admonished  them  to  give  it  their 
most  active  support,  enters  upon  a  defence  of  the  authorized  version  of 
the  Scriptures  :  expressing  his  decided  preference  of  a  revision  of 
the  text  in  current  use,  to  the  dangerous  experiment  of  an  entirely 
new  translation.  On  this  grave  and  delicate  topic,  the  Bishop  suggests 
many  pertinent  and  very  judicious  reflections.  The  whole  oration  is 
an  orthodox,  eloquent,  and  enlightened  composition,  and  the  follow- 
ing additional  extract  from  it  will  agreeably  conclude  our  account  of 
the  Danish  Bible  Society. 

"  Nor  must  it  be  concealed,  that  such  are  the  nature  and  the  con- 
stitution of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  whose  bands  now 
unite  all  Europe,  that  without  attending  to  the  opinions  of  the  diiler- 
ent  sects,  it  admits  to  a  participation  of  its  object  and  its  labours  who- 
ever acknowledges  the  Lord  Christ.  Behold  the  genuine  concord  of 
Christians,  breathing,  panting,  and  striving,  after  one  consummation — 
that  Christ  may  be  glorified  I  Behold  the  invisible  church  of  Christ, 
come  down  from  heaven,  in  which  Christ  shall  no  more  be  divided ; 
and  the  foundation  laid  of  that  fold  in  which  there  shall  be  but  one 
Shepherd  1'- 

The  recital  of  this  transaction  makes  way  for  the  resumption  of 
Mr.  Henderson's  proceedings  in  regard  to  the  Icelandic  Scriptures. 
The  impression  of  this  work,  consisting  of  5000  entire  Bibles,  and  an 
equal  number  of  extra  Testaments,  left  the  press  early  in  1814  ;  and 
a  large  proportion  of  them  were  despatched  by  the  spring  ships  to 


acccdunt;  neque  serrao  ille  de  cruce  amplius  stultitia  est :  et  ipsi  religionis  Sanctis-, 
simae  fontes,  sacra  volumina  avide  conquiruntur,  in  variis  Europaa  atque  Asiae  lin- 
gais  eduntur,  et  majori  numero  inter  pauperes  atque  inopes  eduutur,  &c. 

Cujus  ver5  summi  in  genus  humanura,  quousque  Christi  nomen  annunciatura  est, 
beneficii,  magna  sane  pars  debetur  Societati  illi,  quae  ante  hos  fere  decern  annos  in 
Britannia  iustituta,  ab  exiguis  initiis  in  niaguain  molem  excrevit,  jamque  suis  stu- 
diis,  impulsu,consiliis,auxiliis, atque  suppetiis  universum  fere  terrarum  orbemam- 
plectitur :  eo  unice  fine,  ut  Christi  nomen  inter  Christianos  magis  celebretur,  inter 
alienos  innotescatj  ut  Christiana  pietas  in  omnibus  Christianorum  coetibus  majora 
incrementa  capiat,  et  veri  nominis  felicitas  altissimos  radices  agat." 

"  Neque  vero  reticenduin,  earn  esse  Sodalitatis,  Biblicae,  cujus  viucula  jam  per 
totam  Europam  nectuntur,  legem  atque  uaturam ;  ut,  missis  sectarum  opinionibus, 
in  diversas  partes  abeuntium,  oranes  ad  suorum  studiorum  et  laborum  communionem 
admittat,  quicunque  Christo  Domino  nomen  dederunt.  En  pulcherrimam  Christi- 
anorum concordiam,  hoc  unum  spirantem,  anhelantem,  omnibusque  viribus  agenteni, 
nt  Cbristus  celebretur!  En  invisibilem  iliam  Christi  ecclesiaii!,  coelitus  delatam,  in 
qua  Christus  baud  amplius  dividcturj  et  fundameutum  jactom  iliius  ovilis,  cujns 
«on  nisi  nnns  erit  Pastor  1'' 

61 


470  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  HI. 

different  parts  of  IcelStnd.  Thitber,  after  witnessing  the  consumma- 
tion of  his  wishes  at  Copenhagen,  in  the  provisional  estabhshment  of  a 
Danish  Bible  Society,  Mr.  Henderson  repaired  by  the  first  oppor- 
tunity, in  order  to  superintend  the  distribution  of  the  copies  through- 
out the  island.  The  reflections  of  this  adventurous  philanthropist, 
on  the  termination  of  his  voyage,  are  thus  piously  and  beautifully 
expressed : 

"  Here  I  would  erect  a  fresh  monument  to  tlie  praise  of  divine 
goodness,  and  inscribe  upon  it  my  usual  motto — '  Hitherto  hatb  the 
Lord  helped  me.'  The  mercies  I  experienced  while  on  the  mighty 
deep,  were  great  and  manifold.  The  heahng  power  of  the  Re- 
deemer, the  comfort  of  his  Spirit,  and  the  beauties  of  his  word,  pre- 
served, delighted,  and  supported  my  mind.  The  prospects  before 
me,  too,  were  of  the  most  exhilarating  nature.  Our  vessel,  instead 
of  proceeding  on  any  predatory  or  murderous  expedition,  was 
freighted  with  a  cargo  of  provisions  for  the  necessitous  inhabitants  of 
Iceland — grain,  and  other  articles  for  the  support  of  temporal  life ; 
and  the  glorious  Gospel  of  the  blessed  God,  which  is  the  germ  and 
staff  of  spiritual  existence." 

The  treatment  which  Mr.  Henderson  experienced  from  the 
Bishops,  superior  Magistrates,  and  principal  inhabitants  of  the  island, 
as  well  as  from  the  population  at  large,  was  truly  gratifying  both  to 
himself  and  to  the  Society  whom  he  represented.  For  a  detail  of  his 
proceedings,  in  the  execution  of  his  charge,  reference  must  be  made 
to  the  graphical  description  which  he  has  given  of  both  in  his  highly 
interesting  letters.  With  one  document,  which,  from  its  near  con- 
nexion with  all  that  has  preceded  it  may  be  excusable  to  anticipate, 
the  account  of  the  Icelandic  Scriptures,  and  of  the  Society's  Danish 
relations,  shall  be  concluded. 

"  That  religion  is  the  fundamental  pillar  of  the  state,  on  which  the 
real  welfare  of  the  whole  body  politic,  and  of  every  private  citizen, 
must  rest,  is  a  truth  which  has  been  acknowledged  by  the  ablest 
politicians  in  all  ages  of  the  world.  To  be  sensible  of  the  value  of 
true  and  genuine  religion,  to  venerate  its  pure  and  primitive  princi- 
ples, and  to  endeavour  to  make  all  men  acquainted  with  them,  must 
always  diffuse  among  mankind,  light,  life,  and  happiness ;  must  pro- 
mote the  true  dignity  of  man,  the  noblest  use  of  life,  and  employments, 
which  may  be  appreciated  in  time,  but  can  be  rewarded  only  in 
eternity.  Among  these  employments  is  to  be  reckoned  the  vigorous 
prosecution  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  the  sole  object 
of  which  is  to  promote  the  circulation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  among 
all  nations;  whose  worthy  interpreter  and  representative,  the  Rev. 


CHAP.  11.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  471 

E.  Henderson,  has  brought  over  to  us,  poor  Icelanders,  the  fruits  of 
its  noble  exertions,  in  a  new  and  useful  edition  of  the  fundamental 
books  of  our  religion,  the  most  Sacred  Bible,  and  New  Testament  of 
our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  in  our  vernacular  language.  Of  these 
books  a  considerable  number  has  been  sent  over  by  the  ships  of  last 
season,  proving  a  rich  supply  amidst  the  great  scarcity  which  was 
previously  becoming  more  and  more  afflictive  ;  and  the  copies  have 
already  been  distributed  with  great  pains,  owing  to  the  zeal  and 
diligence  of  the  Rev.  E.  Henderson,  the  interpreter  of  the  noble  So- 
ciety. As  a  proof  of  his  zeal  for  the  illumination  of  mankind,  he  has 
also  visited  the  eastern  coasts  of  Iceland,  and  favoured  us  with  a  per- 
sonal visit  in  South  Mule  Syssel. 

"  Therefore,  in  the  name,  and  on  the  behalf,  of  all  the  inhabitants 
of  the  aforementioned  Syssel,  under  my  jurisdiction,  I,  the  under- 
signed, return  my  respectful  and  warmest  thanks  to  the  noble  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  its  representative,  the  Rev.  E.  Hen- 
derson, for  their  united  exertions  to  promote  our  illumination  ;  and 
all  we  the  inhabitants  of  South  Mule  Syssel  do  express  our  most  cor- 
dial wishes,  that  Heaven  would  regard,  and  eternity  remunerate, 
the  united  exertions  of  the  honoured  Society.  And  may  our  dear 
friend,  the  Rev.  E.  Henderson,  be  abundantly  blessed  !  May  his 
exertions  prosper,  and  be  acknowledged  by  tlie  present,  and  by 
every  future  generation  ;  and  may  his  labours  be  crowned  in  eternity ! 
"  On  behalf  of  the  whole  population  of  South  Mule  Syssel,  I  have 
the  honour  to  be, 

Most  respectfully, 

ION  VIDALIN, 
The  Constituted  Sheriff  of  South 
Mule  Syssel  in  Iceland." 
«  E»kcjwrd  in  Iceland,  Dec.  31,  1814." 

From  Denmark*  the  course  of  our  narrative  conducts  us  to  Rus- 
sia, in  which  country  the  progress  made  by  the  Parent  Society  at  St. 
Petersburg,  both  in  its  general  concerns  and  the  formation  of  new 

*  The  author  cannot  take  leave  of  Denmark,  without  adverting  with  respect  and 
aiTection  to  George  Wolrt',  Esq.  a  native  of  bis  Danish  Majesty's  former  dominions, 
and  for  many  years  his  Consul  in  this  Country.  This  gentleman,  to  whom,  in 
connexion  witl>  some  other  friends,  the  Naval  and  Military  Society  owes  its 
origin,  was  among  the  early  promoters  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
(see  p.  19,)  has  uniformly  occupied  a  seat  in  the  Committee,  from  its  first  estab- 
lishment; and  now  in  an  advanced  but  vigorous  old  age,  enjoys  and  communicates 
the  satisfaction  arising  from  a  life  of  cheerful  piety  and  active  benevolence. 


472  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  111. 

Auxiliaries  in  different  parts  of  the  empire,  will  require  to  be  parti- 
cularly related. 

A  detailed  account  has  already  been  given  of  the  auspicious  cir- 
cumstances under  which  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  Society*  was  formed 
and  introduced  to  the  Russian  public.  These  circumstances  the 
Directors  failed  not  duly  to  appreciate  and  improve.  They  were 
convinced,  that  "  from  the  simphcity  of  its  object,  the  purity  of  its 
design,  and  the  beneficial  tendency  of  its  results,  the  Institution 
would,  inevitably,  obtain  universal  approbation,  and  be  supported  by 
all  who  know  the  value  of  the  Bible, — the  sole  book  presented  to  us 
by  God  our  Saviour,  for  our  instruction,  correction,  and  salvation.! 

With  this  conviction,  the  Directors,  besides  advertising  in  the 
public  Gazettes,  addressed  communications  to  the  Governors  of  the 
different  provinces,  the  principal  clergy,  the  most  distinguished  pub- 
lic functionaries,  and  other  persons  of  consideration  in  different  parts 
of  the  Empire,  acquainting  them  with  the  formation  of  the  Society  at 
St.  Petersburg,  and  inviting  co-operation. 

An  admirable  paper,  on  the  nature  and  usefulness  of  Bible  Socie- 
ties, was  also  drawn  up,  under  their  authority;  and  copies  of  it  in  the 
Russian,  German,  and  Pohshj  languages,  .were  widely  circulated, 
with  great  industry,  and  with  the  best  effect. 

Nor  did  the  internal  operations  of  the  Society  evince  less  prompti- 
tude, activity,  and  judgment.  Very  orderly  and  effective  arrange- 
ments were  made,  without  delay,  for  the  execution  of  its  purposes. 
The  Directors  commenced  with  a  provision  for  distributing  the 
Scriptures  in  different  languages,  furnished  by  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  among  the  prisoners  of  war,  and  the  poor  British  resi- 
dent in  various  parts  of  Russia;  and  advanced,  without  delay,  to  the 
prosecution  of  more  extensive  and  permanent  designs. 

During  this  interval  of  activity  at  St.  Petersburg,  a  train  of  causes 
was  preparing,  by  which,  as  its  result,  Moscow  was  to  be  engaged  in 
the  same  important  undertaking,  and  that  uniop  effected  between  the 
Holy  Synod  and  the  Minister  of  Foreign  Confessions,  which  alone  was 
wanted  to  perfect  the  constitution  of  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  Society, 
and  to  render  its  powers  complete,  and  its  operations  universal.     By 

»  As  the  designation  was  not  changed  from  the  St.  Petcisbury  to  the  Itussinn 
Bible  Society  within  the  limits  to  which  this  narrative  is  confined,  the  former  title 
is  adhered  to  throughout, 

t  First  Report  of  the  Russian  Bible  Society. 

|.  The  Polish  copies  were  prepared  and  circulated  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Military  Governor,  General  Alexander  Kimskoy  Korsakoff. 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  473 

what  means  this  event  was  brought  about,  will  appear  from  the  fol- 
lowing particulars. 

Shortly  after  the  establishment  of  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  Society, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Pinkerton,  whose  share  in  that  transaction  was  so  ho- 
nourably attested  by  Prince  Galitzin,  having  returned  to  his  station 
in  the  country,  felt  a  strong  disposition  to  attempt  the  formation  of  an 
Auxiliary  Bible  Society  in  Moscow.  Under  this  impression,  he 
drew  up  an  Address,  on  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures,  and  the 
utility  of  Bible  Societies  ;  and  repaired  to  Moscow,  as  early  in  the 
spring  as  his  health  would  allow,  which  was  not  till  the  beginning  of 
May.  On  his  arrival  in  that  city,  Mr.  Pinkerton  conferred  with  some 
distinguished  persons,  in  reference  to  the  projected  Society.  Among 
these  was  His  Excellency  the  late  Mr.  Nicholas  Bantish  Kamensky, 
Privy  Counsellor  of  State ;  who  entering  very  cordially  into  Mr. 
Pinkerton's  views,  a  plan  was  drawn  up,  and  despatched  to  St.  Pe- 
tersburg, together  with  letters  from  Mr.  Kamensky  and  Mr.  Pinker- 
ton, ^o  'he  President  of  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  Society,  requesting 
their  approbation  and  encouragement  of  the  measure.  The  Address 
of  that  Society  was  in  the  mean  time  obtaining  an  extensive  circula- 
tion ;  and  by  its  luminous  exposition  of  the  principle,  design,  and  ex- 
pected utility  of  the  Institution,  was  preparing  the  inhabitants  of 
Moscow  for  becoming  affiliated  with  it,  through  a  local  Estabhshment 
among  themselves. 

On  the  22d  of  June,  the  plan  was  returned,  with  the  official  appro- 
bation which  had  been  required.  A  letter  was  addressed,  at  the 
same  time,  to  the  Archbishop  Vicarjus  of  Moscow,  Augustine,  and 
His  Excellency  Mr.  B.  Kamensky,  requesting  them  to  co-operate  with 
Mr.  Pinkerton  in  the  formation  of  the  proposed  Society.  Things 
being  thus  advanced,  and  promises  of  attendance  obtained  from  per- 
sons of  consideration,  a  general  Meeting  was  appointed  for  the  16th 
of  July,  1813.  At  six  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  that  day,  there  as- 
sembled, in  the  Hall  of  the  College  for  Foreign  Affairs,  the  Arch- 
bishop Vicarius  of  Moscow,  Augustine,  accompanied  by  five  of  the 
first  clergy,  (Archimandrites,)  together  with  a  number  of  the  most 
respectable  of  the  nobihty :  when,  by  a  unanimous  resolution,  the 
Auxiliary  Society  was  formed  ;  and  Mr.  Pinkerton  received  the  public 
thanks  of  the  Archbishop  for  his  judicious  and  persevering  exertions. 

The  designation  assumed  by  the  Moscow  Society,  was,  "  The  Mos- 
cow Committee  of  the  Bible  Society."  The  adoption  of  this  title 
was  suggested  by  that  article  of  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  Society, 
which  authorizes  it,  as  an  Institution  designed  to  serve  for  the  whole 
empire,  to  form  Committees,  dependent  on  itself,  for  the  advancement 


474  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III. 

of  the  common  design.  This  principle  was  distinctly  recognized  in 
the  second  statute,  which  purports,  "that  the  Moscow  Committee" 
shall  "  assist  the  St.  Petersburg  Committee  in  every  part  of  their 
plan,  to  further  the  distribution  of  the  Bible  without  note  or  comment ;" 
to  which  it  was  added  :  "  But  this  Committee  shall  in  particular  strive 
to  disseminate  our  own  Bibles  among  our  fellow  Russian  subjects,  as 
published  by  the  Holy  Synod,  according  to  the  manner  already  de- 
termined, and  partly  executed  by  the  St.  Petersburg  Committee." 
This  latter  clause  of  the  statute  gave  the  last  finish  to  the  constitution 
of  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  Society  :  by  authorizing  the  dissemination 
of  the  Slavonian  Scriptures,  a  deficiency  was  supplied  which  would 
have  greatly  abridged  its  usefulness ;  the  entire  population  of  the 
empire,  both  native  and  foreign,  was  now  brought  within  the  scope 
of  its  benevolent  provisions :  and  it  became  in  effect,  what  it  was 
afterwards  in  designation,  "  The  Russian  Bible  Society." 

The  Moscow  Auxiliary  Society  having  been  thus  happily  esta- 
bhshed,  its  Vice  President,  His  Excellency  the  late  Mr.  B.  Kamensky,* 
and  its  Directors  and  Secretaries,  chosen  from  men  of  the  first  sta- 
tion and  character,  a  printed  Prospectus  (containing  the  plan  of  the 
Society,  and  an  Address  explanatory  of  its  views,)  was  expeditiously 
issued,  and,  together  with  subscription  papers,  despatched  to  the  Bi- 
shops, Governors,  and  other  persons  of  reputation  and  influence  in 
different  quarters  of  the  empire.  This  measure  was  attended  with 
the  desired  success.  Many  of  the  parties  thus  addressed,  replied  to 
the  communication  in  the  most  satisfactory  terms  :  among  these  were 
the  Bishops  of  Archangel  and  of  Kief,  and  the  Armenian  Archbishop 
resident  at  Astrachan.  As  the  distribution  of  the  Slavonian  Scrip- 
tures was  the  primary  object  in  the  contemplation  of  the  Moscow  So- 
ciety, it  was  matter  of  high  gratification  to  the  Directors  to  find,  that 
the  Printing-office  of  the  Holy  Synod  was  in  a  condition  to  facilitate, 
with  but  httle  delay,  the  accomplishment  of  that  object.  It  appeared, 
upon  inquiry,  that  2,400  copies  of  the  Bible,  in  four  volumes,  octavo, 
were  nearly  completed,  and  that  3,600  Testaments  would  be  ready 
for  delivery  at  the  commencement  of  the  ensuing  jear.  This  fa- 
vourable coincidence  was  not  unobserved  by  those  whose  views  it  so 
happily  promoted :  they  thought  they  saw  in  it  the  hand  of  Provi- 
dence co-operating  with  their  efforts,  and  felt  encouraged  to  hope, 
that  their  labour  would  not  be  in  vain  in  the  Lord. 

•Of  tlii8  amiable  individual,  who  died  shortly  after  the  establishment  of  the  So- 
ciety at  Moscow,  the  St.  Petersburg  Committee  (in  their  first  Report)  speak  in  the 
most  respectful  and  affectionate  terms,  as  a  person  judiciously  and  actively  intent 
on  "  procuring'  for  his  fellow-creatures  the  means  of  salvation." 


CHAP.  II.1  AJSB  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  475 

A  brief  extract  from  the  admirable  Address  to  the  public  on  occa- 
sion of  the  establishment  of  the  Moscow  Society,  will  form  an  inter- 
esting sequel  to  this  account. 

"  The  past  age  is  rendered  conspicuous  in  the  page  of  history  by 
unprecedented  events,  and  will  be  instructive  to  future  generations. 
There  we  behold  the  madness  of  self-named  philosophers,  who,  co- 
vering themselves  with  the  dazzling  splendour  of  eloquence,  blas- 
phemed against  God.  What  pen  is  capable  of  describing  the  cunning 
and  craftiness  employed  in  the  sophistical  reasonings  of  those  daring 
teachers  of  lies,  in  order  to  subvert  the  faith  of  the  Gospel,  rase  our 
sacred  altars,  and  overturn  the  thrones  of  Monarchs  ;  to  make  men 
consider  themselves  as  subjects  to  no  law,  divine  or  human ;  to  live 
according  to  the  dictates  of  their  animal  passions,  and — be  virtuous 
without  religion  !  But  how  wonderful  are  the  ways  of  Divine  Pro- 
vidence !  We  see  that  very  nation,  which  became  drunken  with 
these  destructive  doctrines,  after  having  presented  one  of  the  most 
awful  scenes  of  infidelity  and  bloodshed  that  ever  the  world  beheld, 
at  last  confessing  their  errors,  returning  to  the  doctrines  of  Christ, 
and  now  pronouncing  with  horror  the  names  of  their  false  teachers 
and  deceivers ! 

"  Russia  viewed  these  changes  with  astonishment;  and,  carefully 
observing  their  consequences,  became  more  and  more  convinced,  that 
the  doctrines  of  the  Bible  only  can  found  and  support  the  real  good 
of  a  nation  ;  and  that  when  education,  sciences,  morals,  and  laws,  are 
separated  from  their  influence,  man  can  never  arrive  at  that  state  of 
improvement  which  his  All-wise  Creator  has  prescribed  for  him  ;  and 
for  the  attainment  of  which,  out  of  his  infinite  love  and  mercy,  he 
gave  him  the  revelation  of  his  holy  will  in  the  Gospel.  Here  we  find 
that  only  light  which  is  capable  of  illuminating  and  reforming  our 
darkened  understandings,  perverted  wills,  and  corrupt  hearts  ;  conse- 
quently, if  human  Societies  are  not  supported  by  the  faith  of  the  Gos- 
pel, they  are  unstable,  and  ever  exposed  to  destructive  changes :  it 
follows,  therefore,  that  it  is  the  real  interest  of  the  rulers  of  the 
earth,  to  countenance  the  dissemination  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  ;  for 
without  their  influence,  the  best  attempts  to  promote  the  welfare  of 
their  subjects,  will  fail  of  producing  the  desired  effects. 

"  Impressed  with  the  consideration  of  these  important  truths,  to- 
gether with  the  progress  which  science  and  civilization  have  made  in 
Russia  under  the  auspices  of  a  Monarch  who  reigns  over  the  nume- 
rous nations  inhabiting  the  vast  extent  of  country,  from  the  banks  of 
the  Vistula  to  the  shores  of  America,  several  Russians,  moved  bj 
Christian  love  to  mankind,  and  desirous  of  showing  their  dispositior 


476  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  Ilf. 

to  promote  the  benevolent  views  of  their  Sovereign,  lately  founded 
in  St.  Petersburg  the  Russian  Bible  Socict}',  having  received  the  gra- 
cious permission  of  His  Imperial  Majesty. 

"  This  Society,  according  to  its  statutes,  is  bound  to  use  its  endea- 
vours to  estabbsh  in  other  cities  of  tlie  Empire,  Auxiliary  Societies  ; 
that,  with  tmitcd  strength,  they  may  labour  more  effectually  for  the 
spiritual  benefit  of  all  the  different  nations  of  Russia,  by  distributing 
among  them  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

"  Moscow,  the  ancient  metropolis  of  Russia,  from  her  local  situa- 
tion, almost  in  the  middle  of  the  Empire,  and  from  the  respectability 
of  her  Clergy,  Nobility,  and  Merchants,  together  with  the  great  in- 
fluence which  she  has  upon  other  cities  of  Russia,  appears  to  be  one 
of  the  most  eligible  stations  for  establishing  such  an  Auxihary  Society  ; 
it  is,  therefore,  hoped,  that  the  true  friends  of  the  church  and  of  their 
country,  actuated  by  the  spirit  of  Christian  charity,  will  come 
zealously  forward  in  support  of  this  attempt  to  promote  the  general 
good,  founded  on  the  faith  of  Christ,  as  contained  in  the  whole  of  the 
Bible,  but  particularly  in  the  Gospel.  So  important  an  object,  as 
that  which  this  Society  proposes,  will  undoubtedly  interest  all  classes 
of  the  Russian  nation,  and  stimulate  them  to  co-operate  in  furthering 
the  views  of  this  benevolent  Institution." 

While  these  things  were  taking  place  in  the  heart  of  the  Empire, 
preparation  was  makmg  for  similar  proceedings  in  the  provinces 
situated  on  the  shores  of  the  Baltic.  Seven  years  had  now  elapsed 
since  a  correspondence  was  opened  between  a  superintendent  in 
Esthonia,  and  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  from  which,  on 
account  of  local  difhculties,  and  the  want  of  a  preponderant  influence, 
no  advantage  had  hitherto  been  derived  to  the  common  cause.  The 
establishment  of  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  Society,  and  its  authority 
and  obligation  to  form  Committees  throughout  the  Empire,  removed 
at  once  these  ditliculties,  and  supplied  the  influence  which  was  needed 
to  bring  about  the  accomplishment  of  the  object.  As  soon,  there- 
fore, as  the  affairs  of  the  Parent  Committee  were  in  suflicient  train 
to  dispense  for  a  time  with  Mr.  Paterson's  services,  he  proceeded 
towards  the  eastern  provinces ;  in  order  to  organize,  under  the 
patronage,  and  with  the  approbation,  of  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible 
Society,  ^uch  Auxiliary  Societies  as  he  should  be  able  to  ibrm  in  the 
provinces  of  Courland,  Livonia,  and  Esthonia.  This  tour  wa- 
attended  with  extraordinary  success.  A  disposition  to  concur  in  the 
measures  proposed,  existed  in  several  parts,  antecedently  to  Mr. 
Paterson's  appearance  in  the  provinces ;  and  the  personal  exertions  and 
influence  of  Count  Lieven  and  Baron  N'ietiughofl",  (Directors  of  th«' 


€HAP.  II. j     .  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  477 

St.  Petersburg  Bible  Society,)  together  with  the  liberal  co-operation 
of  the  nobles,  the  clergy,  and  the  people,  enabled  hina  to  report,  on 
his  return  to  St.  Petersburg,  the  establishment  and  active  or^niza- 
tion  of  the  Dorpat,  Mittau,  Riga,  and  Reval  Bible  Societies  ;  the  la?t 
of  which  was  formed  on  the  16th  of  July,  the  day  on  which  the  Bible 
Society  was  instituted  at  Moscow.  The  want  of  the  Scriptures  in 
those  provinces  was  ascertained  to  exceed  very  greatly  the  estimate 
which  had  been  previously  formed.  In  the  district  of  Dorpat  alone, 
which  contained  106,000  inhabitants,  not  200  Testaments  were  to  be 
found :  thousands  among  that  population  had  never  seen  a  New  Tes- 
tament ;  and  even  pastors  were  said  to  exist,  who  had  not  a  copy  of 
the  Scriptures  in  the  dialect  in  which  they  preached  :  and  this  scarcity 
was  reported  of  a  district,  in  which  the  United  Brethren  alone 
reckoned  in  their  connexion  above  11,000  truly  pious  members,  be- 
sides nearly  as  many  more  who  manifested  a  hopeful  concern  for  re- 
ligion. The  zeal  for  obtaining  the  Scriptures,  and  also  for  promoting 
their  distribution,  was  very  generally  displayed  by  all  ranks  through- 
out these  provinces.  The  lead  was  taken,  in  the  formation  and  the 
patronage  of  the  respective  Societies,  by  persons  of  the  tirst  distinction 
for  rank,  talents,  and  piety ;  and  as  well  from  the  generosity  with 
which  they  were  supported  as  from  the  spirit  and  harmony  with 
which  their  affairs  were  administered,  these  Societies  promised  to 
become  effective  auxiliaries  to  the  Parent  Society  at  St.  Peters- 
burg. 

Of  the  energy  with  which  the  cause  was  taken  up,  a  judgment  may 
be  formed  by  the  following  circumstance.  The  Courland  Committee 
requested  the  Consistory  of  that  province  "  to  be  pleased  not  only  to 
aid  in  distributing"  their  appeals  on  the  subject  of  the  Bible  Society, 
"  but  also  to  direct  the  clergy  to  imprint  on  the  minds  of  their  parish- 
ioners a  clear  conception  of  the  object  of  the  Bible  Society,  and  the 
benefits  which  will  result  from  reading  the  Bible."  With  this  request 
the  Consistory  complied,  and  expressed  its  sincere  readiness  to  co- 
operate in  this  praiseworthy  endeavour  to  encourage  the  reading  of 
the  word  of  God."* 

For  Mr.  Paterson  himself,  it  is  but  justice  to  say,  that  he  acquitted 
himself,  in  this  laborious  and  critical  service,  with  his  usual  judgment 
and  propriety.  The  cause  in  which  he  travelled,  had  prepared  the 
way  both  for  his  reception  and  his  success.  In  every  place,  he 
found  numerous  friends  among  all  ranks,  able  and  willing  to  assist 
him.     Tfie  ohjcct  of  my  mission,  (he  observes,)  in  coming  frorn  the 

*  First  Russian  Report. 
62 


478  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  111. 

British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  ti-fl'-  all  the  recommendation  I  had, 
and  all  I  needed,  to  find  open  houses,  and  open  hearts,  everywhere. 

If  to  the  above  enumeration  be  added  the  Yaroslaff  Committee, 
which  was  constituted  on  the  3d  of  January,  1814,  an  account  will  have 
been  given  of  all  the  Auxiliaries  formed  within  the  Empire,  antece- 
dently to  the  period  at  which  this  History  closes. 

Of  the  transactions  of  the  Parent  Society  at  St.  Petersburg,  down 
to  that  period,  a  perspicuous  and  interesting  Summary  may  be  ex- 
tracted, from  an  official  communication  of  the  Secretary: 

"  The  uninterrupted  zeal  with  which  the  members  of  the  St. 
Petersburg  Bible  Society  have  from  the  first  pursued  its  object,  has 
gained  it  the  most  cordial  approbation  of  all  ranks,  and  filled  their 
minds  with  enthusiasm  for  the  success  of  this  praiseworthy  cause  ;  as 
appears  from  the  continually  increasing  number  of  its  members,  and 
the  formation  of  similar  Societies  in  several  other  towns  of  the  Em- 
pire. Donations  and  annual  subscriptions  flow  into  the  funds  of  the 
Society  from  all  classes  of  the  inhabitants  ;  and  every  where  a  greater 
attention  to  the  Bible,  and  to  its  doctrine  which  bringeth  salvation,  is 
become  more  apparent.  The  many  demands  for  copies  of  the  Scrip- 
tures in  all  languages,  are  an  evidence,  that  a  disposition  towards  the 
things  of  religion  extends  itself  more  and  more  ;  and  afford  a  proof 
of  the  beneficial  influence  of  Bible  Societies.  In  Moscow,  Yaroslaff, 
Mittau,  Dorpat,  Riga,  and  Reval,  Bible  Societies  have  been  formed, 
which,  in  connexion  with  the  one  in  this  place,  are  actively  employed 
in  diffusing  the  light  of  the  Christian  religion,  pure  and  unadulterated, 
to  the  honour  of  God,  and  the  salvation  of  their  fellow-men. 

"  In  the  second  meeting  of  our  Committee,  it  was  resolved,  that 
the  object  of  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  Society  should  be,  to  provide 

EVERY   FAMILY,  AND,   IF   POSSIBLE,  EVERY   INDIVIDUAL    IN    THE   RuSSIAN 

Empire,  with  a  Bible,  THAT  INVALUABLE  GIFT  OF  HEAVEN. 
This  praiseworthy  resolution  could  not,  however,  immediately  be 
carried  into  execution  ;  and  although  the  Committee  wished  to  supply 
with  the  Scriptures,  in  preference  to  all  others,  those  who,  through 
the  invasion  of  the  enemy,  had  lost  their  all,  and  who  consequently 
stood  most  in  need  of  the  divine  word  to  support  their  minds,  yet  they 
were  able  to  supply  only  in  part  those  patriotic  sufferers  with  this 
fountain  of  all  comfort.  With  what  earnestness  the  Scriptures  are 
desired  by  the  poorest  classes  of  the  inhabitants,  we  have  had  the 
most  moving  cvidenco,  in  that  individuals,  sunk  in  poverty,  who  had 
been  plundered  of  their  all  by  the  enemy,  have  sent  us  in  their  last 
mite,  in  order  to  obtain  a  Bible  ;  such  therefore,  we  have  supplied 
gratis. 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  479 

"  The  attention  of  the  Committee  has  also  been  turned  to  the  si- 
tuation of  the  prisoners  of  war,  whom  Providence  had  placed  in  our 
hands :  and,  in  obedience  to  the  precepts  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  to 
reward  evil  with  good,  they  had  resolved  to  furnish  them  with  copies 
of  the  Scriptures  in  diflferent  languages.  The  very  great  number  of 
Bibles  and  New  Testaments  voted  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society  for  this  purpose,  was,  therefore,  to  us  a  most  welcome  pre- 
sent ;  and  we  immediately  adopted  the  necessary  measures  for  having 
them  conveyed  to  those  unfortunate  men.  After  having  obtained  the 
requisite  information  conterning  the  places  of  their  imprisonment, 
and  their  number  in  each  district,  a  sufficient  proportion  of  Bibles 
and  Testaments  were  sent  to  the  different  Governments  and  Bible  So- 
cieties, which  were  received  with  great  thankfulness.  The  like  fa- 
vourable reception  has  been  given  to  copies  of  the  Scriptures,  in  the 
prisons  of  this  city,  in  which  a  considerable  number  of  copies  have 
been  distributed. 

"  In  order  to  meet  the  multiplied  wants  of  the  numerous  different 
people  united  under  the  Russian  sceptre,  our  Society  has  entered  into 
several  engagements  ;  the  execution  of  some  of  which  is  only  com- 
mencing, and  others  are  pretty  far  advanced  :  of  these,  I  intend  giving 
you  some  account  in  this  place. 

"  The  Holy  Synod  has  given  orders  to  print  several  thousand  copies 
of  the  Slavonian  Bible  in  Moscow  and  Kief,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
Russian  Greek  Christians,  to  be  placed  at  the  disposal  of  our  Com- 
mittee, and  which  will  either  be  sold  at  a  very  low  price,  or  given 
gratis,  as  circumstances  may  render  necessary. 

"  An  edition  of  5000  copies  of  the  Polish  New  Testament  is  like- 
wise begun.  Arrangements  are  making  for  printing  5000  copies  of 
the  Catholic  translation  of  the  French*  Bible,  for  the  use  of  the  Ro- 
man CathoUcs  in  Russia.  The  Lutheran  translation  of  the  German 
Bible,  on  standing  types,  is  commenced,  and  pretty  far  advanced.  It 
has  been  resolved,  to  print  5000  copies  of  the  Finnish  Bible,  on  the 
standi!^  types  prepared  for  the  Abo  Bible  Society,  previously  to 
their  being  sent  off  from  St.  Petersburg.  Types  are  preparing  for 
the  Calmuct  language,  and  the  printing  of  the  Gospel  by  St.  Matthew 
will  soon  commence.     The  Bible  in  the  Armenian  language  is  much 

*  The  version  used  is  that  of  De  Sacy,  a  translation  of  great  elegance,  and  very 
nearly  conformed  to  the  original  text. 

t  The  origin  of  the  Calmuc  translation  has  been  described,  (p.  154.)  On  the 
formation  of  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  Society,  the  conduct  of  that  work  (to 
which  great  importance  is  attached)  was  transferred  to  the  St.  Petersburg  Com- 
tnittee,  who  very  readily  undertook  to  sec  it  completed. 


480  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [FARTIH. 

wanted,  not  only  for  the  Armenian  Christians  in  the  south  of  Russia, 
but  also  for  those  who  live  beyond  the  confines  of  the  Empire. 
Copies  of  the  Scriptures  in  this  important  language,  have,  become  so 
scarce,  that  it  has  been  impossible  for  the  Society  to  procure  one  at 
any  price.  But  as  the  state  of  the  Society's  funds  at  present  would 
not  permit  us  to  engage  in  such  an  expensive  undertaking,  we  have 
been  under  the  necessity  to  content  ourselves  with  printing  5000 
copies  of  the  New  Testament;  which  work  is  already  far  advanced. 

"  As  to  what  concerns  the  funds  of  the  Society,  it  is  with  pleasure 
I  state,  that,  through  the  liberality  of  our  gracious  Monarch,  and  the 
subscriptions  which  are  daily  coming  in  from  all  ranks,  they  already 
amount  to  more  than  100,000  rubles.  The  donations  for  the  first 
year  amounted  to  59,497  rubles,  and  the  yearly  subscriptions  to  16,791 
rubles,  besides  the  donation  and  subscription  of  the  Emperor.  In  ad- 
dition to  this,  copies  of  the  Scriptures  have  been  sold  to  the  amount 
of  about  5000  rubles. 

"  From  the  above-mentioned  very  propitious  circumstances,  it 
evidently  appears,  that  the  hand  of  divine  Providence  has  visibly  di- 
rected the  whole,  during  the  distresses  of  war:  and  while  Europe, 
from  the  one  extremity  even  to  the  other,  was  shaken,  and  died  with 
streams  of  blood,  a  Society  has  arisen  for  the  consolation  of  suffering 
humanity  ;  which  has  for  its  object,  by  a  more  general  diffusion  of 
the  divine  word,  to  compose  the  minds  of  the  sufferers,  and  to  act  as 
an  antidote  against  that  spirit  of  infidehty,  which,  in  our  times,  has 
been  daily  increasing." 

It  will  strengthen  the  representation  given  in  the  preceding  Sum 
mary,  and  render  this  account  more  interesting  and  complete,  to  add 
a  few  testimonies  from  the  different  ranks  and  classes  of  persons  who 
expressed  their  desire  to  co-operate  with  the  St.  Petersburg  Society, 
or  to  participate  in  the  benefit  of  its  establishment. 

Among  those  who  testified  their  zeal  to  co-operate  with  the  greatest 
promf)titude  and  cordiality,  were,  (as  from  their  functions  might  have 
been  expected,)  the  dignitaries  of  the  several  churches  in  Russia. 
The  folio-wing  specimens  will  show  in  what  spirit  their  testimonie? 
were  delivered. 

The  Greek  Metropolitan  of  Kief  assigns,  as  a  reason  for  his  mu- 
nificent donation  and  annual  contribution  to  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible 
Society,  that  he  does  it,  in  "  token  of  his  personal  zeal  for  the  Insti- 
tution, which  promises  to  be  productive  of  such  spiritual  benefits." 

The  Greek  Archbishop  of  Tchernegoff  expresses  himself  desirous 
of  sharing  in  this  undertaking,  "  which  is  so  praiseworthy,  and  ac- 
ceptable to  the  Almighty." 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  48J 

"  I  perceive"  (says  the  Greek  Archbishop  of  Podolsk,  alluding  to 
the  Society)  "  the  Christian-like  and  salutary  object  thereof;  and  the 
renovation  in  our  age  of  the  times  of  the  Apostles." 

The  Archbishop  Metropolitan  of  the  Greek  Church  writes  thus- 
from  Moscow : 

"  It  is  extremely  pleasing  and  gratifying  to  every  Christian,  and 
particularly  to  every  Christian  Bishop,  to  share  in  the  sacred  in- 
tention of  so  beneficent  a  community,  the  object  of  which  is,  to  spread 
among  the  people  of  the  earth  the  salutary  light  of  divine  revelation  ; 
to  illumine  their  understandings,  not  with  earthly,  but  with  heavenly 
and  spiritual  wisdom  ;  to  form  their  hearts  to  the  laws  of  God  ;  and 
to  extend  and  consolidate  the  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ." 

The  Bishop  of  Stara  Russa,  in  notifying  his  cheerful  acceptance  of 
the  appointment  as  a  member  of  the  Society,  offers  the  following 
prayer  for  its  success  : 

"  Oh  that  the  Father  of  all  goodness  may  grant  his  blessing  on  the 
labours  of  the  Committee  of  the  Russian  Bible  Society ;  that  he  may 
ordain  that  all  may  hear  his  word,  and,  understanding  the  immutable 
truth  thereof,  may  be  united  into  one  flock,  and  rejoice  in  one 
Shepherd  !" 

The  Catholic  Bishop  of  Podolsk,  in  a  circular  address  to  the  clergy 
and  laity  of  his  persuasion,  recommends  the  Society  in  the  following 
terms : 

"  Its  object  is  truly  sacred.  It  is  the  printing  of  the  books  of  the 
Old  and  New  Testament  in  every  language,  for  all  nations  which  in- 
habit the  earth;  it  embraces  not  only  the  present  generation,  but 
extends  to  the  most  distant  posterity." 

"  While  I  refer  to  all  the  truly  grand  and  extensive  operations  ot 
the  Society,  which  constitute  a  powerful  argument  for  joining  it,  and 
cheerfully  devoting  part  of  our  property  to  the  promotion  of  its  noble 
designs,  I  have  only,  in  addition,  to  express  my  joy,  that  in  our 
present  times,  in  which  even  some  orthodox  men  too  much  indulge 
in  propagating  speculations  of  their  own,  it  has  pleased  God  to  raise 
up  men  who  exert  ^  their  powers  and  energies  for  spreading  his 
word,  the  word  of  salvation,  which  is  contained  in  the  books  of  the 
Old  and  New  Testament,  as  extensively  as  possible  among  the  nations 
of  the  earth,  even  among  Mahommedans  and  Heathens. 

"  Surely  we  ought  to  rejoice  to  see  such  prospects  opening  (ox: 
the  renewed  and  most  extensive  circulation  of  that  word  which  the 
wicked  wished  to  extirpate.  It  is  evident  to  every  reflecting  mind, 
that,  as  Christians,  faithful  to  their  high  calling,  we  ought  most  sin- 


482  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III. 

cerely  to  esteem  that  book  from  which  such  blessedness  is  derived, 
both  in  this  present  life,  and  in  that  which  is  to  come. 

"  With  regard  to  myself,  I  hasten  with  the  most  lively  zeal  to  join 
those  who  so  laudably  endeavour  to  accomplish  this  desirable  pur- 
pose. I  will  cheerfully  devote  my  time  and  talents,  as  well  as  part 
of  my  income,  (small  as  it  is,)  to  the  furtherance  of  an  object,  which, 
by  the  assistance  of  God,  cannot  but  prosper.  With  such  views  I 
address  you,  reverend  brethren,  pastors  of  our  flocks,  that  ye,  who 
are  the  first  leaders  of  the  people,  ye,  who  first  stsind  in  need  of  these 
books,  and,  following  the  example  of  David,  ought  to  meditate  in  the 
law  of  your  God  day  and  night,  may  likewise  be  the  first  to  inscribe 
your  names  in  the  Hst  of  the  Bible  Society,  the  first  to  present  their 
donations  or  annual  subscriptions,  each  according  to  his  ability  and 
inclination." 

To  these  it  may  be  added,  that  the  Catholic  Metropolitan,  and 
Archbishop  of  Mogileff,  a  venerable  Prelate  of  more  than  eighty 
years  of  age,  closed  a  pastoral  epistle,  addressed  to  his  clergy  and 
their  flocks,  at  the  end  of  the  year  1814,  in  these  striking  and  me- 
morable terms : 

"  I,  by  this  epistle,  give  intimation  to  my  flock,  concerning  the 
Rible  Institution  in  Russia,  and  conclude  with  the  following  words  of 
St.  Paul :  /  ayn  not  ashamfA  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  for  it  is  the  power 
of  God  unto  salvation  to  every  one  that  believcth.''^ 

From  the  laity,  and  from  heathen  tribes,  numerous  testimonies  to 
a  similar  effect  might  be  produced :  the  following  must  suffice. 

A  Counsellor  of  State,  upon  hearing  what  had  taken  place  at  St. 
Petersburg,  says :  "  Led  by  the  first  impulse  of  my  heart,  I  pros- 
trated myself  to  the  ground  before  Him  who  was,  and  still  continues 
to  be,  the  Saviour  of  the  world,  and  offered  up  my  unworthy  thanks 
for  the  inexhaustible  greatness  of  his  sacred  love,  and  for  the  inesti- 
mable benefits  showered  upon  our  country,  through  the  means  of  our 
beloved  monarch." 

A  Peasant,  upon  the  same  intelligence,  thus  addressed  the  Presi- 
dent:  "  Trusting  in  your  magnanimity,  I  take  the  liberty  of  acquaint- 
ing you,  that,  though  I  am  a  peasant,  I  am  desirous  of  subscribing 
twenty  rubles  a  year  to  the  Society,  and  request  to  be  informed, 
whether  I  may  become  a  member  thereof,  or  whether  persons  of  my 
class  are  excluded  from  participating  in  this  salutary  work." 

A  Pauper  solicited  a  Bible  from  the  Society,  iu  the  following  art- 
ices  and  affecting  language. 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 


483 


"  Even  I,  a  beggar,  living  in  my  indigent  hut,  lame,  and  advanced 
in  years,  and,  with  my  family,  supported  merely  by  the  charity  of  the 
compassionate  nobihty,  have  heard,  that  from  the  Bible  Society 
which  has  been  established  in  our  beloved  country,  every  individual 
may  benefit  by  receiving  the  word  of  God,  though  he  should  not 
have  the  means  of  obtaining  it  by  purchase.  May  the  Almighty  God 
bless  those  excellent  persons  who  have  introduced  this  salutary  In- 
stitution ! 

"  I  therefore  address  my  humble  application  to  the  Russian  Bible 
Society,  in  the  name  of  our  Saviour,  to  grant  me,  who  am  desirous  to 
know  the  word  of  God,  one  copy  both  of  the  Old  and  of  the  New- 
Testament.  Then  my  poor  hut  will  be  richer  than  those  palaces  of 
the  great,  in  which  this  treasure  for  our  souls  is  not  to  be  found.  To 
the  end  of  my  life  I  shall  continue  to  send  up  my  prayers  and  my 
thanksgivings  to  the  Almighty." 

The  following  "  Promissory  letter  from  the  Chief  of  the  diiferent 
Heathen  tribes  inhabiting  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Sea  of  Baikal," 
will  show  how  zealously  they  interested  themselves  in  the  object  of 
the  Society. 

"  I,  the  undersigned,  Chief  Sacrificer  of  various  tribes  of  Buretty, 
Chamba  Lama  Danzay  Gavan  Ishee  Jamsuyeff,  bind  myself  here- 
with, that,  besides  the  donation  made  for  the  benefit  and  increase  of 
the  word  of  God,  which  is  beneficial  to  all,  to  pay  in  future,  every 
year,  to  the  Russian  Bible  Society  the  sum  of  ten  rubles,  which  I  offer 
in  all  sincerity  ;  this  24th  of  January,  1814." 

it  deserves  to  be  mentioned,  that  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  Society 
regarded  the  testimonies  of  the  poorest  inhabitants  of  the  Empire, 
with  a  respect  not  inferior  to  that  with  which  they  welcomed  those 
of  the  highest  and  most  opulent.  They  had  not  imbibed  the  novel 
doctrine,  novel,  however,  only  in  the  mouths,  and  from  the  pens,  of 
those  by  whom  it  has,  within  the  last  twelve  years,  been  propagated, 
that  the  Scriptures  are  so  "  hard  to  be  understood,"*  as  without  an 

»  That  the  obscurity  of  the  Scriptures,  as  promulged  and  maintained  by  Pro- 
t€stants,  is  a  novel  doctrine,  we  have  had  the  unsuspicious  testimony  of  Father 
Gandolphy;  to  which  may  be  added  that  of  the  Vicar  Apostolic  Bishop  Milner 
who,  in  a  Pastoral  Charge  to  his  Clergy  in  1813,  thus  expresses  himself:  ' 

"  Of  late  years  you  know  that  numerous  Societies  have  been  formed,  and  in- 
credible sums  of  money  raised,  throughout  the  United  Kingdom,  among  Christians 
of  other  communions,  for  the  purpose  of  distributing  Bibles  gratis  to  all  poor  peo- 
ple who  are  willing  to  accept  of  them.  In  acting  thus  they  act  conformably  to  the 
Jmdamental  principles  of  their  religion,  which  teach  that  «  the  Bible  contains  all 
things  necessary  for  salvation,  and  that  it  is  easy  to  be  understood  by  every  person 
of  co7nmon  sense.''" 


,1^4  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III. 

authorized  oral  or  written  interpretation,  to  be  either  unintelligible, 
or  productive  of  error  and  evil,  in  the  hands  of  the  people.  On  the 
contrary,  they  argue  as  follows  :  "  The  notions  respecting  the  Bible, 
expressed  in  the  letters  to  the  Society,  by  various  persons,  and  even 
by  many  of  the  lowest  class,  who  apparently  have  had  no  scholastic 
instruction,  prove,  in  general,  that  there  is  no  person,  however  ignorant, 
to  whom  the  reading  of  the  word  of  God  is  not  beneficial,  necessary,  and 
salutary ;  and  that  no  extraordinary  education  is  required  to  enable  us  to  un- 
derstand the  Bible:  It  is  only  necessary  to  be  able  to  read,  or  even 
wiTH  attention  to  HEAR  IT  READ."  There  is  so  near  an  agreement  be- 
tween these  sentiments  and  those  of  our  learned,  orthodox,  and  judi- 
cious Hooker,  that  the  author  cannot  resist  the  temptation  of  adding 
(o  the  Russian  statement  one  brief  passage  from  the  English  Ecclesi- 
astic, in  which  that  agreement  is  almost  verbally  expressed. 

"  Surely,  if  we  perish,  it  is  not  the  lack  of  scribes  and  learned  ex- 
pounders that  can  be  our  just  excuse.  The  word  which  saveth  our 
fouls,  is  near  us :  we  need  for  knowledge  but  to  read  and  live."* 

That  the  sensation  excited  by  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  Society  was 
not  a  temporary  feeling,  a  meteorous  flame,  kindled  by  the  love  of  no- 
velty, and  encouraging  expectations  which  were  to  vanish  in  disappoint- 
ment and  delusion,  has  been  sufficiently  proved  by  the  progressive  in- 
crease which  it  has  experienced,  and  continues  still  to  experience,  in 
the  number  of  its  supporters,  its  Branches,  and  its  Biblical  operations. 
It  was  not  without  reason,  as  facts  have  in  part  demonstrated,  and  will 
hereafter,  it  is  believed,  more  fully  demonstrate,  that  the  Directors 
of  that  Society  thus  strongly  expressed  themselves  at  the  close  of  their 
first  Report. 

"  This  work,  the  work  of  the  Lord,  will  not  rest  here  :  it  will  pro- 
ceed, and  the  fruit  of  it  will  be  lasting.  This  is  as  certain  as  the  truth 
and  immutability  of  the  word  of  God,  the  word  of  eternal  life,  with 
which  it  is  the  wish  of  the  Bible  Society  to  enlighten  the  human  race 
by  distributing  the  Holy  Scriptures  among  them." 

That  the  opposite  doctrine  is  not  altogether  novel,  few  Protestants  need  to  be  told ; 
but  it  is  hoped  that  there  are  not  many  dignitaries,  or  even  members  of  that  church 
in  which  it  originated,  who  would  go  quite  the  length  of  this  Catholic  Vicar  Apos- 
tolic in  his  exposition  and  defence  of  it. 

"  The  Tridenline  Fathers"  (says  Bishop  Mihier)  "  make  no  distinction  between 
Bibles  in  the  vulgar  tongue,  with  notcx  and  those  without  notes ;  and  it  is  evidently 
impossible  to  add  anv  notes  wliatever  to  the  sacred  text,  which  will  make  it  a  safe  and 
proper  elementary  book  of  instruction  for  the  illiterate  poor  " 

*■  Ecclesiastical  Polity,  Vol.  il.  Book  5. 


CHAP.  II.)  AiVD  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  ^g^ 

On  the  whole,  when  the  origin  of  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  Society, 
and  the  progressive  formation  of  those  Branches  which  have  been  enu- 
merated, are  considered,  in  connexion  with  the  growth  Avhich  the 
Institution  has  since  acquired,  and  which  it  may,  in  a  manner,  be  said 
to  be  daily  acquiring,  it  must  be  regarded  as  the  most  important  of 
those  effects  with  which  God  has  been  pleased  to  honour  the  labours 
of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  To  this  effect  the  commit- 
tee of  that  Society  expressed  themselves  through  their  official  organ, 
Prince  Gahtzin.  With  their  declaration,  equally  honourable  to  both 
Institutions,  this  account  shall  be  concluded. 

"  The  Committee,  while  they  prostrate  themselves  before  the  Al- 
mighty Giver  of  all  good,  who,  with  one  hand,  hath  delivered  Russia 
from  her  outward  enemies,  and  with  the  other,  planted  in  her  bosom 
an  Institution  for  disseminating  more  effectually  his  word,  acknow- 
ledge with  a  heartfelt  satisfaction  the  instruments  of  his  holy  decrees. 
The  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  have  acquired  a  sacred 

RIGHT  TO  THE   EVERLASTING    GRATITUDE  OF   THE   SoCIETY  OF    St.    Pe- 
TEASBURG."* 

To  the  foregoing  enumeration  of  Societies  recently  formed  in  those 
parts  of  Europe,  between  which  and  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society  some  connexion  had  previously  existed,  is  to  be  added,  a 
similar  Institution  in  the  heart  of  a  country,  allied  indeed  to  Great 
Britain  by  ties  of  political,  religious,  and  commercial  affinity,  but, 
through  the  influence  of  French  intrigue  and  domination,  arrayed 
against  her,  for  a  series  of  years,  in  a  most  unnatural  and  ruinous  war. 
Scarcely  had  the  yoke  been  thrown  off,  which  occasioned  the  division, 
than  Amsterdam,  the  capital  alluded  to,  opened  a  friendly  communi- 
cation with  London  on  the  subject  of  a  Bible  Society. 

*  To  the  above  expression  of  gratitude  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
is  added,  "  a  solemn  testimony  to  the  indefatigable  co-operation  of  the  Rev.  John 
Paterson,  in  their  splendid  successes."  This  testimony  ia  more  particularly  stated  ia 
the  following  passage  of  their  First  Annual  Keport. 

«  On  this  occasion  it  behoves  the  Committee  to  declare  to  the  Assembly  at  large, 
the  obligations  which  the  Society  owes  to  this  worthy  Member,  who,  from  the  verv 
commencement  of  the  Institution,  and  during  the  whole  of  the  year  1813,  has  spared 
no  pains  or  care  to  promote  the  improvement  of  its  affairs.  The  duties  of  receiving: 
and  delivering  out  Bibles  from  the  book  warehouse,  of  writing  for  them  to  foreign 
parts,  and  conducting  the  correspondence  with  the  Bible  Societies  of  Great  Britain, 
Stockholm,  Abo,  and  other  places,  and  of  managing  all  the  affairs  and  concerns 
entrusted  to  him  by  the  Committee,  have  been  performed  with  an  exemplary  zeal, 
good  will,  and  success,  which  could  be  effected  by  no  one  but  a  sincere  Christian, 
tvho  had  m  view,  not  earthly,  hut  heavenly  objecta." 
63 


466 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  111. 


This  communication  originated  in  the  zeal  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mac 
Intosh,  a  Minister  of  the  EngHsh  Reformed  Church  at  Amsterdam. 
This  gentleman,  having,  in  the  month  of  January  1814,  obtained  in- 
telligence,/or  thefint  time,  of  the  existence  of  such  an  Institution  as 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  became  immediately  a  liberal 
contributor  to  its  funds,  and  spontaneously  tendered  his  services  to 
its  Committee,  with  a  view  to  the  promotion  of  its  cause  in  the  United 
Netherlands.     In  little  more  than  a  month.  Dr.  Mac  Intosh  had  so  far 
succeeded,  in  exciting  an  interest  in  favour  of  the  object  of  his  wishes, 
that  he  was  enabled  to  submit  a  plan  for  the  establishment  of  an  "  Eng- 
lish Bible  Society,"  as  preparatory  to  an  Institution  upon  a  broader 
basis,  and  of  larger  comprehension.    To  this  limited  and  temporary  un- 
dertaking, in  which  dehcacy  and  prudence  were  so  judiciously  con- 
sulted, the  Committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  gave 
their  warmest  encouragement,  by  a  grant  of  500  English  Bibles,  and 
1000  Testaments,  and  a  promise  of  500/.  in  the  event  of  the  establish- 
ment of  a  National  Bible  Society  for  the  United  Netherlands.     Ani- 
mated by  this  encouragement,  and  amply  supplied  with  Reports,  and 
other  explanatory  papers.  Dr.  Mac  Intosh  proceeded  to  diffuse  the 
necessary  information,  and   to  organize   a  Provisional   Committee. 
Things  having  been  sufficiently  matured,  a  meeting  was  convened  on 
the  23d  of  March,  1814,  in  the  Consistory  Chamber  of  the  English 
Reformed  Church,  at  Amsterdam,  when  Dr.  Mac  Intosh,  having  been 
xmanimously  called  to  the  chair,   "  the  English  Bible  Society"  was 
formed,  under  the  Patronage  of  His  Royal  Highness  the  Hereditary 
Prince  of  Orange,  and  the  Presidency  of  the  Earl  of  Clancarty,  and 
with  the  co-operation  of  one  hundred  gentlemen  of  the  first  respecta- 
biUty,  both  Enghsh  and  Dutch.     The  objects  of  this  Society,  as  de- 
scribed in  its  constitution,  were  twofold  : 

First,  to  "  ascertain  and  supply  the  want  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  in 
the  Eno-lish  language  among  the  indigent  Members  of  British  Ckurches 
in  Holland." 

And,  secondly,  to  "  use  its  best  endeavours  to  promote  the  forma- 
tion of  a  National  or  Dutch  Bible  Societij  on  the  principles  ofThe  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society  of  London,  viz.  to  supjjly  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures, without  note  or  comment,  to  the  poor  of  all  religious  sects  and 
denominations  in  The  United  JVethci-lands ;  and  also  to  encourage  the 
circulation  of  the  same  in  all  nations." 

The  latter  of  these  objects,  and  to  which  the  former  was  meant  to 
be  conducive,  did  not  long  remain  unaccomplished.  In  the  ensuing 
month  of  June>  the  United  Netherlands  Bible  Society  was  established 


CHAP.  II-l  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  487 

at  Amsterdam,  under  the  Presidency  of  Mr.  Ro'ell,  the  Minister  of  the 
Interior ;  and  Auxiliaries  were  afterwards  rapidly  formed  in  the  sur- 
rounding cities ;  all  which  are  regularly  united  under  one  head,  and 
co-operate  harmoniously  in  the  prosecution  of  one  common  end. 

With  this  fact  before  him,  the  reader  will  peruse  with  greater  in- 
terest the  following  extract,  which  reports  the  immediate  proceedings 
of  the  Enghsh  Bible  Society,  and  conveys  the  pledge  of  its  future  and 
more  extended  undertakings. 

"  This  liberal  donation"  (the  grant  of  English  Bibles,  &c.)  "  will 
be  as  acceptable  to  those  for  whom  it  is  ultimately  designed,  as  it  is 
honourable  to  the  bountiful  donors.  It  will  gladden  the  hearts  of 
many  who  were  denied  the  opportunity  of  procuring  the  Scriptures 
in  their  vernacular  tongue,  while  they  possessed  the  means  of  paying 
for  them,  and  who  are  now  destitute  of  these  means,  when  that  op- 
portunity is  restored. 

"  The  Committee  of  the  English  Bible  Society,  at  whose  disposal 
the  said  Bibles  and  Testaments  were  placed,  immediately  forwarded 
75  Bibles  and  150  Testaments  to  Rotterdam,  and  25  Bibles  and  50 
Testaments  to  the  Hague,  where  they  were  most  joyfully  received 
by  the  British  Clergymen  entrusted  with  their  distribution  among  the 
poor  of  their  respective  flocks.  Of  your  abundance  we  are  daily 
administering  to  the  indigent  Members  connected  with  the  English 
Church  in  this  place  ;  and  we  shall  not  fail  to  supply  the  scriptural 
wants  of  your  countrymen  in  the  remaining  cities  round  about  Am- 
sterdam, and  in  all  the  regions  of  the  United  Netherlands  beyond  the 
Maas. 

"  If  circumstances  over  which  they  had  no  control,  prevented  the 
inhabitants  of  this  country,  till  the  eleventh  hour,  from  participating 
in  that  strife  of  love,  which  has  animated  and  united  so  many  associ- 
ations of  Christians  in  circulating  the  Holy  Scriptures,  their  exertions, 
•we  are  conlident,  will,  on  that  account,  be  the  more  zealous  and  in- 
defatigable; and  the  period,  we  hope,  is  not  remote,  when,  in  their 
labours  of  love,  they  will  not  be  a  whit  behind  the  very  chiefest  pro- 
moters of  Bible  Societies.  Their  labours  will  be  facilitated  by  the 
local  proximity  of  England  and  Holland,  and  by  the  constant  inter- 
course which  the  renewal  of  their  political  union  has  opened  between 
both  nations  ;  at  the  same  time,  we  anticipate  the  happiest  effects  from 
the  godlike  example,  the  sage  counsel,  the  liberal  bounty,  and  fervent 
j)rayers  of  the  Committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society." 

Having  recorded  the  operations  of  the  different  Bible  Societies  on 
the  continent  of  Europe,  which  existed  previously  to  the  date  at 
rvhirh  this  chapter  commeaces,  and  traced  the  formation  of  such  as 


485  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  HI. 

arose  subsequently  to  that  time,  it  will  be  necessary  to  state  a  few 
particulars  of  a  miscellaneous  description,  in  order  to  complete  this 
portion  of  the  Society's  History. 

The  inquiries  promoted  by  the  Society's  correspondents,  having 
led  to  the  discovery,  that  the  Scriptures  were  much  wanted  by  the 
Swedish  and  German  inhabitants  of  Courland,  Livonia,  and  Esthonia, 
the  Committee  did  not  allow  this  want  to  await  the  event  of  measures, 
at  that  time  concerting,  for  the  estabhshment  of  Auxihary  Societies, 
but  ordered  300  Swedish  Bibles,  and  600  Testaments,  to  be  forwarded 
from  Stockholm,  and  despatched  1000  German  Testaments  from  their 
own  Depository  in  London,  as  an  immediate  supply  for  such  objects 
in  the  Baltic  provinces.  The  terms  in  which  this  present  was  ac- 
knowledged by  the  Reval,  the  Dorpat,  and  the  Mittau  Bible  Socie- 
ties, evinced  the  seasonableness  of  the  gift,  and  the  excellent  spirit 
of  those  through  whose  hands  it  was  to  be  distributed.  The  senti> 
ments  of  all  may  be  considered  as  expressed  in  the  following  extract 
from  the  Address  of  the  Dorpatian  Society. 

"  In  the  name  of  our  province,  we  return  thanks  for  the  great  be^ 
nefit  conferred  upon  the  same  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, in  facihtating  the  dissemination  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  ;  and 
we  esteem  ourselves  highly  favoured  to  be  employed  as  instruments 
in  a  work,  the  blessed  eftects  of  which,  in  exciting  the  mind  to  medi- 
tation on  spiritual  subjects,  and  promoting  Christian  sentiments,  and 
Christian  morals,  will  be  felt  by  the  remotest  posterity." 

The  tour  of  Dr.  Brunnmark  into  Sweden,  afforded  an  opportunity 
also  of  investing  him  with  the  means  of  dispensing  a  portion  of  the 
Society's  bounty  where  cases  of  need,  remote  from  the  ordinary  tract 
of  notice  or  inquiry,  might  come  under  his  observation.  This  part 
of  his  commission  Dr.  Brunnmark  executed,  as  he  did  every  other, 
with  great  judgment,  tenderness,  and  fidelity  ;  and  many  a  village  was 
made  glad  by  the  unexpected  distribution  of  Swedish  Bibles  among 
its  obscure  and  impoverished  inhabitants.  Such  droppings  of  mercy 
are  greeted  with  feelings  of  which  those  who  are  saturated  by  the 
streams  of  divine  goodness,  have  little  conception:  and,  possibly,  the 
acts  themselves,  and  the  thanksgiving  they  excite,  are  among  those 
oblations  with  which  God  is  best  pleased.  What  heart  can  be  insen- 
sible to  the  devout  pathos  contained  in  the  following  tribute  of  grati- 
tude from  a  pastor  and  his  flock,  in  a  remote  corner  of  Sweden? 

"  We  cannot  but  notice  and  adore  the  ways  of  Providence,  in  iU 
care  of  the  church.  How  can  we  otherwise  account  for  hearts  in 
England  being  moved  to  impart  zeal,  and  extend  support,  to  the  cause 
of  Jesu?,  in  the  North  ?    A  Society  m?et  in  London  for  the  noble 


CilAP.  IIJ  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIEXr.  ^gg 

purpose  of  furthering,  at  their  expense,  the  dissemination  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures  ;  and  they  do  not,  even  in  travelHng  over  the  map  of  the 
world,  overlook  such  an  insignificant  spot  as  our  dear  little  Eskilstuna. 
This  has  filled  our  hearts  with  deep  veneration  for  the  gracious  ways 
of  Divine  Providence. 

"  We  beg  leave  to  return  our  warmest  and  humblest  thanks  for 
this  most  hberal  donation  :  and  you  may  rest  assured,  that,  as  long  as 
the  Gospel  of  Christ  is  held  in  value  in  Sweden,  there  will  not  be 
wanting  men  in  Esldlstuna,  who,  with  gratitude  and  veneration,  will 
remember  the  noble  donors  to  our  Bible  fund ;  for  we  have  it  in  con- 
templation, not  only  to  make  a  proper  application  of  your  bounty, 
but  also  annually  to  celebrate  the  Bible  Institution  among  the  mem- 
bers of  these  congregations." 

Another  incident  deserving  of  record,  in  these  miaccllaneous  trans- 
actions, was  the  distribution  of  the  Scriptures  to  those  who,  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  Continent,  had  been  reduced  to  extreme  distress,  by 
the  effects  of  a  sanguinary  and  devastating  war.  To  the  compassion 
displayed  by  the  British  nation  in  general,  for  the  temporal  privations 
of  their  fellow-Christians,  was  added,  an  equally  prompt  and  compas- 
sionate attention  to  the  rehef  of  their  spiritual  necessities  :  and  it  may 
not  be  unworthy  of  observation,  that  the  same  individuals  were  found- 
to  take  a  leading  part  in  the  administration  of  both.  The  grants 
made  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  were  liberal,  both  in 
their  amount,  and  in  the  principle  of  their  application.  They  were 
directed  to  every  station  where  war,  and  its  attendant  miseries,  were 
known  to  have  prevailed  ;  and  included  a  provieion  for  Cathohc  as 
well  as  for  Protestant  sufferers.* 

*  The  reader  will,  perhaps,  have  been  not  unfrequently  struck  with  the  extra- 
ordinary  facilities  which  the  Society  possessed  for  carrying  into  effect  its  pecuniary 
as  well  as  its  general  transactions  on  the  Continent.  This  may  be  a  proper  place 
to  explain,  that,  for  the  principal  of  those  facilities,  as  well  as  for  accommodation  in 
every  way  in  which  it  could  be  afforded,  the  Society  is  indebted  to  the  liberality 
and  friendship  of  Messrs.  Vandersmissen  of  Altona.  Of  their  services  Mr.  Stein- 
kopff  has  spoken  in  such  just  and  affectionate  terms,  that  the  author  will  extract 
them,  rather  than  attempt  any  eulos^ium  of  his  own.  He  must,  however,  premise 
that  their  conduct,  in  the  case  of  Mr.  Steinkopff,  is  to  be  regarded  as  only  a  speci- 
men of  that  which  they  have  maintained  towards  the  British  and  Foreio-n  Bible 
Society  from  the  period  of  its  commencement. 

"I  found  myself  in  Altona,  safely  lodged  in  the  house  of  Messrs.  VandersmisseJis, 
and  most  cordially  welcomed  by  all  the  members  of  this  excellent  family.  Tliey 
know  no  party  :  but  show  Christian  love,  kindness,  and  hospitality,  to  every  servant 
of  God— to  good  men  of  every  denomination.  May  God  pour  down  upon  them 
his  richest  blessings,  and  may  his  heavenly  benediction  rest  upon  them  all !  They 
assisted  me  with  fheir  counsel,  their  credit,  their  mercantile  knowledge  and  expe- 


490  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [TART  IIJ". 

Of  those  designed  for  the  latter,  many  were  presented  to  the  sick 
and  the  wounded  in  the  different  hospitals  throughout  Lusatia,  Silesia, 
Saxony,  &c.  and  some  (in  the  language  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Doering,  of 
Dresden)  to  "  warriors  in  health,  at  their  own  express  desire."  The 
Rev.  Dr.  Knapp  represented  the  Canstein  Institution  as  scarcely  able 
to  execute  the  orders  which  it  received,  so  greatly  had  "  the  inqui- 
ries after  the  Scriptures"  increased  ;  and,  in  acknowledging  the  grant 
for  a  distribution  of  copies  "  among  the  sufferers  by  war,"  desires, 
that  his  "  sincerest  thanks"  may  be  returned  "  to  the  venerable  Bible 
Society — that  faithful  assistant  of  truth."  In  estimating  thus  highly 
the  value  of  the  Society's  services,  both  in  this  and  in  other  instan- 
ces, the  Rev.  Dr.  Amon,  first  Chaplain  to  the  Court  of  Saxony,  coin- 
cides with  the  pious  Director  of  the  Canstein  Institution.  His 
address  to  the  Foreign  Secretary  is  too  important,  on  evei-y  ground, 
to  be  omitted. 

"  You  have  rendered  an  important  service  to  Germany  in  general, 
and  to  Saxony  in  particular,  by  directing  the  attention  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society  to  the  decline  of  the  religious  spirit  in 
Germany,  and  by  procuring  for  us  those  valuable  presents  of  Bibles, 
a  considerable  number  of  which  I  have  distributed.  I  clearly  per- 
ceived from  this,  the  just  and  comprehensive  view  which  that  noble 
Society  had  taken  of  the  miseries  and  desolations  of  our  times ;  you 
fix  your  eye  on  the  primary  cause  of  all  our  misfortunes,  and  point 
out  to  us  the  heavenly  power  of  that  Divine  Revelation  which  alone 
can  support,  comfort,  cheer,  and  bless  us.  May  the  blessing  of  God 
rest  upon  you  and  all  our  English  friends."* 

ricnce,  and  their  warmest  recommendations  to  the  many  friends  and  connexions 
which  they  have  in  almost  every  part  of  the  Continent.''     Lvifcrs,  S,c.  p.  29. 

Advantage  may  also  be  taken  of  this  reference,  to  express  how  much  the  Society 
has  been  indebted  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Schwabe,  Minister  of  the  German  Lutheran 
Church  in  Goodman's  Fields,  for  supplying  the  place  of  Mr-  SteiukopfT,  during  the 
absence  of  the  latter,  as  well  as  for  many  other  services,  both  literary  and  general. 

*  The  Foreign  Secretary,  as  well  as  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  may 
find,  in  these  testimonies  from  the  Director  of  the  Canstein  Institution,  and  the 
Saxon  Court  Chaplain,  some  compensation  for  the  attack  made  upon  their  credit  by 
the  English  Divinity  Professor. 

"  To  speak  of  Ccrmanrj  as  wanting  Bibles,  which  the  Foreign  Secretary  himself 
has  hUhcrto  done;  of  Ccrmany,  which  had  printed  the  Scriptures  in  Hebrew, 
in  Greek,  in  Latin,  and  in  German,  before  England  had  printed  them  evca 
in  Eiujlixh:  olGcnnatiy,  the  cradle  of  the  Reformation,  the  birth-place  of  Luther, 
whose  translation  was  partly  transferred  into  our  ownj  of  Gcrmanj/,  where  the 
Canstein  Bille  Jtuiilution,  established  a  century  ago,  can  multiply  copies  by 
thousands,  and  lens  of  thousands;  of  Gcrmann,  where  every  bookseller  can  furnish 


CHAP.  II.J  AlVD  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  ^g. 

An  equally  favourable  reception  was  given  by  various  Catholics  to 
the  copies  furnished  for  their  use  from  the  Catholic  depositories  at 
Ratisbon  and  Marburg.  In  acknowledging  this  act  of  kindness,  a  dis- 
tinguished Clergyman  of  that  communion  describes  the  effect  of  the 
Scriptures  in  the  following  terms  : 

"  The  Lord  is  performing  wonderful  things  in  our  parts.  He  illu- 
mines the  blind,  opens  the  ears  of  the  deaf,  quickens  one  after  ano- 
ther, who  formerly  were  dead  in  trespasses  and  sins  :  in  a  word,  he 
doeth  all  things  well."  "  Present"  (he  adds)  "  our  kindest  saluta- 
tions to  all  friends  of  Christ,  who  seek  and  find  in  him  all  things  :  and 
recommend  us,  who  stand  in  constant  need  of  divine  support  and 
assistance,  to  the  fraternal  remembrance  of  all  who  feel  deeply  inter- 
ested in  the  enlargement  of  the  kingdom  of  God  upon  earth  Let 
them  fervently  intercede  for  us,  that  a  wide  and  effectual  door  may 
be  opened  among  us  for  the  preaching  of  the  glorious  saving  Gospel 
of  Christ;  and  that  the  pnemy  may  be  restrained,  who  threatens  and 
impedes  us  on  every  side.  But  he  will  not  succeed :  no,  our  Lord 
will  magnify  himself;  so  that  his  name  shall  be  blessed  in  every  part 
of  the  habitable  globe." 

From  this  statement,  to  which  might  be  added  others  of  a  similar 
description,  it  will  appear,  that  the  object  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society  continued  to  gain  ground  among  the  members  of  the 
Roman  Catholic  church  in  different  parts  of  Germany,  and  that 
a  growing  disposition  was  manifested  on  the  part  of  many,  both  of  the 
clergy  and  the  laity,  to  unite  with  their  Protestant  brethren  in  the 
kindest  and  most  effectual  co-operation:  On  this  subject  much  has 
been  said  in  different  parts  of  this  work ;  and  the  author  considers  it 
of  such  importance  to  the  unity  of  Christendom,  and  the  general  dif- 
fusion of  divine  truth,  that  he  gladly  avails  himself  of  every  fair  op- 
portunity to  bring  it  into  view.  The  reader  has  had  before  him  the 
liberal  and  enlightened  sentiments  of  the  Catholic  Metropolitan  of 
Russia,  and  of  the  Bishop  of  Podolsk.  Of  these  the  counterpart  is  to 
be  found  in  the  public  declarations  of  those  German  Catholics  from 
whose  writings  so  many  quotations  have  already  been  made.  Two 
additional  extracts  from  this  latter  source  of  information,  shall  termi- 
nate our  account  of  the  Society's  affairs  on  the  European  continent. 

German  Bibles  to  any  amount  at  a  price  inferior  to  fourteen  English  pence;  to 
cpeak  ot  such  a  country  as  wanting  Bibles,  is  more  than  could  have  been  expected, 
erou  from  the  zeal  of  our  present  advocates," 

Marsh's  Inquiry,  &c.  p.  42, 
Sec  also  p.  301.  o^  this  vol 


^f)2  HISTORY  or  THE  BiUTlSH  [f  ART  III, 

"  Your  Bible  Society  in  London"  (exclaims  the  Regent  of  the 
CathoUc  College  at  Ratisbon)  "  is  a  wonderful  phenomenon  in  the 
approaching  crisis  of  our  times,  in  which  so  many  of  our  learned  men 
no  longer  acknowledge  the  authenticity  and  historical  accuracy  of  our 
sacred  books.  Infidelity  boasts  of  a  complete  triumph ;  and  yet  must 
behold,  at  the  same  time,  the  Holy  Scriptures  exalted  and  spread 
throughout  Europe,  and  from  thence  over  the  whole  habitable  globe, 
in  a  most  miraculous  manner.  Great  and  powerful  is  our  Lord  at  the 
right  hand  of  the  Father,  and  all  his  enemies  must  be  put  under  his 
feet.  May  God  strengthen  you  in  your  labours,  and  cause  your  con- 
fidence in  his  power  and  love  never  to  abate  1" 

The  Catholic  Professor  of  Divinity  at  Marburg  writes  as  fol- 
lows: 

"  From  every  quarter  into  -which  I  sent  the  New  Testaments, 
I  receive  pleasing  information  of  the  moral  and  religious  improve- 
ment the  people  derive  from  it,  and  of  the  consolation  it  aflords  them 
imder  the  pressure  of  these  eventful  times.  Much,  indeed,  of  this  I 
myself  saw  in  the  neighbourhood  where  I  formerly  officiated.  At  the 
preaching  of  my  farewell  sermon,  Protestants,  Cathohcs,  and  even 
many  Jews,  were  present ;  their  expressions  of  gratitude  for  the  New 
Testament  became  loud  ;  and  still  more  fervent  were  my  thanks  to 
the  Lord  for  this  underscrvcd  mercy.  Let  the  sincercst  thanks  be 
ascribed  to  our  God  and  Redeemer,  for  choosing  you,  my  dear  bre- 
thren in  Christ,  as  instruments  in  his  hands,  to  promote  his  cause, 
and  to  bring  forth  such  fruits  of  spiritual  union,  by  your  extensive 
<lissemination  of  the  Bible.  Amen,  Lord  Jesus !  continue  to  prosper 
this  grand  work,  and  to  crown  it  with  thy  richest  blessing ;  preserve 
the  spirit  of  active  charity  and  benevolence  in  thy  faitliful  worship- 
pers ;  cause  them  to  promote,  by  their  gifts  of  charity,  thy  glory  and 
their  own  happiness,  until  that  day  in  which  "  they  shall  rejoice, 
bringing  their  sheaves  with  them." 

In  the  East,  the  Societies  established  at  Calcutta,  and  Colombo, 
prosecuted,  with  the  best  mutual  understanding,  the  object  which,  in 
alliance  with  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  they  had  pledged 
themselves,  by  all  means  in  their  power,  to  promote.  The  Calcutta 
Society,  at  the  expiration  of  their  second  year,  (on  February  21, 
1813.)  were  able  to  report  a  train  of  operations  judiciously  con- 
certed, and  in  a  great  measure  carried  into  actual  execution.  Con- 
stituted expressly  with  a  view  to  provide,  in  the  first  instance,  for  the 
four  classes  of  native  Christians  in  India  ;  viz.  the  Portuguese,  the 
Tamulj  the  Cingalese,  and  the  Malabar,  they  directed  their  efforts, 


CHAP.  II.J  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY,  493 

with  great  judgment  and  perseverance,  to  the  attainment  of  this  pri- 
mary end. 

For  the  first  of  these  classes  preparation  had  been  made,  by  a 
large  investment  of  Portuguese  Testaments,  sent  out,  through  vari- 
ous channels,  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society ;  and  from 
that  stock,  which  progressively  accumulated,  the  Calcutta  Bible  So- 
ciety took  the  necessary  measures  to  have  supplies  distributed,  with 
all  practicable  care,  not  only  in  Calcutta  and  its  immediate  vicinity, 
but  in  many  of  the  stations  in  the  interior  of  the  country,  and  also  at 
the  two  Presidencies  of  Madras  and  Bombay.  "  Sufficient  time  had 
not  elapsed"  when  the  Committee  made  their  report,  '•  to  admit  of 
their  hearing  how  these  donations  had  been  accepted  in  the  remote 
stations  ;  but  it  appeared,  from  those  who  had  been  the  distributors 
of  the  Society's  bounty  in  Calcutta,  that  the  present  had  been  always 
thankfully  received,  and,  in  some  cases,  with  tears  of  joy." 

To  the  provision  designed  for  the  Tamul  Christians,  an  obstruction 
had  been  occasioned,  by  that  calamitous  destruction  of  the  printing- 
house  at  Serampore.  Notwithstanding,  however,  that  unpropitious 
event,  an  event  which  threatened  so  serious  an  interruption  to  the 
general  plans  of  the  Calcutta  Society,  the  printing  of  the  Tamul  Tes- 
tament was  resumed,  and  pursued  with  such  alacrity  and  astonishing 
industry,  that  the  whole  impression  of  5000  copies  was  completed j 
and  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  Calcutta  Society,  considerably 
within  the  period  originally  assigned.  This  conduct,  on  the  part  of 
the  Serampore  Missionaries,  demanded  an  honourable  memorial ;  and 
it  is  recorded  in  the  Annals  of  the  Calcutta  Society,  with  the  admira- 
tion and  the  gratitude  which  it  deserves. 

In  concerting  their  plan  for  printing  the  Cingalese  Testament,  the 
Calcutta  Society  had  been  materially  guided  by  information  and  ad- 
vice from  the  First  Chaplain  and  Superintendent  of  the  Schools  in  the 
Island  of  Ceylon,  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  Mr.  Twisleton  ;  and  their  deter- 
mination was  to  print  5000  copies  of  the  New  Testament,  for  the  use 
of  the  Cingalese  Christians,  it  having  been  ascertained,  that  there 
were  scarcely  twenty  copies  of  it  existing  among  a  Christian  popula- 
tion of  nearly  200,000  souls.  Before,  however,  this  edition  could  be 
put  to  press,  intelligence  reached  Calcutta,  that  a  Bible  Society  had 
been  formed  at  Colombo ;  and  a  correspondence  ensued  between  the 
Secretaries  of  the  two  Institutions,  which  ended  in  a  reduction  of  the 
proposed  edition  from  5000  to  2000  copies.  The  ground  upon  which 
this  reduction  was  made,  will  be  explained  when  we  come  to  treat 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  Colombo  Society ;  in  the  mean  time,  it  will 
be  proper  to  state,  that  the  Calcutta  Society  used  such  laudable  diJi- 
64- 


494 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  HI. 


gence  in  expediting  the  work,  as  to  be  able,  before  their  second  An- 
niversary, to  announce  the  Gospel  of  St.  Matthew  as  finished,  and 
ready  for  transmission.  This  infornnation  was  cordially  greeted 
by  the  Secretaries  of  the  Colombo  Society,  who,  in  a  letter  date«l 
April  13,  1813,  say,  "The  printed  copy  of  "St.  Matthew,  in  Cinga- 
lese, will  be  most  welcome,  and  your  intelligence,  announcing  its 
speedy  arrival,  gives  much  pleasure  ;"  adding,  "  We  are  extremely 
in  want  of  a  supply  of  the  Scriptures  in  the  language  of  the  country, 
for  the  use  of  those  Christians  whose  profession  of  Christianity  can 
be  little  more  than  nominal,  while  they  are  debarred  from  the  great 
means  of  instruction  and  improvement." 

In  the  Malayalim  Scriptures,  designed  for  the  use  of  the  Malabar 
Christians,  equal  progress  was  not  made,  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  a 
correct  and  acceptable  version  being  found  to  be  much  greater  than 
had  at  first  been  apprehended.  But  the  most  serious  obstacle  to  this 
part  of  the  Society's  plan,  arose  from  the  want  of  ecclesiastical  au- 
thority for  the  distribution  of  the  Scriptures  among  the  Malabar  Ro- 
man Catholics.  The  consent  and  influence  of  His  Excellency  the 
Archbishop  of  Goa,  required  to  be  obtained,  before  \he  Scriptures 
could  become  current  among  the  people  under  his  charge  ;  and  as  an 
application  to  that  Prelate  had  not  received  a  reply,*  the  plan  of  at- 
tempting a  version  adopted  for  general  use,  was  necessarily  adjourned. 
Ju  the  mean  time,  the  500  copies  of  the  Malayalim  Gospels,  printed 
at  Bombay,  were  consigned  to  a  judicious  coiTespondent,  for  distribu- 
tion in  the  Syrian  churches  ;  and  Timapah  Villay,  who  had  been  em- 
ployed in  revising  and  correcting  them,  and  who  had  been  invited 
to  Bengal,  to  prepare  a  new  version,  was,  in  the  suspended  state  of 
that  undertaldng,  placed  at  Madras,  under  the  direction  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Thompson.  From  what  has  since  occurred,  there  is  room  to 
hope  that  a  correct  version  will  be  eventually  obtained ;  and  it  is,  in 
the  mean  time,  a  gratification  to  know,  upon  good  authority,  that  the 
parts  already  in  circulation,!  are  not  deformed  by  any  material  errors. 
The  conclusion,  with  regard  to  the  transactions  of  the  Calcutta  Aux^ 

*  The  reply  waa  unfavourable,  see  p.  64,  noie. 

i"  That  their  circulation  has  not  been  inelTectual,  will  appear  from  the  following 
fact,  related  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thompson. 

"  A  Nayr,  of  1  ravancore,  even  reproac'ifd  one  of  our  Zillah  Judges  on  the  coast, 
for  not  giving  them  our  Scriptures.  The  .Tiidge  had  been  reading  to  him  some  pas- 
sages from  the  Malayalim  Gospel ;  when  on  his  stopping,  the  man,  full  of  admira- 
tion of  its  divine  sentiments,  rather  abruptly  addressed  him, '  What,  Sir,  and  are 
these  indeed  your  Shasters?  Why,  why  have  you  not  given  them  to  us  ?  Wc  have 
not  kept  back  ours  from  you }  why  have  not  you  given  us  yoyrs  ''  " 


CHAP.  HI  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  495 

iHary  Bible  Society,  down  to  the  close  of  its  second  year — the  period 
with  which  our  account  will  terminate — is,  that  the  progress  made, 
though  not  uniform  in  all  the  objects  to  which  it  refers,  Was,  on  the 
whole,  calculated  to  afford  satisfaction.  "  Of  the  four  classes  of  na- 
tive Christians,  with  a  special  view  to  whom  the  Society  was  origin- 
ally formed,  a  bountiful  provision  had  been  made  for  three,  the  whole 
of  which  would  be  speedily  in  circulation.  Every  practicable  eifort 
was  also  making  in  behalf  of  the  remaining  class  of  Christians,  who 
would,  in  the  mean  time,  be  furnished  with  a  small  temporary  supply, 
which  will  be  received  by  them  with  the  most  heartfelt  joy,  and  prove 
a  welcome  relief  to  their  necessities." 

Of  the  Corresponding  Committee,  little  further  can  be  said,  than 
that  they  continued  to  pursue  the  different  objects,  to  which  their  at- 
tention had  for  a  long  time  been  directed,  with  unremitting  zeal  and 
perseverance.  Independently  of  those  purposes,  the  accomplishment 
of  which  forms  the  great  object  of  their  appointment,  they  have  ser- 
ved as  a  useful  medium  of  communication  between  the  Calcutta  So- 
ciety, and  the  Missionaries  at  Serampore,  and  have  thereby  promoted, 
in  no  slight  degree,  the  success  of  the  general  cause. 

It  falls  in  also  with  this  part  of  our  narrative,  to  mention,  that  the 
effect  of  the  Scriptures  upon  the  natives,  had  begun  to  be  very  plea- 
singly and  decisively  manifested.  Evidence  appeared  of  numerous 
conv^ersions*  having  taken  place,  without  the  intervention  of  any  other 
means  than  the  uncommented  and  unexpounded  text  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures.  These  gratifying  instances  encouraged  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society  to  proceed  in  its  career,  by  justifying  the  behef 
upon  which  it  has  uniformly  acted,  that  "  the  word  of  God"  would 
prove  to  be  "  quick  and  powerful,"  and  the  instrument  of  "  turning 
many  frojn  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto  God."| 

*  Dr.  Carey  speaks  of  the  Missionaries  at  Serampore  being  indebted  for  two  of 
their  "  most  active  and  useful  native  preachers,"  as  well  as  several  other  brethren, 
"  to  a  New  Testament  left  at  a  shop ;  and  for  two  other  members  of  their  body,  to 
the  impression  made  *'  by  reading  an  English  Testament."  But  a  still  more  ex- 
traordinary fact  was,  that,  early  in  1813,  several  Brahmins  and  persons  of  high 
cast,  not  many  miles  from  Serampore,  "  obtained  the  knowledge  of  the  truth,  and 
met  for  Christian  worship  on  the  Lord's  day,  before  they  had  any  intercourse  wi!b 
the  Missionaries,  simply  by  reading  ihe  Scripture/).'''  "These"  (adds  Dr.  Carey) 
"were  soon  afterwards  baptized,  and  reported,  that,  by  the  same  means,  as  many 
as  a  hundred  of  their  neighbours  were  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  Christian  re- 
ligion, and  were  kept  back  from  professing  it,  only  by  the  fear  of  losing  cast,  and 
its  consequences." 

t  The  reader  wiH  be  pleased  to  see  a  confirmation  of  this  sentiment,  from  the  yj» 
gorous  pen  of  the  late  able  and  learned  Bishop  Horsley, 


495  HISTORY  or  1HL  BRITISH  [PART  HI 

The  affairs  of  the  Colombo  AuxiUary  Bible  Society  next  claim  our 
notice  ;  and  they  are  entitled  to  great  respect,  not  more  from  the  im- 
portance of  the  objects  to  which  they  refer,  than  from  the  prudence, 
onion,  and  diligence,  with  which  they  arc  conducted. 

Having  in  a  very  discreet  manner  provided  for  the  distribution  of 
the  English,  Dutch,  and  Portuguese  Scriptures,  placed  at  their  disposal 
hy  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  the  Colombo  Committee 
turned  their  attention,  without  delay,  to  the  native  Christian  inhabit- 
ants of  the  island.  As  a  preparatory  step  to  the  circulation  of  the 
Scriptures  among  them,  it  was  deemed  expedient  to  ascertain,  in  the 
first  place,  the  number  of  Christians  in  Ceylon,  and  the  languages 
most  familiar  to  them.  Application  was  therefore  made  to  the  Hon. 
and  Rev.  Mr.  Twisleton  and  to  the  Superior  of  the  Roman  Catholics, 
for  separate  returns  of  the  Protestant  and  Catholic  population.  From 
the  lists  received,  it  appeared  that  the  native  Protestants  were  about 
150,000,  and  the  Catholics  about  50,000  ;  of  which,  the  great  majo- 
rity speak  Cingalese,  and  the  rest  Malabar,  or  Tamul.  Many  were 
reported  to  use  the  corrupt  Portuguese,  so  common  over  all  the  coast 
of  India ;  but  few  were  able  to  understand  a  book  written  in  good 
Portuguese. 

This  information  being  obtained,  the  next  step  taken  wis,  to  in- 
quire whether  the  Scriptures  were  procurable  in  the  native  lan- 
guages; when  it  was  discovered,  that  scarcely  a  single  copy  in  the 
Cingalese  and  Tamul  languages  was  to  be  purchased  in  any  part  of 
the  island.  It  was  therefore  determined,  that  the  first  efforts  of  the 
Society  should  be  directed  towards  remedying  a  portion  of  this  evil, 
by  a  new  edition  of  the  New  Testament  in  Cingalese.  Before  the 
institution  of  this  Society,  the  Calcutta  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  had, 
as  has  been  related,  offered  to  print,  for  the  island  of  Ceylon,  5000 
copies  of  the  Cingalese  Testament ;  and  a  corrector  had  been  sent  to 
Calcutta,  by  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  Mr.  Twisleton,  to  superintend  the 
press.  When  these  proceedings  were  made  known  to  the  Colombo 
Society,  soon  after  its  formation,  a  resolution  was  passed,  that  the 
edition  should  be  printed  from  the  old  text,  corrected  by  a  Commit- 

"I  will  not  scruple  to  asaert,  that  the  most  illiterate  Christian,  if  he  can  bnt  read 
Ilia  English  Bible,  and  will  take  pains  to  read  it  in  this  manner,  (comparing  parallel 
passages,)  will  not  only  attain  all  that  practical  knowietlg'e  which  is  necessary  to 
bis  salvation,  but,  by  God's  blessing:,  he  will  become  learned  in  every  thing  relating 
to  Lis  reliction,  in  such  degree,  that  he  will  not  be  liable  to  be  misled,  cither  by  the 
refined  arguments,  or  by  the  false  assertions  of  those  who  endeavour  to  ingraft 
their  oj^n  opinion  upon  the  oracles  of  God." 

Nine  Sermvns  on  the  liesurrection^  ^c.  p.  227, 


CTtAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  497 

tee  of  translators,  lately  appointed  under  the  superintendence  of  that 
distinguished  Cingalese  scholar,  William  Tolfrey,  Esq.  But,  upon  a 
minute  inspection  of  the  Gospel  of  St.  Matthew,  already  corrected  hv 
the  principal  schoolmaster  in  Colombo,  Mr.  Armour,  the  old  version 
was  found  so  extremely  faulty,  and  so  much  time  appeared  requisite 
to  correct  its  numerous  errors,  that  it  was  determined  to  reprint  the 
old  text,  without  any  alterations  whatsoever,  and  to  go  on,  in  the 
mean  while,  with  all  possible  despatch,  in  preparing  a  new  version  for 
the  press.  These  considerations  produced  the  reductions  before 
mentioned,  in  the  number  proposed  to  have  been  printed  at  Calcutta, 
from  5000  to  2000,  and  the  immediate  purchase  of  a  fount  of  Cinga- 
lese types  from  the  Missionaries  at  Seranlpore,  in  order  that  the  new 
rersion,  when  completed,  might  be  printed  in  that  place  without  any 
inconvenient  delay. 

To  this  new  version  of  the  Testament  in  the  Cingalese  was  also 
added  a  translation  of  the  same  into  the  Pali  language.  In  this  latter 
Mr.  Tolfrey  was  assisted  by  two  learned  Priests  of  Buddhou  ;  and 
the  readiness  with  which  these  idolatrous  Priests  contributed  their 
assistance  towards  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures  into  their  native 
language,  was  properly  remarked  by  the  Colombo  Society  as  a  grati- 
fying proof  of  the  facihties  attending  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel 
in  Ceylon.  It  deserves  attention,  that  the  progress  of  the  Cingalese 
and  Pali  translations  was  greatly  promoted  by  the  aid  of  Dr.  Carey's 
Sanscrit  and  Bengalee  versions  of  the  New  Testament :  and  Mr.  Tol- 
frey asserted,  that  such  were  the  difficulties  of  rendering  the  true 
meaning  of  the  Scriptures  into  the  imperfect  and  uncultivated  lan- 
guage of  Ceylon,  that,  without  the  assistance  referred  to,  the  work 
could  not  have  been  satisfactorily  completed. 

While  the  Colombo  Society  were  thus  occupied  in  preparing  ver- 
sions of  the  Scriptures  for  distribution,  and  also  in  procuring  informa- 
tion for  the  direction  and  guidance  of  their  future  measures,  "  they 
observed,  with  deep  regret,  that  the  Cingalese  Christians,  in  conse- 
quence of  being  long  debarred  from  access  to  the  Scriptures,  and 
scantily  provided  with  religious  teachers,  had  become  so  deplorably 
ignorant  of  the  fundamental  doctrines  of  Christianity,  that  it  was  to 
be  feared  their  wants  could  not  be  duly  supplied  without  the  further 
assistance  of  some  explanatory  instructers."  But  "  besides  the  reli- 
gious and  moral  improvement  of  these  professed  Christians,  besides 
this  species  of  conversion  from  nominal  to  real  Christianity,"  the 
Colombo  Society  thought  they  had  "  a  right  to  look  forward  to  a 
conversion  of  the  Mahommedan  and  Heathen  inhabitants  of  the  island, 
who  still  compose  by  far  the  largest  part  of  the  population."     They,. 


499  HISTORY  OP  THE  BRITISH  [FART  UL 

therefore,  felt  it  "  an  imperative  duty,  to  exert  their  utmost  efforts 
to  enhghten  the  minds  of  so  many  hundred  thousand  of  their  fellow- 
creatures,  to  open  their  eyes  to  the  delusions  by  which  they  have 
been  for  so  many  ages  led  astray,  and  to  bring  them  together,  under 
the  blessing  of  Divine  Providence,  into  the  Church  of  Christ." 

The  Colombo  Bible  Society,  taking  into  consideration  these  pecu- 
liar circumstances  of  their  situation,  and  judging,  that  to  circulate 
among  the  natives  familiar  treatises  upon  religious  subjects  in  the 
vernacular  languages  of  the  island,  would  essentially  promote  the 
grand  object  of  their  Institution,  clearly  perceived,  that  they  had  no 
alternative,  but  either  to  form  a  new  Society  for  this  separate  pur- 
pose, or  to  associate  it  with  that  of  the  Bible  Society,  under  the  same 
general  patronage  and  direction.  Every  thing  in  their  situation 
pointed  to  the  latter,  as  the  only  practicable  course  ;  and,  the  Evan- 
gelical Society  at  Stockholm,  furnishing  them  with  both  a  precedent 
and  a  model,  they  determined  to  follow  its  example.  The  Colombo 
Society  was  accordingly  extended  so  as  to  comprehend  this  secondary 
object ;  care  being  taken,  by  a  special  enactment  in  the  revised  con- 
stitution, that  the  tracts  should  be  produced  from  a  separate  fund  ; 
and  that,  both  the  income  and  expenditure  of  this  branch  of  the 
Institution  should  appear  before  the  pubhc,  in  a  separate  account. 

It  isJjut  justice  to  the  Colombo  Society  to  add,  that  their  conduct 
in  this  delicate  transaction  was  characterized  throughout  by  a  scru- 
pulous anxiety  to  maintain  inviolate  the  principle  which  unites  them 
with  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  :  and  the  importance  they 
attach  to  the  exclusive  object  of  that  union,  will  sufficiently  appear 
from  the  conclusion  of  their  Report. 

*'  The  Committee  cannot  conclude  their  Report,  without  a  formal 
declaration  of  their  unanimous  resolution,  that  no  subsidiary  measures 
shall  ever  be  permitted  to  obstruct  or  retard  the  completion  of  their 
grand  and  primary  design,  the  puhlication  of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 

"  To  instruct  the  sincere  believer  in  the  duties  of  his  profession,  to 
convert  the  nominal  Christian  into  a  faithful  disciple  of  the  Gospel, 
and  to  reclaim  the  deluded  victim  of  idolatrous  superstition,  are  the 
great  objects  of  this  Society. 

"  The  free  circulation  of  that  book  in  which  life  and  immortality 
were  brought  to  light,  is  the  chief  means  upon  which  they  rely  ;  and 
they  look  with  devout  confidence  to  the  blessing  of  Providence,  for 
the  accomplishment  and  completion  of  their  design." 

To  these  details,  relative  to  the  Eastern  Bible  Societies,  with  which 
the  reader  is  familiar,  may  now  be  added  the  gratitying  statement  of 
a  new  Society  added  to  their  number,  and  such  particulars  concera- 


-CHAP.  Ill  AND  FOBEIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  499 

ing  its  formation,  as  will  show  under  what  auspices  it  was  established, 
and  what  promise  it  affords  of  active  and  beneficial  co-operation. 

It  had  long  been  an  object  with  some  respectable  members  of  the 
Presidency  at  Bombay,  to  associate  on  the  principle  adopted  at  Cal- 
cutta, and  to  take  a  public  and  decided  part  in  co-operating  with  the 
designs  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  From  the  accom- 
plishmei:'  f  this  object  they  were  prevented  by  an  opposition  too 
obstinate  to  be  convinced,  and  too  strong  to  be  overruled.  Such 
were  the  circumstances  at  Bombay  when  the  Right  Honourable  Sir 
Evan  Nepean,  Bart,  arrived  at  the  Presidency,  and  took  upon  himself 
the  Government  to  which  he  had  been  appointed.  A  member  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  almost  from  its  commencement,  a 
Vice  President  of  it  from  the  year  1807,  and  famiharized,  by  a  per- 
sonal attendance  at  its  Committpes,  with  the  plans  and  advantages  of 
the  Institution — Sir  Evan  Nepean  carried  with  him  an  enlightened 
conviction  of  its  general  excellence,  and  of  its  peculiar  suitableness  to 
the  wants  and  the  prejudices  of  British  India.  The  arrival  of  such  a 
Governor,  and  the  manifestation  of  his  sentiments,  removed  every 
obstacle  which  had  previously  existed  ;  and  on  the  13th  of  June, 
1813,  the  projected  Society  was  formed  in  the  Vestry  Room  of  St. 
James's  Church,  (W.  T.  Money,  Esq.  one  of  the  most  zealous  friends 
of  the  measures,  being  in  the  chair,)  under  the  designation  of  "  the 
Bombay  Auxiliary  Bible  Society."  The  Establishment  was  counte- 
nanced by  the  Recorder,  the  principal  Members  of  the  Council,  and 
Eome  of  the  most  respectable  Gentlemen  of  the  Presidency ;  and  the 
language  in  which  they  expressed  both  their  views  and  their  design 
was  particularly  liberal  and  satisfactory.  This  will  appear  from  the 
following  resolutions. 

"  I.  That  this  Meeting,  viewing  with  sentiments  of  admiration  and 
gratitude,  the  successful  labours  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, established  in  London,  for  the  benevolent  purpose  of  diffusing 
the  light  of  the  Gospel  among  the  uninstructed  nations  of  the  earth; 
and  encouraged  by  the  zealous  exertions  of  the  Calcutta  Auxiliary  So- 
ciety, in  the  same  sacred  cause,  are  desirous  of  contributing  their  aid 
in  the  promotion  of  an  object  of  such  vital  importance  to  the  interests 
of  Christianity,  and  the  welfare  of  mankind. 

"  2.  That  in  pursuance  of  this  Resolution,  this  Meeting  do  now  form 
themselves  into  a  Society,  to  be  entitled,  The  Bombay  Auxiliary  Bi- 
ble Society,  the  objects  of  which  shall  be  to  promote  the  circulation 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  especially  to  supply  the  demands  of  the 
active  Christians  on  the  v/cstern  side  of  th«  peninsula  of  India." 


500  HISIORV  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III. 

Upon  the  establishment  of  the  Society,  His  excellency  Sir  Evan 
Nepean  presented  it  with  1000  rupees.  This  example  was  followed 
with  a  degree  of  liberality,  which  induced  the  Secretary  to  say,  that 
"  the  grand  project  for  which  such  exertions  were  made,  promised  to 
fulfil  the  laudable  objects  of  its  institution  :"  adding,  with  much  pro- 
priety, "  indeed  a  work  of  such  vast  importance  as  the  promulgation 
of  the  glorious  truths  of  Christianity  throughout  the  East,  cannot  but 
be  supported  and  patronized  by  every  true  Christian,  to  whatever  par- 
ticular sect  or  denomination  he  may  belong." 

One  of  the  first  steps  taken  by  the  Bombay  Society  was,  to  com- 
municate the  intelligence  of  its  formation  and  its  views,  to  the  Cal- 
cutta Society,  and  to  invite  a  correspondence,  "  by  which"  (in  the 
words  of  the  Secretary)  "  tlie  mutual  object  of  both  Societies  might 
be  more  eifectually  promoted,  and  the  knowledge  of  divine  truth 
successfully  disseminated  among  our  Indian  brethren."  The  Cal- 
cutta Society  very  cheerfully  accepted  the  challenge;  and  cons 
signed  to  the  direction  of  their  new  associate  such  objects  as,  regard- 
ing the  western  coast  of  India,  fell  more  properly  under  its  ad- 
ministration. 

In  fact,  the  establishment  of  an  Aujyliary  Society  at  Bombay,  was  an 
rvent  to  which  the  Calcutta  Society  had  looked  forward  from  the  pe- 
riod at  which  it  became  known,  that  Sir  Evan  Nepean  was  appoint- 
ed to  the  government  of  that  Presidency  :  and  the  following  extract 
from  their  congratulatory  letter  to  his  Excellency,  on  his  arrival  at 
Bombay,  will  show  how  decidedly  they  reckoned  on  his  friendship  in 
(he  promotion  of  this  object. 

"  The  Committee  rejoice  that  India  should  possess  in  you  so  dis- 
tinguished a  Patron  of  that  benevolent  system  whose  object  is  to  dis- 
pense the  word  of  life  in  its  purest  form  to  mankind:  and  while  the  Com- 
mittee witness  the  happy  effects  of  the  beneficence  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  flowing  around  them  in  these  eastern  channels, 
they  cannot  reflect  without  gratitude,  that  you,  Sir,  have  individually 
co-operated  in  so  extensive  a  diffusion  of  it." 

On  the  whole,  when  we  consider  the  advantage  derived  to  the  ge- 
neral cause  by  the  accession  of  this  last  Auxiliary,  we  may  justly  adopt 
the  language  used  by  the  Calcutta  Society,  when  speaking  of  its  new 
associates  at  Colombo  and  Mauritius,  and  give  it  an  extended  apphca- 
tion. 

"  It  is  scarcely  possible  to  contemplate  the  probable  effects  of  all 
these  charities,  in  the  diffusion  of  knowledge,  virtue,  and  happiness, 
and  thus  promoting  the  be€t  interests  of  our  fellow-Christians,  with- 


CHAP.  Ill  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCILTY.  QQi 

out  the  liveliest  emotions  of  joy.  And  when  the  Committee  see  the 
Institution  diffusing  its  own  energies  around,  and  observe  that  similar 
Associations  have  been  formed  in  other  settlements,  they  rejoice 
in  the  opening  prospect  of  usefulness,  and  derive  from  it  strong  en- 
couragement to  perseverance.  They  believe  that,  as  the  spirit  which 
suggests  such  a  charity  is  its  own  reward,  as  it  carries  with  it  its  own 
authoritative  evidence,  that  it  is  in  its  nature  permanent  and  progress- 
ive ;  not  the  temporary  and  evanescent  expressions  of  an  undefined 
zeal,  but  arising  out  of  solid  and  unchangeable  principles,  gathering 
strength  by  exercise,  and  containing  in  itself  the  germ  of  incalculable 
blessings  both  on  the  distributors  and  on  the  receivers  of  its  bounty." 

It  remains  only,  before  taking  leave  of  the  East,  to  give  an  account 
of  an  undertaking,  which  had,  for  a  considerable  time,  been  going  for- 
ward at  Canton,  with  a  view  to  the  introduction  of  the  Scriptures  into 
China,  and  which  had  now  attained  considerable  maturity  and  impor- 
tance. 

In  the  month  of  May,  1807,  the  Rev.  Robert  Morrison,  having  stu- 
died in  England  the  rudiments  of  the  Chinese  language,  proceeded  to 
Canton,  under  the  patronage  and  at  the  expense  of  the  London  Mis- 
sionary Society,  in  order  to  qualify  himself  for  translating  the  Scrip- 
tures into  the  language  of  China.  Mr.  Morrison  pursued  his  studies 
at  Canton  with  such  success,  and  conducted  himself  with  so  much 
propriety,  as  to  gain  the  confidence  of  the  Enghsh  Factory  in  that 
Settlement,  and  to  be  employed,  during  the  absence  of  Sir  George 
Staunton,  and  with  that  learned  Baronet's  entire  approbation,*  as  the 
medium  of  intercourse  with  the  natives. 

In  the  year  1812,  the  Committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society  became  first  acquainted  with  Mr.  Morrison's  design  of  transla- 
ting the  Scriptures  into  the  Chinese  ;  and  although  at  that  time  con- 
tnbiting  to  a  similar  work  by  the  Rev.  Joshua  Marshman,  at  Seram- 
pore,  yet,  desirous  of  encouraging  all  exertions  to  cultivate  a  field  in 
which  the  harvest  is  so  great,  and  the  labourers  are  so  few,  and  per- 
fectly satisfied  with  the  testimonials  of  Mr.  Morrison's  character  and 


*  Sir  George  Staunton,  iu  a  speech  at  the  formation  of  the  North- West  London 
Auxiliary  Society,  bore  the  following  testimony  to  Mr-  Morrison  and  his  work. 

"  I  have  the  pleasure  to  state,  that  even  in  the  remote  and  heathen  empire  of 
China,  a  considerable  prospect  at  present  exists,  of  the  pe<iple  being  put  in  posses- 
sion of  the  Bible.  Mr.  Morrison,  a  gentleman  now  residing  in  that  country,  and 
well  versed  in  the  language,  has  already  translated  a  large  portion  of  the  New  Tes- 
tament into  Chinese,  and  continues  indefatigable  in  the  prosecution  of  his  important 
undertaking,  of  giving  an  entire  version  of  the  Scriptures  in  tJiat  most  difficnlt  Ian- 
gaagc." 


502  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [FART  1!I. 

proficiency  in  the  language,  they  voted  the  sum  of  500^  in  aid  of  his 
undertaking.  This  vote  the  yrenewed  in  the  ensuing  year,  on  the  re- 
ceipt of  a  copy  of  the  Gospel  of  St.  Luke,  the  first  fruits  of  Mr.  Mor- 
rison's labours.  A  sum  equal  to  both  has  since  been  granted,  upon 
information  that  the  translation  of  the  entire  New  Testament  was 
completed,  and  that  2000  copies  had  passed  through  the  press  in  the 
month  of  January,  1814.  An  associate  of  Mr.  Morrison,  the  Rev. 
Willi^im  Milne,  has  distributed  a  multitude  of  copies  with  great  success, 
particularly  in  the  Island  of  Java,  where  they  are  well  received,  and 
perused,  in  some  cases,  with  inconceivable  earnestness  and  joy. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  and  may  supply  matter  for  serious  and  de- 
lightful reflection,  that  two  individuals,  possessing  no  other  advanta- 
ges than  the  gifts  which  God  had  bestowed  on  them,  and  the  pious 
resolution  with  which  himself  had  inspired  them,  should  emigrate  from 
their  native  country,  and  almost  simultaneously,  and  even  emulously, 
produce  the  first  complete  translations*  ever  made  of  the  Christian 
Scriptures,  into  a  language  spoken  by  more  than  300  millions  of  peo- 
ple, living,  and  likely,  but  for  such  enterprises,  still  to  live,  in  utter 
ignorance  of  the  crdy  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ,  whom  he  has 
scnt.t 

*  Dr.  Marshmaa  has  finished  the  translation  of  the  New  Testament ,  and  half  the 
Old.  Add  to  which,  that  with  the  help  of  his  brethren  at  Serampore,  he  has  in- 
vented moveable  metal  types,  by  which  the  Chinese  Scriptures  will  be  printed  with 
wonderful  neatness,  expedition,  and  cheapness. 

f  The  London  Missionary  Society,  when  contemplating  !\Ir.  TVIorrison's  future 
undertaking,  observe,  that,  "  though  the  same  laudable  enterprise  is  attempting  at 
the  College  of  Fort  William,  in  Bengal,  yet  the  production  of  a  good  and  satisfac- 
tory trauslation  will,  perhaps,  be  bolter  etfccted  by  the  labours  of  dillVrent  scholars, 
and  in  diHcrent  places,  than  by  their  joint  eflfects  in  the  same  situation."  (Heport 
for  1807.)  The  British  and  Forrign  Bible  Society  considered  the  undertaking  in 
the  same  light ;  and  the  members  of  both  Societies  will  have  pleasure  in  seeing, 
from  the  following  candid  and  sensible  observations  of  Dr.  INlarshman,  to  whom  the 
honour  of  precedency  in  Chinese  translation  belongs,  the  propriety  of  their  judg- 
ment confirmed. 

"  The  importance  of  presenting  the  word  of  life,  faithfully  and  perspicuously 
expressed,  to  tv/o  or  three  hundred  millions  of  perishing  sinners,  when  I  duly  real- 
ize it,  removes  all  thoughts  of  the  labour,  and  causes  me  to  feel  a  joy  I  cannot  de- 
scribe. And  I  cannot  but  view  it  as  a  part  of  divine  wisdom,  to  put  it  into  (he  hearts 
of  two  persons,  labouring  independently  of  each  other,  (IMr.  Morrison  and  myself,) 
thus  to  care  for  the  transiatio.i  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures  into  a  language  so  peculiar 
in  its  naturt ,  and  understood  by  such  multitudes  of  men.  Should  we  have  wis- 
dom given  us  rightly  to  profit  by  each  other's  labours,  I  suppose  that  tiie  transla- 
tion of  thi-  Scriptures  will  be  brought  to  as  great  perfection  in  twenty  years,  as 
they  migbt  have  been  in  the  hand  el'  one  alone  in  the  space  of  fifty." 


CHAP.  Ill  AND  FOREIGN  BIRLE  SOCIETY.  503 

In  Africa,  which  comes  next  under  our  consideration,  not  a  little 
was  done — wherever  it  was  practicable  to  do  any  thing — in  promo- 
tion of  the  Society's  object.  Regarding  the  Mauritius  Bible  Society 
as  properly  African,  (though  the  Calcutta  Society  chooses  to  number 
it  among  its  Asiatic  allies,)  this  is  the  place  to  observe,  that  the  mea- 
sures which  it  had  commenced,  (and  of  which  an  account  was  givea 
in  the  last  chapter,)  continued  to  be  carried  on  with  steady  perse- 
verance. The  appointment  of  Sir  Robert  Barclay,  Bart,  to  a  con- 
siderable office  in  the  island,  gave  him  an  opportunity  of  testifying 
his  zeal  for  the  cause  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  by 
tendering  his  services,  as  far  as  they  could  be  made  available,  in  the 
department  which  he  was  about  to  till.  It  is  due  to  Sir  Robert  Bar- 
clay, to  say,  that,  on  his  arrival  at  Port  Louis,  he  very  honourably 
redeemed  the  pledge  which  he  had  given  in  London,  A  meeting  of 
the  Mauritius  Bible  Society  was  soon  after  convened,  for  the  purpose 
of  receiving  Sir  Robert's  communications  ;  and  such  a  declaration  was 
made,  on  the  part  of  the  Governor,  and  other  persons  of  condition, 
as  authorizes  the  hope,  that  effective  steps  will  be  taken,  in  due  time, 
to  promote  a  general  acquaintance  with  the  Holy  Scriptures  among 
the  population  of  Mauritius,  Bourbon,  and  the  dependencies. 

In  the  mean  time,  a  new  auxiliary  made  its  appearance  in  Insular 
Africa,  under  the  designation  of  "  the  St.  Helena  Auxiliary  Bible  So- 
ciety." From  the  zeal  and  liberality*  manifested  by  this  Society,  in 
the  infancy  of  its  establishment,  there  is  reason  to  hope,  that  it  will 
prove  an  active  coadjutor  in  forwarding  the  designs  of  the  Parent  In^ 
stitution. 

On  the  continent  of  Africa  the  work  proceeded  ;  slowly  indeed,  as, 
from  the  circumstances  of  the  natives,  must  long  be  the  case,  but  not 
without  occasional  indications  of  favourable  and  promising  effects. 
The  fact  which  occurred  this  year,  in  the  casual  dispersion  of  twelve 
Arabic  Bibles  among  the  Mahommedau  natives,  in  consequence 
of  the  shipwreck  of  a  Missionary,  has  been  anticipated.!  It  may  not, 
however,  be  amiss  to  recall  to  the  reader's  attention  the  proof  afford- 
ed, by  the  unwillingness  of  the  natives  to  part  with  the  Bibles,  at  how- 
ever high  a  price,  of  the  disposition  among  the  Africans  to  peruse 
the  Scriptures  in  the  language  of  the  Koran.  In  further  confirma 
tion  of  this  statement,  it  may  be  observed,  that,  on  an  Arabic  Bible 
being  presented  by  another  Church  Missionary,  on  a  subsequent  oc- 

•  This  Society  remittpd;  shortly  after  its  formation,  160/,  to  the  funds  of  the 
P;ucnt  Society. 

+  Sec  p  161. 


504  HISTORY  OF  THE  PlilllfH  lPART  UL 

casion,  the  King  expressed  himself  '•  very  glad  to  have  such  a  good 
book  in  his  possession,  and  that  to  the  tirst  strangers  who  visited  him, 
he  recommended  this  *  white  man's  hook.' "  "  Some  time  after- 
wards," (adds  the  Missionary  who  relates  the  fact,)  "  I  went  to  see 
the  King,  and  saw  about  twenty  Mahommedans  sitting  together  in 
deep  conversation,  and  an  aged  Mahommedan  teacher  in  the  midst  of 
them,  reading  the  Bible  •,  he  visited  me,  and  begged  for  a  Bible.  1 
was  very  glad  to  put  that  invaluable  book  into  his  hands.  He 
is  pretty  well  acquainted  with  the  New  Testament,  and  hkes  to  con- 
verse on  the  subjects  contained  in  it.  With  great  thankfulness  he 
accepted  the  Bible,  and  said,  '  When  I  come  home,  I  shall  read  this 
book  to  all  my  pet>ple/  " 

The  Dutch  and  German  Scriptures,  previously  sent  out  to  the 
Cape,  had  been  judiciously  and  very  acceptably  distributed  by  indi- 
viduals connected  with  Die  difi'erent  religious  congregations,  both  in 
Cape  Town,*'  and  in  various  parts  of  South  Africa.  In  the  mean 
time,  an  Institution  was  formed,  to  which  the  exertions  of  the  Socie- 
ty's friends  and  correspondents  very  greatly  contributed,  iinder  the 
designation  of  "  the  Bible  and  School  Commission,"  having  the  double 
object,  of  promoting  education,  and  the  dispersion  of  the  Scriptures. 
In  prosecution  of  this  latter  object,  its  regulations  prescribe,  that  it 
shall  purchase  equally  from  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
and  the  Society  for  Prony>ting  Christian  Knowledge. 

The  principle  recognized  by  the  Bible  and  School  Commission,  s& 
far  as  it  stands  related  to  the  subject  of  this  History,  is,  the  acknow- 
ledgment of  the  Scriptures  as  "  the  depositaries  of  truth,  and  a3 
necessary  to  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  every  Christian."  An  expo- 
sition of  its  principles  and  its  plan  appeared  in  the  Gazette  of  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  on  the  10th  of  July,  1813.  In  that  exposition, 
the  principle  already  stated  is  distinctly  avowed ;  a  just  tribute 
of  conmiendation  is  bestowed  on  "  those  endeavours  which  had  been 
made  in  Great  Britain,  through  a  union  of  several  nations  in  Europe, 
Asia,  and  America,"  to  accomplish  this  end ;  an  assertion  is  made, 
that,  "  several  Christian  families  in  the  Colony  for  which  this  Esta- 

•  Tlie  following  circumstance  13  too  honourable  to  the  parties  themselves,  anti 
to  the  religious  character  of  their  native  country,  to  be  omitted. 

"  Copies"  (of  the  Scriptures)  have  also  been  gratefully  received  by  the  military 
in  Cape  Town,  particularly  by  the  93d  Regiment  of  Highlanders,  v  ho  desired 
their  thanks  might  be  presented  to  your  Committee,  and  insisted  upon  paying  the 
cost  prices  of  the  Bibles  and  Testaments,  in  order  to  avoid  putting  the  Society  to 
expense." 

Tenth  Report,  p  2j 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  £05 

blishment  is  formed,  are  without  Bibles  ;"  and  it  is  added,  that  "  it 
shall  be  the  object  of  the  Bible  Commission  to  ascertain,  where,  by 
whom,  and  in  what  language,  the  Bible  is  wanted  in  the  Settlement, 
with  a  view  to  the  requisite  number  being  procured  and  distributed, 
cither  gratuitously  or  at  a  reduced  price." 

Considering  the  Bible  and  School  Commission  as  possessing,  in  this 
respect,  a  connexion  with  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  ;  and 
both  constituted  and  disposed  to  co-operate  in  the  promotion  of  its 
object,  the  author  cannot  refuse  to  the  following  enlightened  obser- 
vations of  General  Sir  John  Cradock,  its  Patron,  a  place  in  this  re- 
cord. 

"  The  two  great  pursuits  that  seem  universall}',  in  the  present  day, 
to  occupy  the  attention  of  that  portion  of  the  civilized  world  which  is 
not  actually  engaged  in  war,  or  involved  in  its  mournful  consequen- 
ces, are,  the  more  extensive  circulation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and 
the  solid  establishment  of  such  a  system  of  education  as  will  enable 
the  people  to  reach  and  behold  the  divine  light  contained  in  those  sa- 
cred writings.  All  that  will  inspire  benevolence,  charity,  and  peace, 
among  men,  all  that  will  promote  good  order  in  Society,  all  that 
will  make  the  faithful  subject,  as  well  as  the  useful  and  amiable  in- 
dividual ;  in  fine,  all  that  will  crush  vice,  and  rear  up  virtue,  that  will 
secure  happiness  in  this  life,  and  afford  the  best  hope  of  heaven  ia 
the  world  to  come,  are  to  be  found  therein.  Therefore,  the  good, 
the  wise,  and  the  philanthropic  part  of  mankind,  have  now  devoted 
themselves  to  the  plain  and  practical  consideration  of  such  measures 
as  will  secure  the  great  effect  in  view, — the  study  of  the  Scriptures. 
Education  alone  can  accomplish  it :  for,  unless  a  due  proportion  of 
education,  by  the  operation  and  authority  of  Government,  prevail  ia 
a  country,  throughout  all  classes  of  its  inhabitants,  every  reflecting 
man  will  deem  it  in  vain,  and  a  waste  of  good  intention  and  generous 
spirit,  to  expect  that  the  distribution  of  the  Bible  can  produce  that 
expanded  knowledge  of  sacred  truth,  which,  in  the  comprehensive 
and  undistinguishing  view  of  humanity,  should  be  the  lot  of  all.  An 
appeal,  therefore,  is  now  made  to  the  whole  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
great  Colony,  to  establish  a  S3'stem  of  education  that  will  give  the 
required  understanding  of  the  Scriptures,  and  at  the  same  time  lay 
the  foundation,  among  the  humbler  ranks,  of  civilized,  moral,  and  in 
dustrious  life." 

In  adverting  to  the  American  Societies,  our  attention  is  naturally"- 
called,  in  the  first  instance,  to  that  which  took  the  lead  in  this  work 
of  beneficence,  and  which  has  been  instrumental  in  giving  birth  to 


506  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III. 

many  other  Institutions,  established  on  the  same  principle,  in  different 
States  of  the  American  Confederation. 

The  exertions  of  the  Philadelphia  Bible  Society  continued  to  be 
manifested,  not  only  in  large  issues  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  but  also 
in  prudent  measures  for  increasing  its  own  funds,  by  seasonable  aids 
to  kindred  Bible  Societies  of  inferior  means,  and  by  encouragement  to 
the  formation  of  new  ones,  where  none  had  been  established. 

Much  was  added  to  its  influence,  and  not  a  little  to  its  resources, 
by  the  establishment  and  success  of  a  Female  Bible  Society.  This 
interesting  Auxiliary,  the  professed  object  of  which  was,  "  to  distri- 
bute gratuitously  the  Holy  Bible,  without  note  or  comment ;  and,  as 
occasion  should  present,  to  assist  the  efforts  of  the  Parent  Society 
estabhshed  in  that  city,"  was  formed  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  IGth  of 
Maixh,  1814  As  soon  as  the  plan  was  made  known,  ladies  of  all 
Christian  denominations  came  forward  to  promote  it ;  and  within  the 
first  week  it  acquired  five  hundred  subscribers.  The  counsel  and 
assistance  of  the  Bishop,  the  Clergy,  and  distinguished  members  of 
the  Philadelphia  Bible  Society,  were  liberally  afforded  to  this  de- 
serving Institution  ;  and  the  direction  of  female  efforts  to  this  sacred 
and  benevolent  object,  received  from  all  parties  the  warmest  appro- 
bation and  support. 

Similar  activity,  zeal,  and  success,  appear  to  have  characterized 
the  operations  of  the  other  Societies  also,  within  the  American  States, 
as  far  as  the  documents,  so  sparingly  furnished  during  the  war,  and 
but  partially  supplied  since  its  tp.rmination,  will  enable  us  to  judge. 
The  Massachusetts  and  the  New- York  Bible  Societies  confirmed,  by 
fresh  testimonies,  the  opinion  they  had  already  so  strongly  promulged, 
of  the  necessity  and  the  seasonableness  of  Bible  Societies.  To  this 
purport  are  the  following  passages,  selected  from  their  Reports. 

"  A  gentleman  from  Maine  states,  '  The  Bibles  sent  into  this  re- 
gion have  met  with  a  grateful  reception.  I  myself  have  heard  fami- 
lies express  their  thankfulness  to  the  Massachusetts  Bible  Society  ;  and 
I  have  good  evidence,  that,  alter  living  for  years  without  a  Bible, 
it  has  become  a  family  book,  and  is  read  with  a  great  degree  of  atten- 
tion.' Another  writes,  '  Perhaps  no  other  present  so  uniformly  ex- 
cites undissemblcd  joy  and  gratitude,  as  that  of  the  Bible.  Many, 
who  seemed  unable  to  expres!>  the  gratitude  they  fidt,  have  said, 
'  Thank  the  Bible  Society.' 

"  There  is  a  great  need  of  Bibles.  To  those  who  have  been  ac- 
customed to  see  the  Bible  from  their  infancy,  and  have  considered  it 
ao  essential  part  of  a  domestic  Establishment,  this  fact  may  appear 


I 


CHAP.  11.3  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  507 

doubtful.  But  nothing  can  be  better  supported.  There  is  now  a 
great  number  of  families  in  this  country,  which  have  no  Bibles,  or 
only  defaced  and  imperfect  copies.  Your  Committee  have  again  and 
again  received  letters  from  Ministers,  expressing  their  surprise  at  the 
number  of  families  in  their  parishes,  in  which  this  want  exists.  They 
have  heard  of  many  settlements  in  Maine,  in  which  only  one  or  two 
Bibles  could  be  found.  An  intelligent  Missionary  in  Rhode  Island 
thus  writes:  'The  150  Bibles  which  the  Society  were  pleased  to 
commit  to  me,  were  not  sufficient  to  supply  half  of  the  destitute  fa- 
milies in  the  towns  in  which  I  distributed  them.  They  were  like  a 
partial  shower,  passing  through  a  widely-extended  country,  withered 
and  parched  with  drought.'  "* 

"  The  opportunities  for  gratuitous  distribution  of  the  Scriptures 
are  increasing  with  the  increased  sense  of  their  importance,  produced 
by  their  being  more  extensively  circulated  and  read.  Besides  the 
wants  of  the  destitute  in  our  immediate  vicinity,  those  of  our  adopted 
fellow-citizens  to  the  southward,  and  of  the  adjacent  regions,  among 
whom  there  is  an  absolute  '  famine  of  the  word  of  God,'  are  now 
calling  out  to  us,  by  a  loud  voice  of  Divine  Providence,  '  Come  over, 
and  help  us.'  "t 

These  Societies  concur  also  with  that  at  Philadelphia,  in  repre- 
senting the  general  cause  as  having  made,  and  continuing  to  make,  a 
very  rapid  and  gratifying  progress.  This  representation  is  corrobo- 
rated, among  other  things,  by  the  accession  of  new  Auxiliary  Soci- 
eties. The  number  instituted,  subsequently  to  the  year  1812,  is  now 
ascertained  to  have  been  very  great:  but,  from  the  causes  before  as- 
sia-ned,  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  was  prevented  from  en- 
tering into  any  regular  communication  with  them,  and  even  of  ob- 
taining, for  the  most  part,  any  correct  intelligence  respecting  their 
existence  or  their  designation.  Some  general  idea  may,  however,  be 
conceived  of  the  spirit  which  pervaded  the  United  States,  during  the 
period  referred  to,  by  the  following  specification  of  a  few  of  the  most 
considerable  of  these  newly-formed  Auxiliaries. 

The  Nassau-Hall  Bible  Society  derives  its  title  from  a  college  of 
that  name  at  Princeton,  in  New-Jersej'.  The  students,  having 
learned,  through  the  medium  of  the  Christian  Observer,  that  a  Bible 
Society  had  been  instituted  in  the  University  of  Cambridge,  in  Eng- 
land, with  flattering  prospects  of  usefulness,  determined  to  follow, 
what  to  them  appeared  so  laudable  an  example.     Accordingly,  they 

*  Third  Report  of  the  Massachusetts  Bible  Society, 
t  Fourth  Report  of  the  New- York  Bible  Society. 


5Qy  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITbH  l^ART  111. 

met  on  the  27th  of  February,  1813;  and,  in  connexion  with  the  stu- 
dents of  a  Theological  Seminary  in  the  same  town,  associated  them- 
selves under  the  designation  of  "  the  Nassau-Hall  Bible  Society ;" 
avowing,  as  their  motive  for  this  procedure,  "  a  desire  to  manifest 
their  deep  sense  of  the  infinite  value  of  revealed  truth,  and  cf  the 
high  esteem  they  had  for  the  Bible,  v.-hich  contains  it ;"  and  express- 
ing their  hope,  "  by  a  liberal  dis^tribution  of  that  invaluable  tr*:.:sure, 
to  wipe  away  the  reproach  which  has  so  often  been  levelled  at  col- 
leges, '  that,  while  they  are  the  receptacles  of  science  and  literature, 
they  reject  or  despise  the  study  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures.'  " 

"  It  is  worthy  of  notice,"  (say  the  conductors  of  the  New-York 
Bible  Society,  in  commenting  en  this  transaction,)  "  that  this  is  the 
first  Instituiivin  of  the  kind  known  to  have  been  formed  in  any  of  the 
Seminaries  of  learning  in  this  country,  and  that  nearly  all  the  students 
of  the  College  are  members  of  it.  What  an  edifying  example  is  here 
exhibited  to  the  rising  generation,  when  they  who  are  to  constitute 
the  hope  and  the  ornament  of  their  country,  thus  glorify  the  Giver 
of  '  every  good  and  every  perfect  gift,'  by  devoting,  in  a  free-will 
offering,'  a  portion  of  their  time  and  their  property,  to  promote  the 
diflusion  of  that  blessed  word  which  reveals  the  only  source  of  true 
wisdom,  perfect  happiness,  and  life  eternal !  May  the  sacred  bene- 
volence which  has  enkindled  their  zeal,  be  communicated  to  the 
hearts  of  the  youth  in  all  the  Colleges  and  Institutions  for  education 
in  our  land  !" 

The  Virginia  Bible  Society  was  established  at  Richmond,  on  the 
22d  of  June,  1813,  for  the  express  design  of  distributing  "  the  Holy 
Scriptures  to  the  poor  in  Virginia,  and  to  the  Heathen."  In  their 
Address,  which  contains  much  excellent  matter,  they  invite  Christians 
of  every  creed  and  denomination  to  unite  with  them  in  their  labour 
of  love  ;  that  there  may  be  "  an  undivided  effort  to  communicate  to 
the  whole  human  family,  the  light,  the  hope,  and  the  peace,  which  the 
Gospel  affords." 

"  We  are  called"  (they  observe)  "  a  Christian  people  ;  and  with 
good  reason  do  we  rejoice  in  the  light  which  shines  around  us  ;  but 
there  are  numbers  in  this  highly-favoured  land  of  ours,  who  have  no 
Bibles.  In  the  neighbourhood  of  our  large  towns,  on  both  our  east- 
ern and  western  frontier,  and  among  our  soldiers  and  sailors,  the 
Bible  might  be  distributed  to  great  advantage.  Recent  as  is  our  In- 
stitution, application  has  already  been  made  in  behalf  of  ibe  poor  who 
are  destitute  of  the  Scriptures." 

"  No  Institutions  of  charily  which  the  world  ever  saw,  have  been 
favoured  by  a  gracious  Providence,  like  these  which  have  for  their 


CHAP.  n.J  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  509 

simple  and  sublime  object,  the  universal  diffusion  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures. God  smiles  upon  this  work  of  love,  in  which  his  people  are 
engaged.  Indications  of  providential  interposition,  which  cannot  be 
mistaken,  have,  on  many  occasions,  excited  the  hopes,  and  animated 
the  exertions,  of  the  friends  of  Bible  Societies." 

Their  conclusion  is  particularly  liberal  and  animated : 

"  May  Virginia  be  an  instrument  in  promoting  the  great  designs  of 
heavenly  mercy  to  a  lost  world  ;  and  may  the  effort  now  commenced 
never  cease,  until  every  family  on  earth  is  possessed  of  a  Bible,  and 
every  heart  made  to  rejoice  in  the  salvation  of  God  !" 

The  Ohio,  Nashville,  Mississippi,  and  Louisiana  Bible  Societies, 
originated  in  the  active  exertions  of  Messrs.  Mills  and  Schermerhorn, 
Licentiates  for  the  Ministry,  who,  in  a  missionary  tour  to  the  south- 
ward and  westward,  by  encouragement  and  aid  from  the  Philadelphia, 
Connecticut,  and  New- York  Bible  Societies,  stimulated  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  countries  in  which  they  ministered,  to  institute  Bible  So- 
cieties. Of  the  effects  produced  by  these  exertions,  one  of  the  most 
important  was  the  establishment  of  a  Bible  Society  at  New-Orleans 
for  the  province  of  Louisiana. 

Louisiana  is  supposed  to  contain  a  free  population  of  100,000  souls, 
of  which  70,000  are  Catholics,  and  an  additional  population  of  40,000 
slaves.  The  Catholic  Bishop  of  New-Orleans  gave  it  as  his  opinion,* 
thatthere  were  not  ten  Bibles  amongthe  70,000  Catholics ;  and  this  opi- 
nion was  corroborated  by  the  fact,  that,  when  the  Americans  took  pos- 
session of  the  country,  it  was  not  till  after  a  long  search  that  a  Bible 
could  be  found  to  administer  the  oath  of  office  ;  and  the  Bible  thus 
procured  was  a  copy  of  the  Latin  Vulgate  from  one  of  the  Priests. 
The  Protestants  could  not  be  expected  to  be  in  a  better  situation  ;  as, 
previously  to  the  cession  of  Louisiana  to  the  Americans,  the  inhabit- 
ants were  entirely  Roman  CathoUcs,  and  the  policy  of  the  Spanish 
Government  was  unfriendly  to  toleration,  and  still  more  so  to  the  cir- 
culation of  the  Scriptures.  It  was  evident,  therefore,  that  there  ex- 
isted a  real  necessity  for  attempting  the  diffusion  of  Scriptural  ho-ht 
and  truth  among  the  people.  The  manner  in  which  the  Missionaries 
proceeded  in  order  to  make  way  for  the  accomplishment  of  this  object, 
is  thus  simply  and  satisfactorily  described  by  themselves  : 

"  The  tirst  step  that  we  took  was,  to  call  on  the  principal  Clergy 
of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church,  to  ascertain  whether  they  were  op- 

*  This  opinion  has,  upon  later  and  more  diligent  inquiry,  appearod  to  bo  strictly 
correct. 

66 


510  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  111. 

posed  to  the  circulation  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures  among  their  peo- 
ple. To  our  great  joy,  and  their  great  praise,  they  assured  us  they 
had  not  the  least  objection  to  it,  and  expressed  themselves  surprised 
that  we  could  entertain  such  a  suspicion.  The  Bishop,  hovrever,  ob- 
served, that  he  could  not  recommend  to  his  people  any  dherthan  the 
versions  authorized  by  the  mother  rhnrch.  To  this  we  replied,  that 
the  versions  to  be  circulatpH  in  the  Enghsh,  Fiench,  a))d  Spanish  lan- 
guages, WPFP  thp  same  as  those  distributed  by  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society.  Should  these  versions,  however,  prove  not  to  be  the 
same  as  those  authorized  by  their  church,  he  told  us,  that  even  then 
he  would  not  secretly  or  openly  oppose  the  distribution  of  them  ; 
though  he  would  be  in  duty  bound  to  say,  if  asked,  they  were  not  the 
authorized  versions.  The  Bishop  informed  us,  after  having  examined 
the  French  New  Testament,  that  it  met  his  approbation,  and  that  a 
number  of  copies,  if  we  had  them,  might  be  immediately  distributed 
in  the  convent  of  Ursuline  Nuns.  At  this  nunnery  have  been,  and 
are  still  educated,  the  daughters  of  the  principal  Catholic  families  in 
Louisiana. 

"  A  subscription  paper  was  now  circulated,  to  ascertain  how  many 
persons  would  favour  the  establishment  of  a  Bible  Society.  In  a 
short  time,  nearly  fifty  names  were  procured,  among  which  were  those 
of  the  Governor,  and  many  JVTembers  of  the  Legislature,  which  was 
then  in  session.  On  the  day  appointed  to  organize  the  Society,  there 
was  a  general  attendance  of  the  original  subscribers,  and  the  consti- 
tution was  adopted.  As  soon  as  it  was  known  through  the  city  that  a 
Society  had  been  formed,  and  a  few  French  Bibles  were  on  hand,  the 
Catholics  called  for  them,  and  in  a  very  short  time  the  two  dozen  of 
Bibles  were  distributed,  and  frequent  calls  were  made  every  day  for 
more.  It  is  not  improbable,  that,  in  less  than  a  fortnight,  two  hun- 
dred Bibles  might  have  been  distributed  ;  and  that  among  those  who, 
perhaps,  had  never  seen  a  Bible  in  a  language  which  they  under- 
stood." 

The  account  of  what  had  been  observed  and  transacted  at  New- 
Orleans,  produced  an  immediate  determination,  on  the  part  of  the 
Philadelphia  Bible  Society,  to  print  6000  copies  of  a  French  New 
Testament  for  gratuitous  distribution  among  the  inhabitants  of  Louisi- 
ana ;  and,  upon  intelligence  of  these  circumstances  being  transmitted 
to  London,  the  sum  of  100/.  was  granted,  by  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  in  aid  of  so  seasonable  and  necessary  a  work.  Nor 
were  the  New-York  Bible  Society  deficient  in  zeal  or  exertion  to 
remedy,  according  to  their  ability,  this  distressing  scarcity  of  the  Holy 


CifAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  gj. 

Scriptures*  among  a  people,  "  born  and  educated  in  the  bosom  of  a 
country  which  was  blessed  with  the  light  of  Divine  Revelation." 
Having  ascertained  that  a  French  Bible  could  be  well  executed  in 
their  own  city,  on  moderate  terms,  the  New-York  Society  resolved 
to  print  6000  copies,  for  sale  or  gratuitous  distribution  in  Louisiana 
and  the  Canadas  ;  and  addressed  a  circular  letter,  on  the  subject,  to 
the  several  Sister  Institutions  in  the  United  States,  to  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  to  a  number  of  individuals  in  Great  Bri- 
tain ;  briefly  stating  the  object  in  view,  and  the  means  of  accomplish- 
ing it,  and  soliciting  advice  and  co-operation. 

This  appeal  had  the  desired  effect.  Two  hundred  pounds  were 
contributed  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  ;  and  so  liberal 
were  the  contributions  from  the  other  quarters  addressed,  that  the 
New-York  Society  was  enabled  most  happily  to  accomplish  its  design, 
Such  were  the  immediate  consequences  of  the  steps  adopted  for 
establishing  a  Bible  Society  at  New-Orleans.  Among  the  earhest 
fruits  of  that  EstabUshment,  were  12,000  copies  of  the  French  Tes- 
tament from  the  presses  at  Philadelphia  and  New- York :  and  from 
the  joy  with  which  the  first  supplies  were  welcomed  by  people  of  all 
ranks  in  the  Province,  there  is  reason  to  believe,  that  the  Louisiana 
Bible  Society  will,  eventually,  prove  one  of  the  most  important  and 
efiective  in  the  whole  circle  of  American  Bible  Societies. 

But  the  most  splendid  occurrence  in  the  connected  history  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  the  Sister  Institutions  of  the 
American  States,  during  this  period,  is  now  to  be  related. 

In  the  month  of  June,  1813,  a  supply  of  Bibles  and  Testaments, 
destined  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  for  the  inhabitants 
of  Nova  Scotia,  was  captured  by  an  American  Privateer,  brought 
into  Portland,  and  there  sold  and  dispersed.  As  soon  as  this  fact  be- 
came known  to  the  Bible  Society  of  Massachusetts,  a  determination 
was  taken,  by  the  managers  of  that  Institution,  to  replace  the  value 
of  the  Bibles  and  Testaments  :  their  Secretary  was  directed  to  ascer- 
tain, by  correspondence,  to  whom  the  amount  of  the  property  cap- 
tured should  be  transmitted ;  and  he  was  at  the  same  time  instructed 
"  to  express  the  deep  regret  of  the  Massachusetts  Bible  Society,  that 
any  occurrence  should  have  so  long  detained  so  many  copies  of  the 

*  There  had  been  no  edition  of  the  Bible  printed  west  of  the  mountains;  and 
the  inducement  to  merchants  to  take  out  copies  was  very  small,  as  will  appear 
from  the  following:  anecdote.  A  merchant  in  Tennessee  observed,  during  the  earth- 
quakes in  1811  and  1812,  that,  before  these  took  place,  he  used  to  sell  ten  packs  of 
,ards  where  he  sold  one  Bible,  noiv  he  sold  ten  Bibles  tcherc  he  sold  one  pack  of 
•  ards.'"  ■' 


^12  HISTOKV  OF  THE  BRITISH  iVXRT  111. 

Bible  from  their  proper  destination  ;  ami  that  to  the  other  calamities 
of  the  disastrous  war  in  which  their  country  was  engaged,  should  be 
added  any  interruption  of  the  charitable  and  munificent  labours  of 
their  fellow-Christians  in  Great  Britain,  in  diffusing  the  knowledge  of 
the  word  of  God." 

In  the  mean  time,  a  subscription  was  opened  at  Boston,  to  raise  a 
sufficient  sum,  without  diverting  the  funds  of  the  Massachusetts  Bible 
Society  from  their  regular  object ;  and  such  was  the  eagerness  mani- 
fested, by  the  citizens  of  Boston,*  to  shake  off  from  their  country  the 
disgrace  of  this  transaction,  that,  in  the  course  of  a  few  days,  double 
the  sum  required  was  contributed;  and  it  might,  as  appears,  have 
been  easily  increased  to  an  almost  indefinite  amount.  On  the  9th  of 
November,  1813,  a  bill  for  155/.  sterling,  which  covered  the  cost  of 
the  Bibles  and  Testaments,  together  with  the  expense  of  ensurance 
upon  them,  was  transmitted  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society 
by  tlie  Secretary  of  the  Massachusetts  Bible  Society,  the  Rev.  S. 
Thacher,  who  concludes  his  letter  in  the  following  very  appropriate 
and  excellent  terms : 

"  We  have  thus  done  what  we  can  to  express  our  shame  and  re- 
gret at  this  occurrence,  and  to  repair  the  evil  which  it  has  occasion- 
ed. We  indulge  the  hope  that  we  shall  not  again  have  to  number  it 
among  the  calamities  of  a  war  in  which  we  cannot  cease  to  regret, 
that  two  nations,  allied  in  feelings,  habits,  interests,  language,  and 
origin,  should  be  engaged,  that  it  counteracts,  in  any  degree,  the 
exertions  of  any  of  the  charitable  Institutions  of  Great  Britain  ;  or 
tends  to  loosen  or  break  that  golden  chain  of  mutual  benevolence, 
which  ought  to  bind  together  the  disciples  of  Christ,  of  every  nation 
and  clime,  without  regard  to  political  animosities." 

The  Address  prefixed  to  the  list  of  subscribers  on  this  memorable 
occasion,  breathes  such  a  spirit  of  genuine  philanthropy,  and  conveys 
so  instructive  a  lesson  to  the  whole  population  of  Christendom,  that 
the  author  would  think  himself  inexcusable,  were  he  to  omit  inserting 
a  large  extract  from  this  invaluable  document. 

••'  It  is  generally  known,  that  a  number  of  the  Bibles  bearing  the 
stamp  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  designed  for 
charitable  distribution  in  the  neighbouring  British  Provinces,  were 
taken  by  an  American   Privateer,  and  sold  at  public  auction  ;  by 

*  This  spirit  of  liberality  was  not  confined  to  Boston  :  assurances  were  received 
from  other  quarters,  of  a  desire  to  participate  in  tlie  transaction.  In  particular,  the 
Mcrimac  Bible  Society  passed  a  vote  to  contribute  100  Bibles  towards  this  object ; 
but  the  largeness  of  the  subscriptions  in  the  town  made  it  unnecessary  to  accept 
the  profl'ercd  donation. 


CHAP.  11]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  5^3 

which  the  benevolent  object  for  which  they  were  sent  has  been  de- 
feated. These  facts  have  been  established  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
Massachusetts  Bible  Society. 

"  Every  upright  mind  must  feel  the  injustice  of  those  acts  which 
make  a  prey  of  the  offering  of  benevolence,  and  enrich  others  by 
plundering  the  poor.  To  a  man  of  principle,  that  bounty  which  is 
designed  to  impart  the  light  and  consolation  of  religion  to  the  igno- 
rant and  destitute,  will  ever  be  sacred.  In  the  present  instance,  thij: 
bounty  has  been  seized  by  unhallowed  hands,  and  an  object  pecu- 
liarly dear  to  Christians  has  been  defeated. 

"  It  is  true,  we  are  at  war  with  England ;  but  we  are  not  at  war 
with  her  pious  and  charitable  Institutions.  The  Christians  of  England 
are  still  our  brethren  ;  their  generous  spirit  we  are  still  bound  to  ad- 
mire, and  their  efforts  for  the  improvement  of  mankind  we  are  bound 
to  aid  and  promote.  The  cause  of  truth  and  virtue  is  ours  as  truly 
as  theirs  ;  and  in  war,  as  well  as  in  peace,  our  prayers  and  exertions 
should  be  united  for  its  support. 

"  It  is  humiliating  to  observe  the  contrast  which  this  transaction 
exhibits  between  our  own  nation  and  the  nation  with  which  we  are 
contending.  England  is  seen  sending  forth  the  word  to  distant  re- 
gions, in  the  midst  of  war  diffusing  the  Gospel  of  peace — We,  in  thi* 
instance,  are  seen  intercepting  this  heavenly  gift,  snatching  the  Gos- 
pel from  the  poor,  and  sparing  nothing,  however  sacred,  which  can 
feed  our  avarice. 

"  It  may  be  said,  that  this  is  the  act  of  individuals,  not  of  the  na 
tion.  But  a  nation  is  generally  judged  by  the  character  and  conduct 
of  individuals  ;  and  if  no  effort  be  made  to  wipe  off  this  stain,  if  our 
abhorrence  of  this  deed  be  in  noway  expressed,  and  if  we  do  nothing 
to  repair  the  injury  which  has  thus  been  done  to  the  interests  of  re- 
ligion, and  to  the  feelings  of  its  friends,  shall  we  not  expose  ourselve-- 
to  the  imputation  at  least  of  indifference  to  the  Christian  cause  ? 

"  We  owe  it  then  to  ourselves,  as  well  as  to  the  poor,  who  have 
been  robbed  by  our  citizens,  to  replace  the  Bibles  which  have  beers 
seized  ;  and  for  this  purpose,  a  subscription  is  now  opened.  In  this- 
way  we  shall  prove  ourselves  free  from  the  guilt  of  this  unjust 
transaction,  and  shall  bear  proper  testimony  against  it.  We  shall 
express  that  respect  which  we  owe  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society, — an  Institution  which  has  claims  on  the  gratitude  of  all  na- 
tions, to  whose  example  we  are  indebted  for  the  existence  of  similar 
Institutions  in  this  country,  and  from  whose  munificence  several  ot 
our  Societies  have  received  liberal  donations.  By  this  act  we  shall 
prove,  that  we  are  not  altogether  strangers  to  that  generous  zeal  for 


514  FlfSTORY  OF  THR  BRITISH  [PART  III. 

the  Christian  improvement  of  the  world,  which  animates  our  brethren 
on  the  other  side  the  ocean.  And,  to  conclude,  by  this  act,  we  shall 
do  something  towards  repressing  those  animosities  and  antipathies 
which  the  present  war  has  a  tendency  to  generate  between  us  and  the 
neighbouring  British  provinces.  We  shall  show  them  that  war  has 
implanted  no  enmity  in  our  hearts,  that  we  are  still  interested  in  their 
improvement,  and  are  happy  in  an  opportunity  of  imparting  to  them 
the  best  blessing,  the  blessing  of  religion.  Other  aid  we  are  not 
permitted  to  afford  ;  but  we  presume  that  Government  will  suffer  us, 
under  the  circumstances  which  have  been  stated,  to  send  to  them  the 
Bible  ;  and  this  volume  of  peace,  extended  to  them  in  the  spirit  of 
Christian  kindness,  will,  we  hope,  serve  to  allay  the  irritations  of 
war,  and  to  remind  both  nations,  that  we  are  fellow-Christians,  fol- 
lowers of  one  Master,  who  has  solemnly  commanded  us  to  love  one 
another." 

The  British  provinces  in  North  America  had  long  manifested  a 
favourable  disposition  towards  the  object  and  designs  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  These  indications  of  friendship  were, 
however,  neither  sufficiently  general,  nor  decisive,  to  acquire  for  the 
Institution  that  support  and  co-operation  which  it  seemed  not  less 
reasonable  to  expect,  than  natural  to  desire,  in  this  portion  of  his 
Majesty's  foreign  dominions.  Individual  and  congregational  exer- 
tions had  not  been  wanting ;  and  a  small  Society  had  been  formed  at 
Pictou,  for  tiie  eastern  part  of  Nova  Scotia,  to  which  500  Bibles,  and 
1000  Testaments,  had  been  presented  for  distribution :  but  it  was 
not  till  the  year  1813,  that  any  thing  was  attempted  on  a  scale  which 
at  all  comported  with  the  rank  of  those  provinces,  and  the  wants  of 
their  numerous  and  ill-supplied  population.  On  the  23d  of  Novem- 
ber, in  that  year,  a  Bible  Society  was  formed  at  Halifax,  under  the 
designation  of  "  the  Bible  Society  of  Nova  Scotia  and  Dependen- 
cies." Of  this  Institution  the  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the  province. 
Sir  John  Coape  Sherbroke,  became  the  President;  the  principal 
naval  and  civil  ofilcers.  Vice  Presidents  ;  and  Captain  (now  Colonel) 
Addison,  the  Secretary:  and  with  so  much  alacrity  was  it  espoused, 
that,  in  little  more  than  a  fortnight  after  its  establishment,  it  was 
enabled  to  present  a  donation  of  2001.  to  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  "  as  the  first  fruits  of  those  contributions  which  it 
expected  soon  to  see  very  greatly  augmented."  A  Branch  Society, 
in  connexion  with  this  Institution,  was  shortly  after  formed  at  Liver- 
pool, denominated  "  the  Queen's  County  Auxiliary  Bible  Society," 
under  the  patronage  and  management  of  a  Committee,  among  whom 
are  some  of  the  most  respectable  residents,  both  civil  and  military. 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  5I5 

It  ought,  however,  to  be  observed,  that  the  establishment  of  the 
Nova  Scotia  Bible  Society  was  not  eftected  without  much  opposition. 
The  Parent  Society  in  London  was  represented  as  insignificant, 
usurping  the  functions  of  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Know- 
ledge, and  pregnant  with  mischief,  both  to  Church  and  State.  The 
oft-refuted  charges  against  its  principles  and  its  practice  were  revived 
and  circulated,  through  the  medium  of  the  provincial  newspapers, 
with  all  the  solemnity  of  truth,  and  all  the  parade  of  authentication. 
But  in  vain — the  good  sense  of  the  Lieutenant  Governor,  and  of  the 
principal  persons  in  Halifax,  was  not  to  be  imposed  upon.  The  So- 
ciety was  estabhshed,  against  every  effort  to  prevent  it ;  and,  as  well 
Sir  John  Sherbroke,  as  the  other  officers  included  in  the  patronage, 
persevered  in  affording  it  the  benefit  of  their  decided  countenance  and 
support.  The  language  of  Sir  John  Sherbroke,  in  confirming  his 
acceptance  of  the  office  of  President,  was  particularly  dignified  ;  and 
it  may  be  considered  as  expressing  the  sentiments  of  those  with 
whom  he  was  associated,  as  well  as  his  own : 

"  The  motives  which  induced  me,  as  a  Christian,  to  become  a  sub- 
scriber to  this  laudable  Institution,  were  the  same  as,  I  dotibt  not, 
have  actuated  every  one  of  its  members  ;  and  I  only  lament  that  there 
can  be  found  in  this  province  any  person  to  oppose  so  pious  an  un- 
dertaking." 

To  these  favourable  beginnings  in  Halifax  and  Liverpool,  may  be 
added,  the  appearances  of  a  similar  disposition  in  other  parts  of  Nova 
Scotia,  and  also  in  the  Canadas.  In  more  places  than  one.  Societies 
were  reported  to  have  been  formed  on  a  limited  scale  :  and  the  time, 
it  is  hoped,  is  not  distant,  when  the  inhabitants  of  British  North 
America  will  show  a  determination  not  to  be  left  behind  by  their  bre- 
thren of  the  United  States,  in  this  race  of  Christian  benevolence. 
The  field  is  large ;  both  might  co-operate  in  its  cultivation  with  great 
effect :  and  it  would  be  a  delightful  and  an  edifying  spectacle,  to  be- 
hold the  subjects  of  different  governments,  in  the  new  world,  like 
those  in  the  old,  "  with  one  mind  striving  together  for  the  faith  of  the 
Gospel." 

Such  was  the  progress  made  by  the  Institution,  in  foreign  parts, 
either  through  its  own  exertions,  or  those  of  kindred  and  co-operat- 
ing Societies.  A  similar  degree  of  prosperity  attended  its  operations, 
within  the  limits  of  the  United  Kingdom :  fifty  were  added  to  the  list 
of  Auxiliary  Societies  ;  independently  of  Branch  Societies,  and  Bible 
Associations,  the  number  of  which  was  very  considerable.  By  the 
ramification  of  the  old,  and  the  establishment  of  new  Societies,  the 
Institution  acquired  a  vast  accession  of  useful  and  productive  support  ■ 


516  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  ^i'ART.  III. 

and  such  was  the  progress  in  occupying  fresh  districts,  that,  by  the 
close  of  the  tenth  year,  only  one  county*  in  England  remained,  in 
which  an  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  had  not  been  erected. 

To  describe  the  Societies,  as  successively  formed,  would  lead  too 
much  into  detail ;  it  must  suffice,  to  speak  of  those  only,  which,  from 
their  situation,  their  patronage,  or  other  circumstances  of  eminence, 
give  them  a  title  to  particular  attention. 

In  this  enumeration  "  the  Hackney  and  Newington  Auxiliary  Bible 
Society"  may  be  properly  introduced,  as  having  given  occasion  to  that 
correspondence  between  J.  W.  Freshfield,  Esq.  and  the  Rev.  H.  H. 
Norris,  Curate  of  St.  John's,  Hackney,  which,  with  a  large  apparatus 
of  notes,  observations,  &c.  was  published  by  the  latter,  under  the 
title  of  "  A  Practical  Exposition  of  the  Tendency  and  Proceedings  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  &.c."  Of  tbis  publication,  (in 
which  the  unaffected  good  sense  of  Mr.  Freshfield  does  not  suffer  by 
a. comparison  with  the  superior  pretensions  of  his  opponent,)  the 
learned  Bishop  of  St.  David's  remarks,  that  he  "  holds  it  to  be  a  most 
unjustifiable  attack  on  the  Bible  Society ;"  adding,  that  "  it  is  so  des- 
titute of  the  demonstration  which  it  professes  to  give,  so  defective  in 
its  premises,  so  inconclusive  in  its  inferences,  and  so  reprehensible 
in  its  calumnies  respecting  the  church  members  of  the  Society,"  that 
it  might  be  left  "  to  its  own  refutation."!  From  this  judgment,  the 
author,  who  shares  pretty  largely  in  its  calumnies,  sees  no  reason  to 
dissent,  and  therefore  leaves  it  to  that  refutation.^; 

*  This  exception  ceased  to  exist  on  the  29th  of  August,  1814,  when  the  author 
had  the  satisfaction  to  witness  an  Auxiliary  Society  established  for  the  city  and 
county  of  Hereford. 

f  See  an  excellent  tract  published  by  his  Lordship,  undiT  the  title  of  "  The 
Bible,  and  the  Bible  alone,  the  Religion  of  Protestants." 

1  Those  who  wish  to  see  how  completely  the  "  Practical  Exposition"  might  be 
confuted,  will  find  an  able  specimen  in  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dealtry's  "  Review  of  Mr. 
Norris's  Attack  upon  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society." 

To  those  who  think  that  the  book  is  not  written  in  a  way  to  deserve  a  formal 
reply,  the  following  extract  from  the  author's  speech  at  the  first  Anniversary  of 
the  Hackney  Society,  may  not  be  unacceptable: 

"  To  all  who  oppose  us  with  decency  and  temper,  I  trust  we  shall  know  how  to 
reply  in  the  spirit  of  meekness.  If  they  have  misunderstood  us,  avc  will  explain; 
if  they  have  convicted  us  of  error,  we  will  concede;  if  they  have  accused  us 
wrongfully,  we  will  endeavour  to  confute  them ;  exercising  throughout  that 
courtesy  and  forbearance,  which  no  controversy  should  be  permitted  to  banish, 
and  least  of  all,  that  controversy  in  which  we  are  engaged.  But  if  among  our  op- 
ponents there  should  bo  an  individual,  whom  no  explanations  can  satisfy,  no  con- 
.  essions  can  soften,  no  forbearance  can  conciliate,  no  confutation  can  silence;  if, 
:n  the  restless  prosecution  of  his  purpose  of  hostility,  he  should  be  found  to  spare 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  51'7 

The  formation  of  a  Society  for  the  County  of  Somerset,  which  was 
accomphshed,  through  many  discouragements,  on  the  21st  of  April, 
1813,  eUcited  from  some  individuals  of  rank  and  influence,  testimo- 
nies which  reflected  great  honour  on  their  piety,  liberality,  and  inde- 
pendence. Without  disparagement  of  the  rest,  the  names  of  the  Earl 
of  Egmont,  and  the  Hon.  and  Rev.  Dr.  Ryder,  then  Dean  of  Wells, 
and  now  Bishop  of  Gloucester,  should  be  mentioned,  as  entitled,  on 
the  grounds  already  specified,  to  particular  distinction.  The  Earl  of 
Egmont,  in  his  letter  to  the  Provisional  Committee,  observes :  "  If  I 
dare  make  the  comparison,  I  would  with  great  humility  say,  It  is  the 
same  work  in  which  the  Apostles  thpmselves  were  engaged,  from  the 
time  of  their  going  forth  to  the  end  of  their  days  of  suffering."  His 
Lordship  adds  :  "  The  Somerset  gentlemen  need  not  despair  of  suc- 
cess ;  let  them  but  exercise  faith  in  God.  With  these  considerations, 
therefore,"  (concludes  his  Lordship,)  "  I  beg  you  will  do  with  me  as 
seems  most  convenient  to  the  promotion  of  this  Institution ;  and  I 
shall  be  thoroughly  satisfied,  that,  to  whatever  use  you  maj'  put  me. 
you  will  add  more  to.  than  take  from,  the  character  of, 

"  Yours,  &c. 

"EGMONT." 

The  friendship  of  Dr.  Ryder  for  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  had  been  testified  by  his  active  exertions  in  connexion  with 
the  Leicester  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  at  whose  formation  and  anni- 
versaries he  had  regularly  presided,  very  greatly  to  the  advantage  of 
that  Institution.  On  his  promotion  to  the  Deanery  of  Wells,  Dr. 
Ryder  was  invited  to  co-operate  in  establishing  the  Somersetshire 
Society ;  and  it  will  gratify  the  reader  to  see,  by  an  extract  from  the 
Dean's  reply,  what  was  his  disposition  under  the  circumstances 
of  delicacy  and  trial  (the  Bishop  of  the  diocese  having  declined  to 
patronize  the  measure)  in  which  he  found  himself  placed. 

"  I  should  indeed  consider  myself  as  acting  contrarily  to  my  views 
of  duty,  and  certainly  doing  great  violence  to  my  feelings,  if  I  re- 

ncither  our  private  nor  our  profcssioual  character;  if,  not  content  with  a  lift?  in- 
terest in  episcopal  opposition,  he  should  snatch  tlie  mitre  from  the  hand  of  death,* 
and  tax  the  very  See  to  furnish  a  conting-ent  towards  the  war  of  extermination 
agaiust  the  Bible  Society ;  with  such  an  individual  we  will  have  no  communication : 
we  will  retire  from  him,  as  Michael  did  from  his  opponent,  in  a  memorable  contro- 
versy of  old,  not  bringing  against  him  any  railing  accusation,  but  saying,  'The 
Lord  rebuke  thee  !'  " 

*  Bishop  Uaniolph  (to  whona  it  was  intended  that  "  the  Practical  Esposifion"  should  be  dedi- 
csted)  dying  before  the  work  Tf as  printed,  it  was  dedicated  {/ritAoirf  permisnov^ '.o  the  preseDl 
learned  and  candid  Bishop  Ho-wley,  when  "  Bishop  Elect."' 
67 


51S  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRlTIsH  [fART  lU. 

fused  to  have  my  name,  according  to  your  request,  united  with  the 
respectable  signatures  which  you  have  mentioned,  to  a  requisition 
for  the  purpose  of  establishing  such  a  Society  in  a  County  with  which 
I  have  now  the  pleasure  to  be  connected,  and  in  whose  welfare  I 
cannot  but  take  a  considerable  interest. 

"  I  must  add,  that  I  cannot  but  feel  regret,  in  differing,  on  this  oc- 
casion, from  the  opinions,  and  dechning  to  follow  the  example,  of 
those  for  whom,  on  every  account,  I  entertain  so  much  respect  and 
regard  ;  but  I  cannot  (and  should  not,  I  am  sure,  be  expected  to)  al- 
low that  regret  to  overcome  the  conviction  of  my  own  judgment,  and 
the  dictate  (as  I  conceive)  of  my  conscience." 

The  Dean  availed  himself  of  the  earliest  opportunity  to  evince  the 
sincerity  of  this  declaration,  by  presiding  at  the  first  anniversary  of 
the  Somersetshire  Society  ;  and  by  his  conduct,  both  on  that  and  other 
similar  occasions,  he  made  the  event  of  his  advancement  to  the  Epis- 
copal office  a  subject  of  joy  and  thanksgiving  to  good  men  of  every 
religious  denomination. 

The  Society  established  at  Holywell,  for  the  County  of  Flint,  on 
the  Slst  of  August,  1813,  under  the  patronage  of  the  Earl  of  Gros- 
venor,  gave  that  Noble  Lord  an  opportunity — by  taking  the  Chair, 
and  addressing  the  assembly — of  bearing,  for  the  first  time,  his  pub- 
lic testimony  to  the  merits  of  the  cause.  This  his  Lordship  did  in 
a  very  perspicuous  and  emphatical  manner.  The  Noble  Earl  said, 
that  he  had  at  one  time  hesitated  respecting  the  expediency  of  sup- 
porting the  Bible  Society,  lest  it  should  injure  that  for  Promoting 
Christian  Knowledge  ;  but  he  was  now  convinced,  that  he  had  judged 
erroneously.  Independently  of  the  unspeakable  benefit  which  had 
accrued  from  the  increased  circulation  of  the  Scriptures,  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society  "  had  given  to  the  Society  for  Promoting 
Christian  Knowledge  a  new  vitality,  and  operated  as  a  spirit  that  had 
raised  it  from  its  torpor  into  new  exertions:  and  we  now  witness,'' 
(adds  his  Lordship,)  "  in  the  increased  good  it  is  doing,  one  of  the 
happiest  effects  of  this  new  Society."  As  a  proof  that  his  Lordship 
had  bestowed  on  the  subject  an  attentive  consideration,  he  stated,  that 
in  only  ten  parishes  in  the  County  of  Flint,  1,300  inhabited  houses 
were  without  a  Bible  ;  and  it  was  to  be  apprehended,  that  the  same 
want  was  general  throughout  the  County.  "  It  is  time,  therefore," 
(concluded  his  Lordship,)  "  that  the  County  of  Flint  should  exist  in 
the  map  of  an  Institution,  which,  while  it  diffuses  its  blessings  wliere- 
ever  it  appears,  commands  the  admiration  of  the  world  ;  an  Institution 
which  affords  a  criterion  of  the  piety  of  the  age,  and  a  centre  of 
union  and  co-operation  for  all  Christians  ;  which  will  aid  the  speed 


CHAP.  Il.j  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  S0C1E1T.  5|9 

of  the  angel  of  mercy,  who  shall  fly  into  all  lands,  bearing  the  ever- 
lasting Gospel." 

The  Cumberland  Society,  formed  at  Cariisle,  on  the  23d  of  Sep- 
tember, 1813,  was  distinguished,  among  other  circumstances  of  inte- 
rest, by  a  luminous  and  argumentative  speech  from  the  Dean  of  Car- 
lisle, and  by  an  admirable  letter  from  Viscount  Morpeth,  the  Patron, 
addressed  to  the  Dean,  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract. 

"  To  the  proposal  of  forming  a  Society,  auxiliary  to  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  I  certainly  am  decidedly  friendly.  Having 
the  honour  of  belonging  to  the  Auxiliary  Society  lately  established  in 
Westminster,  it  would  follow  that  I  should  wish,  that  Societies  formed 
on  similar  principles,  and  directed  to  similar  objects,  should  be  esta- 
blished in  different  parts  of  the  country.  And  this  wish  does  not 
procee<l  from  mere  motives  of  personal  consistency,  but  from  a  con- 
viction, that  the  principles,  declared  and  maintained  by  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  tend  to  great  practical  advantage,  by  the 
enlargement  and  diffusion  of  religious  knowledge  throughout  the  va- 
rious classes  of  the  community.  I  am  not  aware  of  any  mode  by 
which  religious  knowledge  can  be  more  comprehensively  or  more 
powerfully  diffused,  than  by  the  circulation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures ; 
and  am  convinced,  that,  in  proportion  to  that  circulation,  the  stock  of 
pubhc  virtue  will  be  extended,  and  the  sum  of  pubhc  happiness  in- 
creased. 

"  It  gives  me  pleasure  to  observe,  among  those  who  are  embodied 
in  this  great  cause,  many  of  the  first  dignitai-ies,  many  of  the  distin- 
guished supporters  of  the  Established  Church,  united  with  many  of 
those  who,  though  they  dissent  from  its  discipline,  and  some  parts  of 
its  doctrine,  agree  in  strengthening  the  foundation  of  all  true  religion, 
in  extending  the  sphere  of  its  action,  and  widening  the  circle  of  its 
benefits. 

"  With  this  view  of  the  subject,  and  under  these  impressions,  I 
cannot  hesitate  lending  the  little  assistance  in  my  power,  to  the  pro- 
motion of  a  Society,  which,  aided  by  your  encouragement  and  sup- 
port, will,  I  am  sure,  lead  to  the  attainment  of  much  real  and  perma- 
nent good." 

Of  the  formation  of  the  Oxfoi'd  and  Oxfordshire  Auxiliary  Bible 
Society,  a  more  particular  account  will,  from  its  rank  and  influence, 
be  very  naturally  expected. 

From  the  time  that  an  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  was  established  at 
Cambridge,  a  strong  desire  was  felt,  and,  as  far  as  expedient,  was  ma- 
nifested, by  the  friends  of  the  general  cause,  to  witness  a  similar 


520  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III. 

Establishment  in  Oxford ;  that  the  two  principal  Universities  of  the 
United  Kingdom  might  be  seen  to  lend  their  public  countenance  and 
support  to  an  Institution  described,  in  the  just  and  eloquent  language 
of  the  latter,  as  "an  Association  for  one  paramount  object,  and  that 
the  noblest  that  can  be  devised,  the  circulation  of  the  word  of  God 
without  note  or  comment ;  which  knows  none  of  the  ordinary  distinc- 
tions of  party  or  nation,  and  acknowledges  no  limits  to  its  exertions; 
which  is  patronized  by  sovereigns,  adorned  by  the  noble  and  the 
learned,  enriched  by  the  opulent,  beloved  and  assisted  by  the  poor  ;" 
and  which  displays  "  such  a  triumph  of  Christian  feehngs,  such  a  glo- 
rious avowal  of  the  faith,  as  cannot  fail  to  raise  the  moral  tone  of 
society,  to  ameliorate  its  general  condition,  and  to  accelerate  the  uni- 
versal prevalence  of  the  Gospel."* 

Some  advances  were  made  towards  the  accomplishment  of  this  de- 
sign, by  the  effect  of  a  correspondence,  through  the  Oxford  Journal,! 
in  which  the  question  of  union  between  Churchmen  and  Dissenters, 
was  discussed,  at  diiTerent  periods,  from  the  commencement  of  1812, 
and  in  the  course  of  which  there  appeared  the  respectable  names  of 
the  Right  Hon.  Nicholas  Vansittart,  John  Coker,  Esq,  and  the  Rev. 
James  Hinton,  the  last  of  whom  was  a  Dissenting  Mmister,  long  resi- 
dent in  the  city  of  Oxford,  and  very  generally  esteemed,  for  his  sound 
knowledge,  liberal  sentiments,  and  exemplary  deportment.  Jor  the 
part  which  Mr.  Vansittart  took  in  this  discussion,  the  reader  is  refer- 
red to  the  second  of  that  gentleman's  "  Three  Letters  on  the  subject 
of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,"  &c.J 

The  opinions  of  Mr.  Coker  were  so  nearly  allied  to  those  which 
characterize  the  Church  opponents  of  the  Society  in  general,  that,  to 
detail  them  at  length,  would  be  only  to  repeat  what  it  is  deeply  to  be 
regretted  should  ever  have  been  said.  "  I  have  too  much  reason  to 
think,"  (observes  Mr.  Coker,)§  "  that,  if  ever  the  hearts  of  the 
friends  of  the  Established  Church,  and  those  of  the  Dissenters,  shall 
be  united,  the  friends  of  the  Establishment  must  consent  to  assist  the 
Dissenters  in  its  destruction  and  overthrow :"  and  he  seems  to  think 
the  proposition  unanswerably  demonstrated,  by  "  a  reference  to  ex- 
perience and  past  events, — that  is,  to  events  which  took  place  almost 
two  huuiU'cd  years  since,  in  times  of  turbulence  and  civil  discord, 


•  Address  of  the  Oxford  Committee. 
fSce  "  Letters,  &c.  on  the  Crusade  of  the  Nineteenth  Century,  by  Peter  the 
Hcruiit." 

X  Published  by  Hatcbard  and  Secley.  <  Letter  to  Mr.  Vansittart. 


CHAP.  11]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  521 

and  in  the  evils  of  which  every  party  was  deeply,  though  not  equally 
involved." 

In  controverting  a  position,  in  all  its  aspects  so  offensive,  and  in 
support  of  which  no  argument  or  evidence  that  fairly  applied  had  been 
advanced,  the  Kev.  Mr.  Hinton  (whose  language  has  just  been  em- 
ployed) acquitted  himself  in  a  manner  highly  creditable,  both  to  his 
judgment  and  his  candour.  In  rebutting  the  charge  against  the  pre- 
sent Dissenters,  from  the  conduct  of  their  predecessors  in  the  times  of 
the  Stuarts,  Mr.  Hinton  thus  sensibly  and  very  justly  remarks  : 

"  It  were  easy  to  prove,  that  the  Hierarchy  of  that  day  possessed  a 
spirit  and  a  power  entirely  subversive  of  all  the  rights  of  Society,  both 
civil  and  religious ;  but  it  would  be  illiberal  to  render  the  present 
Church  of  England  accountable  for  the  crimes  of  its  ancestors.  *  Our 
Church'  (it  would  be  replied)  '  is  no  longer  what  it  then  was.  The 
character  of  the  present  Archbishop  forms  a  perfect  contrast  to  that 
of  Archbishop  Laud  :  the  present  Primate  protects  the  Dissenters,  and 
receives  their  thanks  ;  his  predecessor  persecuted  them  with  unre- 
lenting cruelty.'  Though  I  could  perhaps  easily  prove,  that  many  of 
the  members  of  the  Church  of  England  retain  persecuting  principles,  I 
shall  not  impute  their  faxilts  to  the  Church  itself.  I  should  be  pre- 
vented from  doing  this,  if  from  no  other  cause,  at  least  by  the  grati- 
fying sight  of  a  large  and  dignified  Society,  led  on  in  its  benevolent 
career  by  twenty-one  Archbishops  and  Bishops  of  the  Established 
Church,  by  numbers  of  Peers,  and  even  princes  of  the  realm  ;  and 
these  perfectly  uniting  with  Protestant  Dissenters  in  supporting  all  the 
truth  that  God  has  revealed,  with  a  view  of  promoting  all  the  charity 
and  purity  which  it  enjoins" 

To  this  description  of  his  own  feelings,  Mr,  Hinton  adds  a  declara 
tion  of  what  he  considers  to  be  the  common  feeling  of  his  Dissenting 
brethren  ;  and  his  words  deserve  the  more  respect,  as  purporting  to 
contain  "  the  avowal  of  a  person  very  long  known  in  the  neighbour- 
hood" from  which  he  writes, — "  of  one  who  has  spent  the  greater 
part  of  his  life  in  the  Ministry  among  the  Dissenters  ;  and  who,  for 
thirty  years  past,  has  been  well  acquainted  with  most  of  the  princi- 
pal Dissenting  congregations  in  the  kingdom  ;  and  has  been  in  the  ha- 
bit of  hearing,  at  their  public  meetings,  the  sentiments  of  the  whole 
body,  on  the  subjects  which  have  been  discussed."  The  declaration 
is  as  follows  : 

"  While  the  Church  of  England  enjoys  her  own  pre-eminence,  a? 
she  has  done  since  she  banished  her  oppressors  from  the  throne,  and 
placed  her  protectors  in  their  room  ;  while  she  continues  to  hold  fast 


522  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  IIL 

her  own  liberty,  and  at  the  same  time  forms  a  barrier  for  the  protec- 
tion of  her  neighbours,  she  will  be  too  much  esteemed  by  the  Pro- 
testant Dissenters,  for  her  evangelical  doctrine,  for  the  sake  of  their 
own  safety,  and  for  the  happiness  of  mankind,  to  permit  that  any  wish 
for  her  overthrow  should  be  cherished  among  them.  This  liberality 
is  the  sure  pledge  of  our  continued  esteem.  And  if  her  safety  should 
ever  be  assailed,  as  it  has  been  in  times  past,  she  will  tind  the  Protestant 
Dissenters,  as  at  the  memorable  era  of  the  Revolution,  ready  to  lend 
a  powerful  aid  in  her  support." 

But  although,  from  this  and  other  causes  many  inhabitants  of  the 
city  of  Oxford,  a  large  body  of  undergraduates,  and  a  few  senior  mem- 
bers of  the  University,  appeared  zealous  for  the  promotion  of  an 
Auxiliary  Society,  it  was  not  till  the  spring  of  1812,  that  the  impression 
had  become  sufficiently  general  to  authorize  any  direct  efforts  with  a 
view  to  such  an  Establishment.  About  that  period,  G.  F.  Stratton, 
Esq.  a  gentleman  of  considerable  talent  and  respectability,  having, 
from  a  casual  perusal  of  Professor  Marsh's  writings  against  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  been  induced  to  examine,  more  particu- 
larly, into  the  merits  of  the  controversy,  became  so  decidedly  con- 
vinced of  the  excellence  of  the  Institution,  that  he  determined  to  re- 
commend the  formation  of  an  Auxiliary  Society  for  the  County  of 
Oxford,  in  which  he  resided.  Being  firmly  convinced  of  the  vast 
benetits  that  must  ensue  from  such  an  Institution,  he  took  the  earliest 
opportunity  of  soliciting,  personally,  the  support  of  the  inhabitants 
of  by  far  the  largest  part  of  the  county.  So  general  was  the  dispo- 
sition to  promote  this  measure,  that  of  upwards  of  1500  persons,  with 
whom  Mr.  Stratton  conversed  upon  the  subject,  including  a  very  con- 
siderable proportion  of  the  rank  and  consequence  of  the  county,  not 
more  than  fifty-five  were  unfavourably  disposed.  "  With  this  small 
exception,"  (adds  Mr.  Stratton,)  "  all,  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest, 
were  anxious  for  the  formation  of  an  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  and  ex- 
pressed surprise  and  regret,  that  it  should  have  been  so  long  deferred." 
What  added  to  the  weight  of  Mr.  Stratton's  testimony,  and  the  value  of 
his  assistance,  was,  that  he  had  formerly  entertained  opposite  sen- 
timents, and  had  abandoned  them  from  conviction.  "  I  confess,"  (said 
Mr.  Stratton,)  "  that  at  first,  I  enlisted  myself  under  their  banner. 
But,  as  1  had  yielded  rather  to  their  authority  than  to  conviction, 
when  I  came  fully  to  consider  the  subject,  I  was  convinced,  that  a  So- 
ciety hke  this  might  be  highly  advantageous,  and  could  never  be  hurt- 
ful to  the  county  ;  and  became  much  more  decided  in  supporting,  than 
I  had  ever  been  in  opposing  it." 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOClETy.  523 

Encouraged  by  this  success,  and  by  increasing  assurances  of  sup- 
port, the  Provisional  Committee,  of  which  Mr.  Stratton  was  Chair- 
man, resolved  to  convene  a  Public  Meeting.  Notice  was  accordingly 
given ;  and,  on  the  25th  of  June,  amidst  a  numerous  concourse  of 
different  ranks,  and  both  sexes,  in  the  Town-Hall  of  Oxford,  (W.  Wil- 
son, Esq.  High  Sheriff,  presiding  in  the  Chair,)  an  Auxiliary  Bible  So- 
ciety was  formed,  with  the  designation  of  "  the  Oxfordshire"  (altered 
on  the  ensuing  28th,  to  "  the  Oxford  and  Oxfordshire)  Auxihary  Bi- 
ble Society:"  and  with  the  united  patronage  of  the  Lord  Lieutenant 
of  the  County,  and  the  Chancellor  of  the  University  ;  the  latter  of 
whom,  in  his  letter;  declared  himself  to  be  (and  his  Lordship's  con- 
duct has  been  uniformly  consistent  with  that  declaration)  "  a  decided 
friend  to  the  establishment  of  such  Societies."  To  these  distinguished 
Patrons  was  added,  a  splendid  list  of  Vice  Patrons,  President,  and 
V^ice  Presidents,  &c.  comprehending  several  Noblemen,  Gentlemen, 
Heads  of  Houses,  and  Professors.  The  venerable  Bishop  of  Dur- 
ham, in  accepting  the  situation  of  President,  (so  justly  assigned  to  a 
Prelate,  who,  with  superior  learning,  piety,  and  philanthropy,  united 
the  claim  of  residence,  during  a  portion  of  the  year,  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Oxford,)  took  occasion  to  state,  that  "  a  persuasion  of  the 
important  benefits  which  were  likely  to  result  from  such  an  Institu- 
tion as  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  had  induced  him  to  be- 
come one  of  its  earliest  members  ;"  and  that  "  the  experience  of  nine 
years  had  not  altered  the  opinion  which  he  then  formed." 

In  pleading  his  apology  for  unavoidable  absence  from  the  Meeting, 
the  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  expressed  his  approbation  of  the 
measure,  in  terms  characteristic  of  that  warm  and  persevering  attach- 
ment which  he  had  ever  manifested  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society.  He  thought  he  saw,  "  in  the  establishment  of  that  Institution, 
the  bountiful  designs  of  Divine  Providence,  for  the  temporal  and  eter- 
nal happiness  of  mankind,  displaying  themselves  through  means  the 
most  simple,  yet  the  most  efficacious,  the  least  liable  to  be  alloyed 
with  evil,  or  impeded  by  error."  Alluding  to  the  Meeting,  and  its  ob- 
ject, the  Right  Hon.  Gentleman  observed  : 

"  I  have  attended  several  Meetings  of  a  similar  kind,  with  that  satis- 
faction which  must  arise  from  contemplating  the  progress  of  the 
grandest  and  most  beneficent  undertaking,  with  that  reverence  which 
the  sacred  nature  of  our  object  must  inspire,  and,  I  hope,  with  some 
portion  of  that  improvement  which  an  occupation  wholly  abstracted 
from  any  earthly  view,  is  calculated  to  produce  ;  and  1  feel  an  earn- 
est wish  that  the  University  to  which  1  am  so  much  indebted,  and  so 


524  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  111. 

sincerely  attachecJ,  should  take  that  leading  part  which  becomes  her 
in  this  great  and  beneficial  work." 

As  the  largest  share  in  the  public  addresses  was  assigned  to  the 
Secretaries  of  the  Parent  Institution,  wl»o  attended  by  official  invita- 
tion, the  author  will  conclude  his  account  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
day,  with  a  brief  extract  from  the  excellent  speech  of  the  Rev.  Hugh 
Pearson,  the  Senior  Proctor,  to  whom,  in  the  next  degree  to  Mr. 
Stratton,  the  Oxford  Society  is  indebted  for  its  existence.* 

"  I  cannot  conclude,  without  congratulating  this  County,  this  City, 
and  this  University,  upon  the  establishment  of  such  a  Society  as  we 
are  met  this  day  to  form.  It  was  in  Oxford  that  the  morning-star  of 
the  Reformation,  the  immortal  Wickliff,  first  arose  upon  the  world, 
and  opened  to  the  people  of  this  country  the  treasures  of  the  New 
Testament.  It  was  in  Oxford  that  three  of  our  venerable  Reformers 
laid  down  their  lives  in  support  of  the  principles  of  our  Church ;  and, 
I  will  add,  in  support  of  the  principles  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bi- 
ble Society.  It  was  in  Oxford  that  one  of  those  Reformers,  the  ve- 
nerable Latimer,  uttered  that  memorable  addressj  to  his  fellow-mar- 
tyrs, which  has  been  already  alluded  to,  and  which  is  forcibly  recalled 
to  our  minds  by  the  events  which  have  since  taken  place.  The  light 
which  was  then  kindled  by  the  dying  Reformer,  is  so  far  from  being 
extinguished,  that  it  burns  at  this  moment  with  far  brighter  lustre  than 
at  any  former  period  of  our  history  ;  and  I  trust,  that  the  proceed- 
ings of  this  day  will  tend  eminently  to  prove,  that  it  is  as  '  the  shining 
light,  which  shineth  more  and  more  unto  the  perfect  day." 

From  these  specimens,  some  judgment  may  be  formed  of  the  spirit 
in  wliich  the  new  Auxiliaries  v/ere  instituted,  and  of  the  advantage 
which  was  derived  to  the  common  cause  from  the  rank,  and  talent, 
and  property,  which  they  imported  into  the  general  confederacy. 

It  is  due  to  the  several  constituent  parts  of  the  British  Empire  to 
observe,  that  they  severally  contributed  their  just  proportion  to  this 
increase  in  the  number  of  Auxiliary  Societies. 

Wales  added  seven ;  of  which  four  were  County  Societies,  viz.  those 
of  Brecon,  Cardigan,  Denbigh,  and  Flint.  The  Earl  of  Grosvenor 
has  been  mentioned  in  connexion  with  Flintshire  :  an  equal  tribute  of 

*  The  Undrrgraduates  of  the  University,  aud  among  these,  C.  E.  Lefroy,  Esq. 
(Author  of  the  Letters  signed  Peter  the  Hermit,)  deserve  to  share  in  the  honour 
of  having  contributed  to  the  event,  not  more  by  their  ingenuous  zeal,  than  by  their 
very  decorous  forboarancc. 

t  "  Be  of  good  cheer,  brothers,  we  shall  this  day  light  such  a  caudle  in  England, 
a*;,  I  trust  in  God,  shall  never  be  put  out." 


CHAP.  i;.j  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 

respect  is  due  to  Sir  Watkin  Williams  Wynn,*  Bart,  and  his  brother 
Charles  WilUams  Wynn,  Esq.  M.  P.  for  services  of  a  similar  descrip- 
tion in  the  county  of  Denbigh.  The  eHiciency  of  the  exertions  made 
by  these  distinguished  personages,  was  satisfactorily  attested    at  the 

f'Zf  f'VT^y  !-'''"'"  ^™  '^'  ^^^^  ^°^^^t'«^'  <^^  ^^'^  than 
~,424/.  of  which  Fhntshire  contributed  653^  and  Denbighshire  1,361/ 

It  was  in  the  summer  of  this  year,  also,  that  a  new  impulse  was 
given  to  a  large  proportion  of  South  Wales,  by  a  warm  recommenda- 
tion and  an  argumentative  defence  of  the  British  and  Foreio-n  Bible 
Society,  in  a  Charge  from  the  Bishop  of  St.  David's  to  the  Clergy  of 
his  diocese.  From  this  Charge  a  passage  has  already  been  extracted 
which  bore  particularly  on  the  anti-Protestant  tendency  of  the  prin- 
cipal objections  urged  against  the  Institution.  The  followioo-  passa- 
ges are  of  a  more  general  nature  :  * 

"The  unexampled  success  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety IS  very  interesting  to  us  as  Christians  and  Protestants  Aux- 
ihary  Societies  continue  to  multiply  throughout'the  United  Kingdom 

r'^'^'f '''"  ^''  ^''"  ^''^  ^'''^y  "^^^^  to  it,  both  of  numbers' 
and  credi  ,  by  the  estabhshment  of  an  Auxiliary  Society  at  Oxford 
Its  only  object,  the  promotion  of  Christian  Knowledge,  it  has  in  com- 
mon w,h  the  old  National  Society.     The  old  Socfety  pursues    hi 

TniiLrTcrr  - "" ""  '°"^*^  '^  ^^^  ^^^^  >  ^"'  ^^^^  -  o- 

in  which  all  Christians  can  concur. 

•.  "J!'lu'^ll^'''''^^^  undertakes  to  distribute  the  Bible  :  it  confines 
Itself  to  the  Bible  ;  but  it  neither  obstructs  nor  discourages  the  circu 
ation  0  the  Prayer  Book  ;  (for  every  member  of  the  Society  is  at 
liberty  to  give  the  Prayer  Book  with  the  Bible  ;)  but  if  the  Society 
had  refused  to  sell  the  Bible  without  the  Prayer  Book,  it  would  cei-- 
tainiy  have  obstructed  the  circulation  of  the  Bible." 

"By  leaving  the  distribution  of  the  Prayer  Book  to  the  Society  for 
Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  and  to  other  Societies,  it  has  been 
enabled  to  associate  with  members  of  the  Church  of  England  in  the 
service  of  the  Bible,  a  large  number  of  persons,  who,  from  ed'ucat!on 
and  principle,  could  not  be  expected  to  concur  in  the  circulation  of 
the  Prayer  Book ;  and  therefore,  to  print,  for  the  use  of  foreign  na- 
tions as  well  as  our  own,  a  much  greater  number  of  Bibles''  than 
would  otherwise  have  been  practicable. 

Te  bcr  whh^  b  Th    \"  London,  contributed  munificeuUy  to  its  funds,  and,  to- 
and  vir      \  '  ^""^  '•■"'^''y  contributed  to  it.  prosperity,  bv  attendance 

and  .  cry  zealous  exertions  at  it^  Anniversaries. 


526  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  IfL 

"  The  Society  is  constituted  on  this  simple  and  comprehensive 
principle,  that  it  may  not  exclude  the  aid  of  any  persons  professing 
to  be  Christians.  Indeed,  no  contribution  for  the  distribution  of  the 
Bible  can  be  unacceptable,  whether  it  come  from  a  Churchman  or 
Dissenter,  from  a  Christian,  Jew,  Mahommedan,  or  Heathen." 

The  whole  disquisition,  which  occupies  twelve  pages  of  the  learn- 
ed Prelate's  Charge,  merits  an  attentive  perusal.  The  circulation  of 
it  in  print  made  a  strong  impression  ;  and  it  may  be  doubted,  whether 
any  one  could  read  it,  in  a  spirit  of  candid  inquiry,  with  any  other 
result  than  that  of  conviction. 

Scotland  exhibited  a  list  of  thirteen  new  Auxiliaries  ;  among  whos^e 
Patrons  were  to  be  found  the  Marquis  of  Douglas  and  Clydesdale, 
and  the  Earls  of  Glasgow,  Dunmore,  and  Caithness.  The  conse- 
quence of  the  formation  of  the  Stirlingshire  Society,  was,  the  publi- 
cation of  an  "  Address,"  on  the  part  of  that  body,  "  explanatory  of 
the  principles,  views,  and  exertions  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society."  From  no  quarter,  the  Parent  Society  itself  not  excepted, 
has  there  issued  a  composition,  containing  a  more  lucid,  temperate, 
and  masterly  exposition  of  the  subject.  It  has  been  widely  distri- 
buted, and  with  the  happiest  effect ;  and  it  will  remain  (for  its  con- 
struction is  not  temporary)  a  lasting  monument  of  the  wisdom,  the 
candour,  and  the  philanthropy  of  the  Society  by  which  it  was  pro- 
duced. 

In  Ireland,  the  Auxiharies  added  to  the  Hibernian  Bible  Society, 
and  through  that  to  the  common  Association,  amounted  to  sixteen : 
while  50,000  copies  of  the  Scriptures  were  delivered  to  the  public, 
and  depositories  for  the  sale  of  them  were  opened  in  more  than  one 
hundred  towns.  The  cause  had  been  taken  up  with  considerable 
spirit,  by  several  of  the  Irish  Prelates  ;  and,  as  well  in  their  Char- 
ges to  their  Clergy,  as  in  Addresses  at  public  Meetings,  they  urged 
upon  the  inhabitants  of  Ireland  the  importance  of  co-operating  with 
an  Institution  whose  success  they  considered  as  involving  the  moral 
welfare  of  the  human  race.  The  Bishop  of  Leighlin  and  Ferns,  in 
drawing  the  notice  of  his  Clergy  to  this  subject,  at  his  visitation  in 
1812,  used  the  following  language  : 

"  It  is  stated  that  no  less  ihdinjifty -three  Auxiliary  Bible  Societies 
have  been  formed  in  Great  Britain  within  the  last  year ;  and  it  may 
not  be  presuming  to  hope  also  that  the  friends  of  Christianity  in  our 
quarter  will  not  be  backward  in  following  the  example  that  has  been 
thus  given  them,  and  adding  their  efforts  to  co-operate  in  so  good  a 
cause  ;  and  that,  at  no  distant  period,  we  may  expect  to  witness  dif- 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  527 

ferent  Auxiliary  Bible  Societies  established  throughout  these  two  dio- 
ceses :  in  aid  and  assistance  of  which,  I  trust,  I  shall  ever  be  found 
a-s  forward  as  any  of  the  Clergy  can  wish  or  expect ;  convinced,  as  I 
must  be,  (to  use  the  emphatic  words  of  some  of  their  best  support- 
ers,) that  the  object  and  views  of  these  Societies  are  of  the  highest 
import  and  concernment ;  that  they  tend  to  the  welfare  of  every 
individual,  as  well  as  of  the  community  in  general,  operating  on  the 
morals  and  well-being  of  the  rising  generation,  and  extending  to  effect 
the  eternal  interests  of  all  who  participate  in  the  benefit  of  them." 

This  may  serve  as  a  specimen  of  the  exertions  made  by  the  Irish 
Bishops,  in  their  Episcopal  capacity.  The  following  extract  from  an 
eloquent  speech  dehvered  at  a  public  Meeting  in  Kells,  by  the  Bishop 
of  Meath,  will  illustrate  what  has  been  said  of  the  interest  taken  by 
the  Irish  Prelates  in  the  formation  of  Auxiliary  Societies  ;  and  it  will 
show^,  at  the  same  time,  with  what  zeal  and  fidelity  the  Bishop  of 
Meath  redeemed  the  pledge  which  he  had  given  in  his  Address  at 
the  Eighth  Anniversary  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 

"  When,  on  looking  forward  to  the  business  of  this  day,  I  called  to 
mind  the  Meeting  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  at  which 
I  attended,  to  gain  a  more  accurate  knowledge  of  its  objects,  and  its 
management,  and  the  spirit  in  which  it  was  conducted ;  when  I  brought 
back  to  my  view  the  thousands  of  every  rank,  and  every  station,  and 
every  Christian  denomination,  which  the  occasion  had  drawn  together 
— Nobles,  and  wealthy  Commoners  ;  Ministers  of  State,  and  Members 
of  both  Houses  of  Parliament,  distinguished  alike  for  their  weight 
and  their  talents  ;  Bishops,  and  Clergy  of  every  degree,  and  Minis- 
ters of  the  Gospel  from  every  Congregation  ;  Merchants,  and  Manu- 
facturers ;  Tradesmen,  and  Artificers ;  all  breathing  one  spirit ;  all 
animated  with  the  same  ardour  and  zeal ;  all  joining  in  the  most 
heartfelt  bursts  of  applause,  on  receiving  the  Report  of  the  successes 
with  which  the  labours  of  the  Society  had  been  crowned,  and  listen- 
ing to  the  grateful  acknowledgments  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  various 
countries,  from  the  most  distant  boundaries  of  the  north  and  south  to 
the  rising  of  the  sun,  among  whom  the  Sacred  Scriptures  had,  through 
its  exertions,  been  disseminated,  and  rendered  familiar  and  intelligi- 
ble in  their  respective  languages — when  I  called  this  whole  scene  to 
my  recollection,  and  contrasted  what,  as  a  Christian,  I  may  well  call 
its  glories,  not  only  with  all  that  I  could  anticipate  of  this  day's  ap- 
pearance, (however  respectable  I  knew  it  would  prove,)  but  even 
with  all  that  I  could  suffer  myself  to  conceive  of  the  utmost  exertions 
of  the  promoters  and  supporters  of  the  Institution  in  this  part  of  the 
United  Kingdom,  I  can  scarcely  describe  the  sensations  with  which  I 


528  IIlfeTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  L^ART  lU. 

was  afiected.  I  felt  humbled  for  my  native  country,  mortified,  dis- 
pirited, despairing  of  any,  even  the  least  proportionate  success  from 
any  thing  we  could  devise  or  attempt,  in  promoting  the  momentous 
undertaking. 

"  But,  although  these  thoughts  forced  themselves  upon  me,  the 
impressions  they  made  were  but  the  impressions  of  the  moment ; — 
the  natural  suggestions  of  the  mind,  taking  its  estimate  from  human 
appearances,  and  calculating  on  the  effects  of  human  means.  The 
work  in  which  we  are  engaged  is  of  a  higher  nature.  He  in  whose 
service  it  is  undertaken,  is  7nore  mighty  in  his  strength,  a  more  present 
help  to  all  n-ho  put  their  trust  in  him,  than  that  we  should  despond,  or 
relinquish  our  object,  however  unpromising  the  means  with  which 
we  are  provided  ;  whatever  difficulties  or  impediments  we  may  have 
to  contend  with,  in  our  efforts  to  promote  it. 

"  We  all  know  the  time  when  the  Gospel  which  we  are  anxious  to 
disseminate,  lay  in  the  hands  of  twelve  ilhterate  men.  We  know  the 
combinations  that  were  formed  against  it,  and  the  power  that  was 
secretly,  but  effectually  at  work  to  counteract  them.  We  know  how 
gloriously  it  has  triumphed  over  all  that  opposed  it  in  its  steady  pro- 
gress to  that  universal  conquest  and  dominion,  by  the  promise  of 
which  their  Divine  Master  animated  its  first  propagators :  and  it  is 
the  peculiar  happiness  of  our  day,  that,  through  the  labours  of  the 
Society  with  which  the  National  Institution  whereof  we  propose  to 
form  a  Branch,  is  so  happily  connected,  and  from  other  favourable 
circumstances,  supported  by  the  divine  blessing,  we  are  encouraged 
to  hope  for  a  more  rapid  advance  to  the  full  completion  of  that 
promise,  than  has  been  made  in  any  of  the  later  ages  of  the  Church 
of  Christ." 

"  Thus,  trusting  in  our  cause,  we  will  proceed  cheerfully  to  work 
within  our  own  circle,  narrow  though  it  be,  at  present,  and  contract- 
ed ;  without  excluding  the  hope,  that,  when  we  shall  have  supplied 
our  domestic  wants,  and  placed  the  sacred  volume  that  contains  the 
unadulterated  word  of  God,  in  the  hands  of  every  individual,  who, 
with  ourselves,  looks  to  that  word  as  the  only  standard  of  the  truth  as 
it  is  in  Christ  .lesus,  the  school  of  the  purest  morals,  and  of  all  that 
can  best  form  a  people  to  virtue,  and,  in  forming  them  to  virtue, 
form  them  to  happiness,  we  shall  be  enabled  to  extend  our  bounds, 
or,  in  the  language  of  the  Bible,  to  lengthen  the  cords  and  strengthen 
the  stakes  of  our  tent.  We  shall  in  this,  as  in  every  thing  that  can 
promote  the  general  interests  and  welfare  of  the  Empire,  become 
joint  labourers  with  that  great  people,  who,  in  these  days  of  their 
glory,  evince  such  anxiety  to  make  the  conquests  of  the  Gospel  keep 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  529 

pace  with  the  conquests  of  their  arras,  and  its  progress  with  the 
progress  of  their  commerce :  who  receive  a  nobler  testimony  of  the 
space  they  fill  in  the  eye  of  the  world,  in  the  gratitude  expressed  by 
the  nations  with  which  they  come  so  unboundedly  in  contact,  for  so 
liberally  communicating  to  them  the  treasures  of  the  Gospel,  than  in 
the  justice  that  is  done  them  by  the  acknowledgment  that  to  them  the 
civilized  world  is  indebted  for  its  approaching  deliverance.  And  we 
shall  humbly  hope,  that,  composing,  as  we  do,  an  integral  part  in  the 
same  Empire,  and  partaking,  also,  in  this  their  zeal  for  propagating 
the  Gospel  of  his  beloved  Son,  the  Sovereign  Ruler  of  the  world  will 
confirm  to  us  our  share  in  this  distinction  ;  that  he  will  bless  us  also. 
and  extend  his  favour  and  protection  to  us  individually,  and  as  a 
people." 

To  these  particulars,  which  regard  principall}^,  if  not  exclusively, 
the  increase  of  the  Society,  by  the  accession  of  newly  formed  Auxili- 
aries, something  must  be  added  on  the  subject  of  those  which  were 
previously  in  existence  and  operation.  To  estimate  correctly  the 
spirit  and  success  with  which  these  exertions  were  continued,  it 
would  be  necessary  to  consult  their  Annual  Reports.  From  these  ir. 
would  appear,  as  it  does  in  fact  from  the  returns  which  they  made  to 
the  Parent  Institution,  that  nothing  like  inertion  or  somnolency  had 
overtaken  them.  They  had,  for  the  most  part,  to  exhibit,  as  the 
result  of  judicious  and  stimulated  efforts,  a  considerable  improvement 
both  in  their  pecuniary  resources  and  their  local  efficiency,*  by  the 
multiplication  of  Branch  Societies,  Bible  Associations,  and  minor  So 
cieties,  distinct  from  both,  by  which  contributions  were  brought  tc 
the  general  auxiliary  fund. 

Of  the  Branch  Societies,  those  at  Tiverton,  Halstead,t  and  Egham 
deserve  to  be  particularized,  as  having  been  formed,  respectively. 

*  For  some  very  useful  remarks  on  this  part  of  their  object,  see  an  excellent 
speech  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Booker  at  the  first  anniversary  of  the  Dudley  Auxiliary 
.Society. 

t  The  Branch  Society  formed  at  Halstead,  included  the  Hundred  of  Ilinckford 
The  scene  exhibited  at  its  formation,  was  that  of  the  purest  harmony  ;  the  amiable 
Vicar,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Adams,  presiding,  and  the  Dissenting  Ministers  of  the  District, 
uniting  with  the  Clergy,  in  the  kindest  and  most  gratifying  co-operation.  The 
following  extract  from  the  Second  Report  of  the  Colchester  and  East  Essex  Aux  ■ 
iliary  Bible  Society,  will  show  how  greatly  such  an  Institution  was  needed  in  thac 
quarter: 

"  This  Branch  Society  embraces  a  union  of  upwards  of  fifty  parishes;  and  its 
necessity  was  sufficiently  demonstrated,  on  the  day  of  meeting,  in  an  account  then 
exhibited,  of  the  state  of  the  poor,  with  regard  to  the  possession  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 


530  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III. 

under  the  patronage  of  the  Earl  of  Harrowby,  the  Marquis  of  Buck- 
ingham, and  the  Duchess  of  York :  and  of  the  Bible  Associations, 
those  connected  with  the  London  Auxiliaries  ;  among  whose  Patrons 
and  Presidents  are  to  be  found  several  Aldermen  and  Members  of 
Parliament,  the  Chamberlain,  and  tbo  Lord  Mayor  of  London,  the 
Archdeacon  of  Bucks,  the  late  Dean  of  Westminster,  and  the  Bishop 
of  Durham. 

It  has  been  intimated,  that  there  was  another  class  of  associated 
contributors,  distinct  from  the  Branch  Societies  and  Bible  Associa- 
tions. On  these,  as  now  for  the  first  time  distinctly  mentioned, 
something  more  explicit  must  be  stated.  This  class  consisted  of 
.Juvenile,  and  Female  Bible* Societies. 

It  is  to  be  observed,  that  the  Branch,  as  well  as  the  Auxiliary, 
Societies,  comprehended  persons  of  each  sex,  and  of  every  condition, 
while  the  Bible  Associations  were  particularly  adapted  to  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  poor.  It  occurred,  therefore,  to  thv^  young,  and  to 
females,  that  much  might  be  done,  in  aid  of  the  common  undertaking, 
by  Associations  constituted  from  among  themselves,  and  co-operatmg 
in  their  separate  departments  with  the  local  body,  whether  a  Branch, 
or  an  Auxiliary,  Society. 

The  first  example  on  record,  of  the  young  appearing  as  contribu- 
tors to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  is,  that  of  the  sch^^lars 
of  the  Holborn  Sunday  School,  whose  humble  ofiering  of  J.-  lis. 
presented  at  the  Anniversary,  has  since  been  annually  renewed  with 
such  increase,  both  on  their  own  part,  and  that  of  their  grr.i'iitous 
teachers,  as  to  have  amounted,  at  the  close  of  the  tenth  yo-'.r,  to 
134L  2s.  In  the  year  1809,  the  young  ladies  of  Miss  Teulon's 
school,  at  Hackney,  made  their  first  remittance  of  12Z.  In  1810,  the 
number  of  school  contributions  had  increased  to  eleven.  Scotland 
and  Wales,  but  particularly  the  latter,  added  to  the  number  in  1811  ; 
and,  although,  subsequently  to  that  period,  the  streams  of  juvenile 
liberality  were  chiefly  diverted  into  the  channels  provided  for  their 

tures,  in  fifteen  of  those  parishes,  indudiagp  Braintree,  and  its  vicinity;  from 
which  it  appeared,  that,  of  1059  families,  consisting  of  4505  persons,  of  which 
2148  could  read,  there  were  found  b'Zl  families  totally  destitute  of  the  Bible,  and 
a  very  considerable  number  of  the  remainder  were  found  to  possess  only  muti- 
lated, and  nearly  useless,  parts." 

To  this  it  may  be  added,  that  400/.  were  contributed  by  this  Branch  Society  in 
the  first  year  ;  and  "  such  judicious  arrangements"  were  adopted  by  it,  as  ttndcd 
"  to  exemplify  its  earnest  zeal  in  the  cause,"  and  promised  to  be  "  productive  o' 
considerable  usefulness." 


CHAP.  U.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  53^ 

reception*  by  the  respective  Auxiliary  Societies,  yet  nearly  500/. 
will  be  found,  by  the  Tenth  Anniversary,  to  have  flowed  directly  into 
the  treasury  of  the  Parent  Institution. 

The  first  regular  juvenile  estabhshment  is  beheved  to  have  been, 
the  "  York  Juvenile  Society,"  formed  in  1812,  the  first  year  of  the 
York  Auxihary  Society.  The  founders,!  and  leading  supporters  of 
this  modest  Institution,  were  very  young  persons,  chiefly  school-asso- 
ciates, who,  with  an  ardour  truly  laudable,  promoted  small  weekly 
contributions  among  themselves,  and  their  immediate  acquaintance. 
These  produced,  in  the  first  current  juvenile  year,  the  sum  of  33/. 
In  the  year  1813,  another  Society  of  young  persons  was  formed,  in 
connexion  with  the  same  Auxiliary,  under  the  designation  of  "  the 
York  Subsidiary  Society."  This  was  constituted  on  principles  nearly 
similar  to  the  Juvenile  Society,  bat  on  an  extended  plan ;  the  mem- 
bers availing  themselves  of  their  more  general  intercourse,  by  ac- 
tively soliciting  subscriptions.  This  Society  was  enabled  to  contri- 
bute, as  the  produce  of  its  first  year,  one  hundred  guineas  to  the 
common  fund.  The  language  used  by  the  Committee  of  the  York 
Auxiliary  Society,  in  its  first  Report,  when  speaking  of  the  donation 
presented  by  the  "  Juvenile  Society,"  may  be  applied  with  equal 
propriety  to  the  annual  tribute  of  both,  and  extended  generally  to  all 
similar  Institutions  :  "  Such  a  free-will  offering  must  be  accepted  by 
the  Society  with  peculiar  delight.  It  will  not  be  appreciated  exactly 
by  the  pounds  and  shilhngs  which  it  brings.  It  is  a  test  of  the  value 
which  these  ingenuous  youths  attach  to  the  Scriptures  of  truth.  U 
is  a  pledge  to  the  friends  of  this  noble  cause,  that  the  next  generation 
will  perpetuate  the  mighty  plan  which  the  present  has  begun." 

•  It  deserves  to  be  recorded,  to  the  honour  of  that  illustrious  seminary,  that  20/, 
designed,  by  "  several  Etonians,"  as  a  contribution  to  a  projected  Auxiliary  Bible 
Society  at  Windsor,  were,  in  consequence  of  the  failure  of  that  measure,  trans- 
mitted, through  Charles  Baring  VV'^all,  Esq.  by  whom  the  sum  had  been  collected, 
to  the  funds  of  the  Parent  Society. 

f  One  of  the  most  active  and  prosperous  of  these  Societies,  is,  the  "  Minor  De- 
von and  Exeter  Bible  Society,"  an  Institution  formed  and  conducted  by  youn"- 
men,  though  collecting  from  persons  of  any  age  indifferently.  The  vigour  and 
good  management  of  the  Juvenile  Committee  may  be  inferred  from  their  having 
been  able  to  present  to  the  County  Auxiliary,  within  a  few  months  after  the  com- 
mencement  of  their  plan,  114^  9*.  lOrf.  This  sum,  in  the  ensuing  year,  (in  conse- 
quence of  their  having  "  divided  the  city  of  Exeter  and  its  dependencies  iiiio  dis- 
tricts, with  distinct  Committees,  who  report  their  proceedings  quarterly  to  the 
general  Committee,")  was  nearly  doubled  ;  the  amount  of  contributions  being  2041, 
3*.  6d.  and  the  number  of  subscribers  643. 


IS2 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH 


[PART  111. 


At  what  period  the  first  Association  of  adult  females*  was  formed, 
the  author  cannot  take  upon  himself  exactly  to  determine.  Some- 
thing had  perhaps  been  done  in  obscurity,  before  the  estabhshment 
of  Auxihary  Societies  :  but  it  was  not  till  after  that  era,  that  any  thing 
appeared  before  the  pubhc,  assuming  the  regular  form  of  a  Female 
Association.  In  the  year  1812,  two  were  announced,  the  one 
at  Westminster,  entitled  the  "  Westminster  Ladies  Bible  Society  ;" 
and  the  other  at  Dubhn,  under  the  designation  of  "  The  Ladies  Aux- 
iliary Bible  Society,  for  the  purpose  of  contributing  to  the  Hibernian 
Bible  Society."  The  latter  was  countenanced  by  personages  of 
great  distinction :  its  Patroness  was  Viscountess  Lorton,  and  its  Vice 
Patronesses  were  as  follows  : 


Lady  Elizabeth  Littlehales, 
Countess  of  Westmeath, 
Countess  of  Meath, 
Countess  of  Leitrim, 
Viscountess  Lifford, 
Lady  Charlotte  Crofton, 
Lady  Mary  Knox, 
Mrs.  Shaw, 


Ladv  Lucy  Barry, 
Lady  H.  Bernard, 
Lady  A.  Bernard, 
Lady  C.  Bernard, 
Lady  Castlecoote, 
Lady  Molineux, 
Honourable  Mrs.  Hewitt, 
Mrs.  Brownlow. 


The  examples  of  Juvenile,  and  Female  Bible  Societies,  soon  found 
numerous  imitators ;  and  in  the  year  now  under  consideration,  their 
number  and  their  produce  contributed  largely!  towards  the  aggre- 

*  It  would  be  unjust  to  refuse  its  due  tribute  of  commendation  to  a  Bible  Society 
tormedat  Sheffield  in  1805,  without  any  knowledge  of  the  existence  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  conducted  by  young  persons  of  the  female  sex.  A 
pleasing  account  of  this  Institution  is  to  be  found  in  the  Appendix  to  the  Third  Re- 
port of  the  Sheffield  Auxiliary  Bible  Society. 

t  The  Colchester  "  Ladies  Bible  Association,"  formed  on  the  first  of  March,  1813, 
onder  the  patronage  of  the  Countess  of  Chatham,  produced,  in  little  more  than  nine 
months,  1061.  12*.  8d.  that  at  Coggeshall,  formed  on  the  '29th  of  the  ensuing  No- 
vember, raised  1031.  2s.  within  the  year.  Some  judgment  may  be  formed  of  the 
activity  and  usefulness  of  these  Female  Auxiliaries,  when  it  is  known,  that  the 
Committee  of  the  former,  consisting  "  of  nearly  forty  ladies,  collected  from  above 
600  members  their  subscriptions  of  one  penny  and  upwards ;  and  that,  under  the 
direction  of  a  Committee  in  the  latter,  consisting  also  of  females,  "  besides  the 
office  of  procuring  and  collecting  subscriptions,  every  cottage  within  their  district 
was  explored  by  the  poung  ladies,  twenty-two  iu  number,  who  compose  their  Sub- 
committee, aud  the  dispositions  and  wants  of  every  poor  inhabitant  ascertained,  in 
relation  to  the  object  of  their  Institution, — tlie  diffusion  of  (he  tcord  of  God." 

CoggeskaU  Third  Report,  Appendix- 


CHAP.  II.J  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  533 

gate  of  income  as  reported  by  the  Parent  Institution  at  its  Tenth  An- 
niversary. 

Nor  was  this  laudable  zeal  for  the  dissemination  of  the  Scriptures 
confined  to  the  young,  and  the  female  inhabitants  of  Great  Britain  :  it 
extended  beyond  the  Atlantic,  and  manifested  its  influence  in  the  pro- 
duction of  Juvenile  and  Female  Bible  Societies.  Of  the  former,  the 
earliest  instance  on  record  is,  "  The  Young  Men's  Bible  Society, 
formed  at  Nen^-York,  in  1809  :  the  second  of  that  class,  "  The  Nassau- 
Hall  Bible  Society,"  has  already  been  particularly  described.  Of 
the  latter,  the  first,  in  point  of  rank,  and,  it  is  believed,  also,  of  time, 
is,  "  The  Female  Bible  Society  of  Philadelphia."  To  these  have 
been  added  numerous  similar  Establishments  ;  and  they  appear  to  be 
rapidly  multiplying  throughout  the  American  Union. 

If  a  justification  were  required  of  this  mode  of  employing  the  ener- 
gies of  the  young,  (though  the  author  is  not  aware  that  the  practice 
has  been  objected*  to  by  any  but  those  whom  nothing  which  emanates 
from  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  can  please,)  no  other 
need  be  given  than  what  is  furnished  by  the  following  Scripture  au- 
thority. 

"  And  when  the  chief  priests  and  scribes  saw  the  wonderful  things 
that  he  did,  and  the  children  crying  in  ihe  temple,  and  saj^ing,  '  Hosdnna 
to  the  Son  of  David,'  they  mere  sore  displeased;  and  said  unto  them, 
'  Hearest  thou  what  these  say  ?^  And  Jesus  saith  unto  them,  'Yea, 
have  ye  never  read,  '  Out  of  the  mouth  of  babes  and  sucklings  thou 
hast  perfected  praise  I'' " 

Of  the  part  which  females  are  taking!  in  this  work  of  public  use- 
fulness, the  following  extract  from  Bishop  White's  Address  to  the 
Female  Bible  Society  of  Philadelphia,  presents  a  very  judicious  and 
unanswerable  vindication  : 

"  It  is  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  of  the  many  beneficent  proper- 
ties of  the  Scriptures,  that  they  are  the  charter  of  the  female  sex 
against  degi^adation  and  oppression.  Look  at  the  condition  of  women, 
in  the  countries  where  the  religion  of  the  Gospel  is  unknown  ;  and  all 
the  arrangements  of  domestic  life  will  be  found  a  comment  on  the  po- 
sition.    Can  it  then  be  out  of  the  sphere  of  your  sex,  to  be  actively 


*  This  has  been  done  with  more  wit  than  decency  by  the  author  of  the  "  Prac- 
tical Exposition." 

t  As  this  is  by  far  the  most  delicate  branch  of  the  Bible  Society  system,  it 
scarcely  needs  be  intimated,  of  how  great  importance  it  is,  that  all  the  duties  at- 
tached to  it  should  br-  regulated  with  a  more  than  ordinary  rreard  to  propriety  and 
decorum 


534  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  iFART  W. 

engaged  in  disseminating  a  system  of  truth  and  morals,  which  has  so 
excellent  a  bearing  immediately  on  your  mterests;  and,  through  you, 
on  whatever  contributes  to  the  rectitude,  to  the  decorum,  and  to  all 
the  rational  enjoyments  of  social  life  ? 

"  You  have  also  this  especial  interest  in  the  same  sacred  treasure, 
that,  of  our  sex  as  well  as  of  your  own,  you  are  the  earhest  instruct- 
ers  in  morahty  and  in  religion  :  and  what  is  there  deserving  the  com- 
mendation of  moral  or  religious,  if  detached  from  the  lessons  which 
speak  so  immediately  from  the  oracles  of  God,  to  the  best  sensibili- 
ties of  the  human  heart  ?  Under  so  loud  a  call  as  this  to  the  estima- 
tion of  the  Bible,  surely  you  cannot  be  stepping  out  of  your  proper 
sphere,  by  being  prominent  in  measures  for  the  depositing  of  it  in 
such  needy  families  as  would  otherwise  be  without  the  means  which 
you  enjoy,  of  rendering  it  salutary  to  their  rising  hopes. 

"  If  there  were  nothing  more  than  the  undeniable  property  of  the 
human  condition,  that,  under  all  states  of  society,  women  sustain  the 
greatest  share  of  its  sorrows,  it  must  give  them  an  essential  interest 
in  the  best  source  of  countervailing  consolation.  That  source  is  the 
word  of  truth:  and  this  being  the  case,  can  it  be  out  of  character, 
where  pecuniary  means  are  within  their  power,  to  add  their  personal 
attention  and  exertion  for  the  extending  of  so  inestimable  a  benefit  ? 

"  It  has  been  thought  an  incidental  advantage  arising  from  Bible 
Societies,  that,  by  combining  persons  of  different  religious  denomina- 
tions, they  have  the  effect  of  promoting  unity  of  affection,  under  ir- 
reconcileable  differences  of  opinion.  The  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society  set  off  on  the  fundamental  principle,  of  avoiding  whatever 
could  brmg  such  diversity  into  view.  They  professed  to  deliver  the 
Book  of  God,  without  note  or  comment.  The  Societies  instituted  in 
America,  have  trodden  in  their  steps.  While  this  plan  shall  be  pur- 
sued, there  can  be  no  dissatisfaction  on  account  of  interfering  opinions 
or  modes  of  worship.  Is  it  possible  that  such  a  course  can  be  per- 
severed in,  without  its  contributing  to  all  the  charities  of  life  ?  And 
if  this  is  the  natural  consequence,  can  any  scruple  be  well  founded, 
which  would  restrict  the  benefit  to  men  ? 

"  I  will  only  add,  that,  contemplating  the  recent  institution  of  Bible 
Societies,  begun  in  England,  and  extending  rapidly  throughout  the 
world,  as  a  prodigious  effort  for  the  raising  of  a  mound  against  the 
threatening  inundation  of  infidelity  ;  as  being  also  one  of  the  happiest 
expedients  which  have  been  devised,  for  spreading  the  knowledge  of 
the  Gospel  of  Christ ;  and  as  tending  directly  to  the  accomphshment 
of  the  assurances  given,  that  his  kingdom  will  be  at  last  coextensive 


CHAP.  H.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETV.  535 

with  the  world ;  I  will  not  suffer  myself  to  believe,  that  your  sex,  any 
more  than  ours,  are  debarred  from  promoting  these  blessed  ends,  in 
your  distinctive  character." 

It  now  only  remains  to  give  some  account  of  the  benefit  derived, 
both  locally  and  generally,  from  the  increase  and  improvement  of 
Bible  Associations.  As  that  account  will  involve  a  reference  to 
Richard  Phillips,  Esq.  this  will  be  a  proper  place  to  redeem  our 
pledge  respecting  the  services  of  that  gentleman,  by  explaining  the 
nature  of  the  plans  which  he  introduced,  and  their  useful  effect  on 
every  part  of  the  Auxiliary  system. 

In  the  rules  as  framed  and  adopted  by  the  original  projectors  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Societ}^  no  principles  were  laid  down 
for  attending  specifically  to  the  native  population  of  the  British  em- 
pire. To  accommodate  purchasers  at  reduced  prices  was  every  thing 
for  which  it  was  considered  expedient  to  provide  ;  and  so  little  ap- 
prehension was  entertained  of  the  destitute  state  of  the  country  with 
regard  to  the  Scriptures,  that  in  the  draught  as  proposed  at  the  first 
Meeting  in  March,  1804,  a  clause  was  inserted,  by  which  the  Society 
pledged  itself  not  to  distribute  gratuitously  any  copies  of  the  Scriptures 
at  home.  The  clause  was  expunged  by  unanimous  consent ;  but  the 
insertion  of  it  at  all,  coupled  with  the  neglect  of  a  specific  arrange- 
ment for  a  domestic  distribution,  sufficiently  proves,  that  the  extent 
to  which  copies  would  be  required  for  that  purpose,  was  neither  fore- 
seen, nor  imagined.  In  fact,  although  the  wants  of  the  PrincipaUty 
were  known  to  be  numerous,  those  of  Ireland  believed  to  be  scarcely 
fewer,  and  the  other  parts  of  the  United  Kingdom  considered  as  but 
inadequately  supplied,  yet  so  strongly  were  these  feelings  overba- 
lanced by  a  solicitude  to  benefit  foreign  nations,  among  which  the 
Scriptures  existed,  either  not  at  all,  or  in  a  very  limited  degree,  that, 
for  some  years  after  the  establishment  of  the  Society,  nothing  was 
concerted,  or  even  meditated,  with  a  view  to  the  accomplishment  of 
the  domestic  object,*  beyond  the  accommodation  afforded  through  a 
reduced,  and,  in  some  rare  instances,  a  graduated  and  discretionary 
price. 

The  introduction  of  Auxiliary  Societies  gave  a  new  tone  to  those 
operations  which  regarded  the  provision  for  the  inhabitants  of  the 
British  islands.  It  was  natural  for  these  Societies,  while  uniting  for 
the  general  good,  to  be  more  especially  concerned  for  the  spiritual 
welfare  of  their  own  districts  and  vicinities.     Their  progressive  in- 

*  It  should  J)e  mentioned,  to  the  honour  of  the  late  Wilson  Birkbeck,  Esq.  that 
he  was  one  of  those  individuals  who  kept  the  domestic  object  most  steadily  in  view? 
and  -seized  every  occasion  to  recommend  and  enforce  it. 


536  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III. 

corporation  with  the  Parent  Society  had  a  tendency  to  render  the 
want  of  the  Scriptures  at  home  a  subject  of  more  particular  consider- 
ation. In  proportion  as  these  AuxiHary  Establishments  extended, 
and,  under  their  auspices,  towns  and  villages  became  occupied  by 
Branch  Societies,  or  Bible  Associations,  an  attention  to  the  case  of  the 
domestic  poor  continued  to  increase,  till  it  attained  that  influence 
which  it  now  possesses  in  the  general  system  of  the  Society's  admi- 
nistration. The  correctness  of  this  statement  will  appear  from  a  com- 
parison of  the  number  of  Bibles  and  Testaments  issued  previously  to 
the  commencement  of  Auxihary  Societies,  with  the  annual  issues  sub- 
sequently to  that  era.  The  total  issued  from  the  first  delivery  in  Sep- 
tember, 1805,  to  February,  1810,  (a  period  of  nearly  four  years  and 
a  half,)  was  221,128  ;  that  of  the  four  years  next  ensuing,  (viz.  after 
Auxiliary  Societies  had  begun  to  operate,)  was  712,922:  and  in  the 
tenth  year  only,  the  number  put  in  circulation  amounted  to  352,569. 

But  it  Avould  not  have  been  sufficient  to  produce  this  effect,  and  the 
other  advantages  with  which  it  has  been  accompanied,  that  the  public 
concern  should  have  been  awakened  simply  to  the  wants  of  the  poor, 
and  the  supply  of  those  wants  have  been  left  to  the  unregulated  ope- 
ration of  casual  and  undiscriminating  liberality.  Some  expedient 
was  wanted,  which  might  unite  economy  and  efficiency  ;  some  plan, 
which,  by  a  graduated  and  symmetrical  arrangement,  should  associate 
all  orders  of  the  community,  and  effectuate  the  universal  distribution 
of  the  Scriptures,  with  the  least  burden  to  the  general  fund,  and  the 
greatest  advantage  to  the  individual  receiver.  Such  a  plan  was  that 
digested  by  Mr.  Phillips  ;  the  object  and  application  of  which  shall 
now  be  more  particularly  unfolded. 

The  origin  of  Auxiliary  Societies  having  been  altogether  accidental 
and  unforeseen,  the  regulations  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety contained  no  provision  for  either  modelling  their  constitution, 
or  defining  their  operations.  It  followed  as  a  consequence,  that  there 
was  no  uniformity  in  their  construction,  no  mutual  identity  in  their 
internal  organization;  no  principle,  in  short,  of  agreement  among 
them,  (the  fundamental  principle  of  the  Parent  Institution  excepted,) 
by  which  their  conduct  might  be  governed,  and  their  separate  efforts 
consentaneously  directed  to  the  accomphshment  of  the  general  end. 

Among  the  inconveniencies  arising  from  this  absence  of  system, 
was,  the  irregularity  which  prevailed  in  the  home  distribution  of  the 
Scriptures.  From  March,  1809,  when  the  first  Auxihary  Bible  So- 
ciety was  formed,  to  the  commencement  of  1812,  at  which  time  nearly 
eighty  were  in  existence,  the  proportion  reserved  from  their  annual 
contribution  for  the  use  of  their  domestic  poor,  varied  in  the  different 


CHAP.  II.J  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  537 

Auxiliary  Establishments  ;  being,  in  some,  one-third — in  others,  one- 
half— -and,  in  not  a  few,  wholly  optional  and  undefined.  This  varia- 
tion was,  besides,  adjusted,  not  so  much  to  the  local  wants  of  the  poor, 
(no  correct  estimate  of  those  wants  having  yet  been  obtained,)  as  to 
the  feelings  of  the  contributors  themselves  ;  and  hence  it  would  result, 
that  the  reserve  might,  in  some  cases,  exceed,  and  in  others,  fall  short 
of,  that  proportion  which  the  necessities  of  the  district  required. 

Nor  was  the  manner  of  distribution  less  irregular  and  uncertain  than 
were  the  means.  The  general  practice  of  the  Auxiliary  Societies, 
antecedently  to  1812,  was  to  divide  the  stock  of  Bibles  and  Testa- 
ments obtained  from  the  London  Depository  among  their  subscribers, 
in  the  ratio  of  their  diiferent  subscriptions.  The  effect  of  such  a 
measure  may  be  easily  imagined.  Many  of  the  subscribers  disposed 
of  their  copies  with  too  little  discrimination  ;  while  others  neglected 
the  distribution  of  them  altogether.*  In  fact,  the  rules  of  the  greater 
part  of  the  Auxiliary  Societies,  formed  antecedently  to  the  period  be- 
fore-mentioned, were — so  far  as  the  disposal  of  the  Scriptures  wa? 
concerned — very  generally,  vague  and  defective.  By  an  inspection 
of  them,  as  they  appear  in  the  Reports  of  the  Parent  Institution,  it 
will  be  found,  that  little,  if  any,  idea  was  entertained  by  their  com 
pilers,  of  recommending  sale  in  preference  to  .gratuitous  donation,  of 
ascertaining  with  correctness  the  proper  objects  of  relief,  and  of  sti 
mulating  the  lower  classes  of  the  people  to  aid  themselves,  and  to  co- 
operate, according  to  their  means,  in  the  proportion  of  the  genera? 
cause.  Impressed  with  a  sense  of  these  radical  deficiencies,  Mr. 
Phillips  conceived  the  design  of  preparing  a  set  of  Rules,  by  whicL 
Auxiliary  Societies,  Branch  Societies,  and  Bible  Associations,  mighi 
be  regularly  and  effectively  organized.  Having,  in  the  month  of  Oc 
tober,  1811,  accomplished  his  design,  Mr.  Phillips  made  trial  of  the  plan . 
by  issuing  copies  of  it,  in  connexion  with  those  minor  publications  ot 
which  an  account  has  been  given  in  another  part  of  this  work.j  h. 
was  not  long,  however,  before  the  Committee  of  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society  became  so  fully  convinced  of  its  excellence,  thai 
they  resolved  to  adopt  it  as  their  own.  In  consequence  of  this  reso 
lutioD,  the  plan  was  submitted  to  a  careful  revision  :  and  in  the  spring 

*  It  is  much  to  be  regretted,  that  any  of  the  Auxiliary  Societies  should  retair, 
the  practice  of  allowing  a  proportion  of  Bibles  and  Testaments  to  the  individual! 
subscriber.  A  reference  of  the  distribution  to  the  Committee  exclusively,  would, 
in  all  cases,  afford  the  best  security  for  having-  the  local  wants  supplied,  on  terms 
proportioned  to  the  circumstances  of  the  population. 

t  See  page  366.  Of  these  publications  more  than  270,000  were  dispersed,  in  the 
manner  there  described,  in  little  more  than  twelve  months. 


538  HISTORY  OP  THE  BRITISH  [PART  HI. 

of  1812,  it  was  issued  from  the  Depository  of  the  Parent  Institution, 
under  the  title  of"  Hints  on  the  Constitution  and  Objects  of  Auxiliary 
Societies  ;"*  and  copies  of  it  were  liberally  dispersed  throughout  the 
country.! 

The  good  effect  of  this  measure  soon  began  to  appear.  Auxiliary 
and  Branch  Societies  assumed  a  more  regular  form,  and  their  opera- 
tions were  conducted  upon  principles  which  assimilated  them  to  each 
other,  and  connected  them  harmoniously  with  the  Parent  Institution. 

Under  the  influence  of  this  system,  the  respective  Committees  now 
pursued  more  orderly  and  effective  ways  of  raising  subscriptions  ;  took 
upon  themselves  the  appropriation  of  those  Bibles  and  Testaments 
which  before  had  been  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  individual  sub- 
scribers ;  and  as  well  by  instituting  minute  and  personal  inquiries 
among  the  habitations  of  the  poor,  as  by  encouraging  sale  at  cost  or 
reduced  prices,  in  preference  to  absolute  gift,  they  ascertained  the 
degree  in  which  the  Scriptures  were  wanted,  raised  the  estimate  of 
their  value  in  the  minds  of  the  receivers,  and  augmented  to  the  Pa- 
rent Institution  the  means  of  providing  for  the  accomplishment  of  its 
object  in  foreign  parts. 

But  the  most  important  feature  in  this  plan,  was  that  part  of  it  which 
respected  the  constitution  and  the  management  of  Bible  Associations.! 
The  "  Rules  and  Regulations"  suggested  for  this  end,  were  generally 
approved  ;  and,  in  proportion  as  they  became  known,  were  adopted 
with  great  zeal  and  advantage. 

The  first  Bible  Association  which  was  constituted  on  these  princi- 
ples, was  that  formed  at  High-Wycomb,  antecedently  to  the  general 
dissemination  of  the  plan.  The  following  account  of  that  transaction 
will  throw  some  light  on  the  subject. 

*  To  the  system  of  Rules  above  described,  the  author  contributed  the  ninth,  and 
•be  Rev.  Josiah  Pratt  the  thirteenth  RuIp,  for  the  Constitution  of  Auxiliary  Socie- 
j-ies.  The  latter  gentleman  g-ave  theui  also  the  benefit  of  a  careful  and  elaborate 
revision.  With  these  deductions,  the  entire  credit  of  the  system  (than  which  few- 
exhibit  a  better  speciinen  of  practical  wisdom)  belongs  to  the  contriving  mind,  and 
active  philanthropy  of  Mr.  Phillips. 

f  For  a  view  of  the  Rules  themselves,  see  Appendix,  No.  H. 

l  While  to  Mr.  Phillips  is  justly  ascribed  the  merit  of  having  organized  Bible 
Associations,  and  promoted  their  general  adoption,  it  should  be  observed,  that  the 
principle  on  which  they  are  founded,  had  been  recognized,  and,  to  a  certain  de- 
gree, acted  upon,  long  before.  The  rudiment  of  these  Associations,  is  also  to  be 
found  in  the  following  Minute,  extracted  from  the  Memoranda  of  Meetings,  pre- 
viously to  the  definitive  formation  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 

"  June  28th,  1803,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Williams,  of  Birmingham,  in  a  letter,  suggests 
the  propriety  of  encouraging  the  formation  of  local  Societies,  to  which  poor  persons 


CHAP.  11.1  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  539 

"  On  the  18th  of  November,  1811,  a  Bible  Association  was  esta- 
blished at  High-Wycomb.  Young  persons  of  both  sexes  have  fre- 
quently joined  this  Association,  who  could  not  purchase  their  Bibles 
at  one  payment,  but  preferred  obtaining  them  by  weekly  payments,  to 
the  mode  of  gratuitous  distribution  :  and  there  is  a  prospect  of  this  As- 
sociation considerably  aiding  the  funds  of  the  High-Wycomb  Auxiliary 
Bible  Society,  by  providing  the  neighbourhood  with  Bibles.  It  was 
truly  gratifying  to  observe  the  subscribers  to  this  humble  plan,  enter- 
ing with  spirit  into  the  views  of  the  Parent  Institution,  respecting  its 
foreign  objects ;  insomuch  that,  although  they  were  pressed  to  take 
the  whole  amount  of  their  subscriptions  in  Bibles,  yet  they  decidedly 
gave  beyond  the  amount  of  two-thirds,  in  order  that  they  might  do 
something  towards  carrying  the  sacred  volume  into  countries  destitute 
of  the  Holy  Scriptures."* 

Early  in  1812,  the  SuflFoIk  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  at  that  time  iu 
its  infancy,  adopted  the  plan  of  Bible  Associations.  The  Darlington 
Society  did  the  same  ;  and  with  a  degree  of  success  which  enabled 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Dealtry,  when  recommending  a  similar  plan,  at  the  for- 
mation of  the  Southwark  Society,  to  cite  the  example  of  Darlington, 
in  confirmation  of  its  practicability  and  advantage.  "  The  project" 
(says  Mr.  Dealtry)  "  is  not  visionary  ;  the  experiment  has  been  tried  : 
and  if  the  polished  inhabitants  of  the  south  of  England  will  conde- 
scend to  take  a  lesson  from  us,  the  rude,  and  untutored  children  of 
the  north,  they  will  find  one  in  Darlington,  in  the  County  of  Durham^ 
not  unworthy  of  regard.  Subscriptions  have  been  obtained,  as  I  have 
lately  heard,  from  the  poor  of  that  town  and  neighbourhood,  at  the 
rate  of  a  penny  each  per  week,  to  the  amount  of  70/.  a  year.  If  the 
sanve  system  were  adopted  in  the  Borough  of  Southwark  and  its  vi- 
cinity, comprising  a  population  of  150,000  souls,  it  might  be  carried 
to  an  extent,  of  which  it  is  not  for  me  even  to  form  a  conjecture." 

The  effect  produced  by  this  unstudied  Address,  encouraged  Mr.- 
Dealtry  to  give  the  subject  a  closer  and  more  serious  examination. 
Stimulated  by  the  zeal,  and  assisted  by  the  information,  of  Mr.  Phil- 
lips, he  shortly  after  prepared  that  luminous  paper,  on  "  the  Advan- 
tages of  distributing  the  Holy  Scriptures  among  the  Lower  Orders  of 
Society,  chiefly  by  their  own  Agency ;"  which,  together  with  an 

might  be  permitted  to  pay  for  Bibles  by  instalments  of  one  penny  per  week,  the 
prices  being  further  reduced  by  the  aid  of  such  Societies. 

"  Resolved,  that  the  consideration  of  the  same  be  deferred  till  the  formation  of 
the  Society  is  accomplished." 

*  Vide  Eighth  Report  of  the  British  and  Foreigrn  Bible  Society,  Appendix  No.  Ixvil' 


540  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III. 

admirable  companion,  entitled,  "  An  Appeal  to  Mechanics,  Labourers, 
and  others,  respecting  Bible  Associations,"  from  the  pen  of  the  inge- 
nious and  benevolent  Mr.  Montgomery,  of  Sheffield,  was  circulated, 
through  the  medium  of  the  private  fund  so  often  referred  to,  with 
very  general  acceptance  and  effect. 

But  while  the  plan  was  thus  developed  in  Southwark,  and  that  feel- 
ing was  kindling,  from  which  such  results  were  afterwards  to  pro- 
ceed, its  merits  were  not  overlooked  by  other  Auxiliary  Societies,  or 
regarded  by  them  with  merely  theoretical  approbation.  To  the  credit 
of  the  Blackheath  Auxiliary  Society,  it  should  be  recorded,  that,  by 
the  month  of  August,  1812,  not  fewer  than  ten  Bible  Associations  had 
been  formed  within  its  district.  The  following  statement  of  the 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  is  deserving  of  particular  attention,  not 
only  as  it  furnishes  a  proof  of  this  fact,  but  also  as  it  conveys  a  re- 
commendation of  the  system. 

"We  have  been  informed,  by  gentlemen  who  have  most  meritori- 
ously exerted  themselves  in  the  inquiry,  that  even  in  this  city,  a  very 
great  want  of  the  Scriptures  prevails  ;  but  I  trust,  that  the  liberality 
and  spirit  of  the  citizens  of  London,  of  which  the  appearance  of  this 
Hall  affords  so  fair  a  promise,  will  soon  effectually  remove  it.  They 
will  permit  me  to  suggest  to  them  one  observation,  arising  out  of  my 
own  experience  in  a  similar  Institution,  namely,  the  great  importance 
of  the  formation  of  Bible  Associations,  in  the  manner  pointed  out  in 
one  of  the  Resolutions.  Under  the  influence  of  an  Auxiliary  Society, 
to  which  I  belong,  no  less  than  ten  such  Associations  have  been 
formed  ;  and,  by  their  assistance,  the  wants  of  a  very  numerous,  and, 
upon  the  whole,  a  needy  population,  have  been  suppHed  to  an  extent 
which,  at  the  time  of  the  establishment  of  the  Society,  would  have 
been  deemed  impossible,  within  the  period  of  its  present  existence."* 

In  the  month  of  September,  1812,  the  first  Bible  Association  was 
formed  in  connexion  with  the  Southwark  Auxiliary  Society  :  and  so 
vigorously  was  the  system  pursued  by  the  conductors  of  that  Auxiliary, 
(among  whom  the  energetic  and  persevering  Charles  Dudley,  Esq. 
one  of  its  Secretaries,  deserves  to  be  particularly  mentioned,)  that 
in  less  than  eighteen  months  they  were  enabled  to  report  twelve  such 
Establishments  in  full  operation,  and  a  revenue  derived  from  them, 
within  that  period,  amounting  to  2,890/.  Great,  however,  as  was  the 
advantage  of  such  a  pecuniary  contribution,  it  was  exceeded  by  that 
of  the  personal  agency  which  the  introduction  of  these  Associations 

•Speech  on  the  6tU  of  August,  1812,  at  the  fonuation  of  the  City  of  London 
Auxiliary  Bible  Society. 


CHAP.  If.J  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  5^| 

had  created.  This  assertion  will  be  both  explained  and  confirmed  by 
the  following  statement : 

"  The  Auxiliary  Society  of  Southwark,  with  its  twelve  Associa- 
tions, comprise  a  body  of  more  Uian  six  hundred  and  fifty  active  agents 
in  the  Bible  cause.  When  you  reflect,  that  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
eight  of  these  are  annually  succeeded  by  new  members,  and  consider 
the  influence  which  each  individual  possesses  within  his  own  imme- 
diate sphere,  the  constantly  increasing  mora?  efeci  will  appear  prodi- 
gious, and,  in  its  ultimate  results,  incalculable."* 

The  Tindaie  Ward  Auxiliary  Society  exhibited,  also,  an  early  and 
very  decisive  testimony  in  favour  of  the  system  of  Bible  Associations. 

"  In  some  other  respects,"  (says  their  first  Report,)  "  this  Aux- 
iliary Society  may  have  been  considerably  surpassed ;  but  in  the 
number  and  magnitude  of  the  Bible  Associations  to  which  it  has  given 
birth,  when  the  comparatively  thin  population  of  the  district  is  taken 
into  account,  perhaps  few,  if  any,  Societies  will  be  found  to  have 
equalled  it.  The  number  of  these  Associations  which  have  been 
matured  and  rendered  efficient,  within  a  portion  of  this  district,  con- 
taining 6,255  families,  in  all  29,605  souls,  (according  to  the  popula- 
tion return  of  1811,)  is  twentv-four.  In  these  Associations  there 
are  2,076  members,  and  they  subscribe  at  the  rate  of  28/.  18s.  4df„ 
iveekly ;  which,  if  continued  until  the  end  of  the  year  from  their 
formation,  will  make  1,503/.  13i\  4d.  In  Donations,  80/.  14*.  lOf/. 
Annual  Subscriptions,  18/.  19s.     Altogether,  1,602/.  17s.  2f/."t 

On  the  useful  tendency  of  these  Associations,  the  compilers  of  that 
Heport  thus  judiciously  speak  : 

"  They  are  fully  convinced,  that  the  attention  of  the  country  at 
large  needs  only  to  be  awakened  to  the  subject  of  Bible  Associations, 
to  render  their  establishment  universal  ;  and  they  indulge  the  hope, 
that  the  period  may  not  be  far  distant,  when  there  shall  be  no  parish, 
town,  or  village,  without  its  Bible  Association.  The  perfection 
and  completion  of  the  objects  of  Bible  Societies,  must  indeed  be 
sought  for  in  the  prevalence  of  Bible  Associations.  These  embrace 
advantages,  infinitely  superior  to  any  that  can  arise  from  mere  pecu- 
niary accumulation ; — they  embrace  the  moral  and  religious  welfare 
of  the  great  mass  of  the  community ;  they  have  a  direct  tendency  to 
cherish  a  spirit  of  true  piety  ; — and,  indeed,  they  may  justly  be  con- 
sidered as  the  true  botsis  of  National  Reform  :  for,  while  they  attract 

*  First  Report  of  the  Southwark  Society, 
t  The  Report  adds  :  "  If  every  part  of  Great  Britain  contributed  lo  Bible  Asso- 
ciations,  in  the  proportion  of  the  above  population,  it  is  demonstrable,  that.  frcn. 
1S,000,OOG  of  people,  above  863,000/.  would  be  aunually  ral.ted." 
70 


542  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART.  IIL 

from  sensual  and  degrading  pleasures,  they  substitute  superior  enjoy- 
ments, and  give  the  poor  what  they  have  long  wanted,  a  pure  incen- 
tive to  action,  adding  a  new  value  to  existence." 

In  the  mean  time,  other  Auxiliary  Societies  which  had  caught  the 
spirit  of  this  system,  proceeded  to  cany  it  into  execution  among  the 
poor  of  their  several  districts.  The  Committee  of  the  Parent  Society 
observed  the  progress  of  these  measures,  throughout  the  country, 
with  watchful  solicitude,  and  dealt  out  their  encouragement,  in  pro- 
portion as  they  saw  the  beneficial  tendency  of  these  popular  Asso- 
ciations demonstrated  by  actual  experience.  In  their  Ninth  Report, 
they  "  advert  v^th  much  satisfaction  to  the  adoption  of  the  plan  for 
establishing  Bible  Associations.  "  The  principle"  (they  observe) 
"  on  which  these  Associations  are  formed,  is  more  immediately  cal- 
culated to  bring  the  poorer  classes  into  communication  ivith  the  Pa- 
rent  Society,  and  to  excite  a  common  feeling  and  interest  among  them, 
for  imp-^rtin^  to  each  other  the  blessing  of  divine  knowledge  ;  while 
the  aggregate  of  the  funds  contributed  by  these  Associations,  though 
arising  frcm  small  individual  subscriptions,  materially  aids  the  gene- 
I'al  obiect  of  the  Parent  Institution." 

Confirmed  in  these  sentiments  by  the  observation  of  another  year's 
trial,  they  recommend  their  extension  with  increased  coniidence, 
and  speak  of  their  value  with  more  enlarged  and  decided  views  of 
their  productiveness  and  utility.  "  In  estimating"  that  "  value," 
they  profess  themselves  at  a  loss  to  determine,  whether  more  is  de- 
rived to  the  funds  and  operations  of  the  Parent  Society,  by  this  inge- 
nious and  popular  instrument,  than  is  communicated  (through  the 
feelings  which  it  excites,  and  the  employment  which  it  furnishes)  to 
the  moral  improvement  of  the  lower  orders  of  the  public,  which 
constitute,  in  fact,  the  mass  of  the  community."*  To  the  correct- 
ness of  this  judgment,  it  may  be  not  unimportant  to  add,  the  expe- 
rience of  each  succeeding  year  has  borne  additional  testimony.  Ob- 
jections have  indeed  been  advanced  against  these  Associations,  which 
carried  with  them  an  air  of  plausibility,  and  operated  for  a  time  to 
the  prejudice  of  the  system.  Much  was  done  towards  their  removal, 
by  the  ingenious  and  argumentative  Essay  t  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Chal- 

*  Tenth  Report. 

f  From  this  adniira'jlo  Es«aj',  of  u'iiich  no  student  of  political  cconoiiiV  should 
be  ignorant,  the  author  would  gladly  pxtract  many  passages,  as  containing  every 
thing:  short  of  demonstration,  jn  favour  of  p^ipular  Bible  Associations.  The  follow- 
ing rep'y  to  the  ciin-LMU  objection,  that  these  Associations  are  a  fav  upon  the  poor, 
will  show  the  reader  Ijow  worthy  this  Essay  is  of  an  attentive  perusal. 

"  This  8'^similation  of  our  plan  to  a  tax,  may  give  rise  to  a  ^rorld  of  impetuous 
declamation :  but.  let  if  ever  be  rcnicmbrred,that  the  institution  of  a  Bible  Society 


CHAP.  11.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  543 

mers,  on  "  the  Influence  of  Bible  Societies  on  the  Temporal  Neces- 
sities of  the  Poor,"  and  by  the  explanatory  papers  so  industriously 
circulated  in  almost  every  district  of  the  kingdom.  It  is  not  pre- 
tended, by  their  most  sanguine  admirers,  that  Bible  Associations  are 
free  from  imperfection,  and  absolutely  secured  from  the  possibility  of 
evil.  Certain,  however,  it  is,  that  their  direct  tendency  is  to  pro- 
duce unmixed  and  incalculable  good.  They  awaken,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  enlighten,  the  benevolent  principle  ;  they  elevate  the 
minds  of  the  lower,  and  sofcen  the  hearts  of  the  superior,  orders  of 
the  community  ;  and  establish  that  intercourse  of  sentiment  and  feel- 
ing  between  them,  which  can  scarcely  fail  to  improve  the  character 
of  both.  There  is,  also,  in  their  constitution,  a  permanent  security 
against  any  gross  or  durable  abuse.     The  design  of  their  institution 

gives  you  the  whole  benefit  of  such  a  tax  without  its  od!ou<?ness.  It  brings  up 
their  economy  to  a  higher  pitch ;  but  it  does  so,  not  in  the  Wiiy  which  they  resist, 
but  in  the  vray  whicli  tliey  choose.  The  single  circumstance  of  its  beinj?  a  volun- 
tary act,  forms  the  defence  and  the  answer  to  all  the  clamours  of  an  aifected  sym- 
pathy. You  take  from  the  poor.  No :  they  give.  You  take  beyond  their  ability. 
Of  this  they  are  the  best  judges.  You  abridge  their  comforts.  No:  there  is  a 
comfort  in  the  exercise  of  charity  ;  there  is  a  comfort  in  the  act  of  lending  a  hand 
to  a  noble  enterprise  ;  there  is  a  comfort  in  the  cor.templation  of  its  progress;  there 
is  a  comfort  in  rendering  a  service  to  a  friend,  and  when  that  friend  is  the  Saviour, 
and  that  service  the  circulation  of  the  message  he  left  behind  him,  it  is  a  coii-fort 
which  many  of  the  poor  are  ambitious  to  shar  i  in.  Leave  them  to  judge  of  their 
comfort ;  and  if,  in  point  of  fact,  they  do  give  their  penny  a  week  tc  a  Bible  Society, 
it  just  speaks  them  to  have  more  comfort  in  this  way  of  spending  it  than  in  any 
Other  which  occurs  to  them. 

«  Perhaps  it  does  not  occur  to  those  friends  of  the  poor,  while  they  are  sitting  in 
judgment  on  their  circumstances  and  feelings,  how  unjustly  and  how  unworthily 
they  thiuk  of  them.  They  do  not  conceive  how  truth  and  bonevoience  can  be  at 
all  objects  to  them;  and  suppose,  that,  after  they  have  got  the  meat  to  feed,  the 
house  to  shelter,  the  raiment  to  cover  them,  there  is  nothing  else  that  they  will 
bestow  a  penny  upon.  They  may  not  be  able  to  express  their  feelings  on  a  sus- 
picion so  ungenerous,  but  I  shall  do  it  for  them;  'We  have  souls  as  well  as  you^ 
and  precious  to  our  hearts  is  the  Saviour  who  died  for  them.  It  is  true,  we  have 
our  distresses,  hat  these  have  bound  us  more  firmly  to  our  Bibles;  and  it  is  the 
desire  of  our  hearts,  that  a  gift  so  precious  should  be  sent  to  the  poor  of  other 
countries.  The  word  of  God  >s  our  hope  and  our  rejoicing  ;  we  desire  that  it  may 
be  theirs  also,  that  the  wandering  savage  may  know  it  and  be  glad,  and  the  poor 
negro,  under  the  lasli  of  his  mastei,  may  be  told  of  a  Master  in  heaven,  who  is  full 
of  pity,  and  full  of  kindness.  Do  you  think  that  sympathy  for  such  as  these  is  your 
peculiar  attribute  ?  Know  that  our  hearts  are  made  of  the  same  materials  with 
your  own,  tiiat  we  can  feel  as  well  as  yen,  and  out  of  the  earnings  of  a  hard  and 
an  honest  industry,  we  &hal!  give  an  offering  to  the  cause  ;  nor  shall  we  cease  our 
exertions,  till  the  message  of  salvation  is  carried  round  the  globe,  and  made  known 
to  the  couutlsss  millions  T^ho  live  in  guilt,  and  who  die  in  das  kiiest."    j-p.  21—2*^, 


544  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  Ili- 

has  respect  to  a  simple  and  definite  object — the  procurement  and 
dispersion  of  the  Scriptures  ;  and  between  this  and  every  other  (cer- 
tainly every  pernicious)  object,  the  line  of  demarkation  is  so  broad, 
as  to  expose  any  attempt  at  perversion  to  immediate  discovery,  and 
thereby  to  seasonable  and  efl'ectual  suppression.  On  the  whole,  if 
persons  of  character  and  local  influence  continue  to  preside  over 
Bible  Associations  ;  if  care  be  taken  to  render  their  Anniversary 
Meetings,  where  such  Meetings  are  Fcquired,  grave,  orderly,  and 
impressive  ;  if  attention  be  paid  to  the  confinement  of  their  opera- 
tions, and,  as  much  as  possible,  their  printed  statements,  within  the 
limits  prescribed  by  the  principles  of  their  constitution,  and  the  de- 
sign of  their  establishment,  they  will  prove  instruments  of  genera! 
good  ;  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  will  derive  from  their 
exertions  prodigious  support  •,  and  the  State  will  share  with  it  in  the 
salutary  influence  which  those  exertions  will  produce,  on  the  know» 
ledge,  the  virtue,  and  the  happiness,  of  the  people. 

Returning  from  this  digression  to  the  subject  of  Auxiliary  Bible 
Societies  in  general,  it  may  be  sufiicient  to  add  to  what  has  before 
been  stated,  that  the  produce  derived  from  them,  and  their  depend- 
encies, in  the  current  year,  amounted  to  53,403L  8s.  If  with  this 
be  combined  the  returns  of  sale,  and  contributions  from  individual 
and  congregational  sources,  the  total  of  the  Society's  income  will  be 
found  to  have  reached  the  extraordinary  sum  of  87,2 16Z.  (is.  9d. 

Nor  should  it  be  overlooked,  that  the  scale  on  which  the  opera- 
tions of  the  Society  were  carried  on,  bore  a  just  proportion  to  its 
increased  resources,  and  yielded  to  the  funds  so  liberally  i^ipplied 
by  the  British  pubhc,  the  means  of  an  acceptable  and  highly  advan- 
tageous employment.  13,030/.  2s.  Id,  were  expended  on  pecuniary 
grants  and  donations  of  Bibles  and  Testaments,  of  which  by  much  the 
largest  proportion  was  appropriated  to  Europe  alone.  An  inspection 
of  these  grants  and  donations,  as  they  appear  in  the  List  appended  to 
the  Tenth  Report,  will  show  through  what  a  variety  of  channels* 
these  supplies-  were  distributed.  If  to  these  be  added  the  diversified 
calls  on  the  Society's  attention  from  the  diflerent  Establishments 
abroad  and  at  home,  which  looked  up  to  it  for  counsel,  encourage- 
ment, and  aid,  there  will  be  no  difticulty  in  accounting  for  an  expen- 
diture, within  the  year^  of   84,662/.  53.  4d.  or  Ju  conceiving  that 

*  The  Hon.  Lady  Grey  (the  correspondent  alluded  to,  p.  241.)  distributed  this 
year,  on  the  Society's  account,  8,.39&  Bibles  and  Testaments,  in  ten  different  lan- 
guages. For  a  specimen  of  the  method  with  which  this  distribution  was  conducted, 
and  of  the  variety  of  channels  through  which  the  books  were  circulated,  see  the 
Society's  Tenth  Report,  AppcnO.iX;  p.  J33o 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  54§ 

much  must  have  been  done,  by  means  of  such  a  disbursement,  to- 
wards improving  the  reUgious  condition  of  mankind. 

It  must  not,  however,  be  concluded,  that  the  success  v/hich  hag 
been  described,  was  acquired,  without  a  renewal  of  those  conflicts 
which  prejudice  or  misapprehension  never  failed  to  excite,  as  often 
as  the  friends  of  the  Society  made  any  fresh  efforts  to  advance  its 
interest,  or  to  extend  the  sphere  of  its  domestic  operations.  The 
industry  with  which  Professor  Marsh's  publications  were  circulated, 
and  the  confidence  with  which  they  were  appealed  to  and  recom- 
mended, as  though  they  had  been  conclusive  against  the  merits  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  and  the  principles  of  its  church- 
members  and  supporters,  appeared  to  the  Dean  of  Carlisle,  to  justify 
his  breaking  that  silence,  which,  from  an  unwillingness  to  protractor 
to  revive  the  controversy,  he  had  otherwise  been  determined  to 
observe.  Under  this  impression,  the  Dean  gave  to  the  public,  in 
the  spring  of  1813,  a  volume,  for  which  his  friends  had  considered 
him  conditionally  pledged,  under  the  title  of  "  Strictures  on  some  of 
the  Publications  of  the  Rev.  Herbert  Marsh,  D.  D.  intended  as  a 
Reply  to  his  Objections  against  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Socie- 
ty," The  design  of  these  Strictures  was,  "  to  vindicate  a  large  and 
respectable  body  of  the  clergy,  and  other  churchmen,  from  the 
groundless  imputation  of  indifference  to  the  Liturgy — to  remonstrate 
with  Dr.  Marsh  upon  the  tendency  of  his  writings  to  check  the  dis- 
tribution of  the  Scriptures,  by  exciting  jealousies  and  animosities 
among  Christians — to  expose  his  misrepresentation  of  certain  histori- 
cal facts,  relative  to  the  time  of  Charles  the  First — and  to  prove,, 
from  his  fallacious  and  illogical  arguments,  on  a  variety  of  interesting 
topics,  how  httlfi  he  is  entitled  to  the  confidence  of  his  readers,  on 
the  subject  of  the  Bible  Society."* 

In  the  execution  of  his  design,  the  Dean  assumed  a  tone  of  severit}^ 
which  he  considered  to  have  been  called  for  by  the  unfairness  and 
self-importance  of  the  antagonist  with  whom  he  had  to  contend. 
Professor  Marsh  had  accused  the  church-members  of  the  Society,  of 
*'  neglecting  to  give  the  Prayer  Book  with  the  Bible."  This  charge 
the  Dean  interprets  as  imputing  to  those  churchmen,  "  not  a  mere 
venial  omission,  but  a  blame  able  neglect:"  a  "  neglect  to  distribute 
the  Prayer  Book  among  their  parishioners."!     "  Nor"  (continue? 

*  Adrertisement,  p.  3. 

f-  The  difficulties  to  which  the  clerical  members  of  the  Society  have  soraetimeb' 

been  reduced,  by  the  accusations  of  tlieir  brethren,  and  the  discountenance  of 

their  ecclesiastical  superiors,  were  adverted  to,  in  a  manner  at  once  so  spirited, 

■Acd  iw  decorous,  by  the  Rev.  Josiah  Pratt,  at  the  es-tablisbmcnt  of  the  North-Ea?t 


£46  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  III. 

the  Dean)  "  is  the  distinction  unimportant.  A  man  may  omit  to  do  a 
thing,  and  the  omission  may  be  even  laudable  ;  whereas,  the  term 
neglect,  implies  an  omission  of  something  which  ought  to  have  been 
done,  of  something  which  should  not  be  left  undone  without  just 
cause  of  censure."  "  The  Charge"  (adds  the  Dean  in  another 
place)  "  is  so  heavy,  as  to  fall  Uttle  short  of  a  hbei  on  aiany  worthy 
clergymen,  who,  in  their  consciences,  think  it  a  duty  to  subscribe  to 
the  Bible  Society."*  Again,  referring  to  the  Professor's  words,  in 
which  he  challenges  his  opponents  to  show  whether  thej  have  la- 
boured harder  than  he  has  done  to  promote  the  study  of  the  Scrip- 
tures ;  and  to  another,  in  which  he  says,  that,  "  although,  at  various 
times,  he  has  instituted  inquiries  which  demanded  close  reasoning  and 
profound  thought,  he  never  entered  on  a  subject  which  required  so 
mitch  penetration,"  adding,  "  it  is  a  subject  of  so  extraordinary  a  na- 
ture, that,  while  orators,  whose  wisdom  never  goes  beyond  the  sur- 
face, feel  competent  to  decide,  there  are  points  in  it  which  may 
elude  the  discernment  of  the  most  sagacious  and  profound:" — on 
these  and  similar  positions,  the  Dean  thus  observes  : 

"  The  imposing  air  with  which  these  things  are  said,  is  doubtless 
intended  to  convey  an  idea  of  the  profound  thought,  close  reasoning, 
and  vast  penetration,  of  the  author  of  the  Inquiry.  We  have  not,  it 
would  seem,  to  do  with  a  person,  who,  hke  the  advocates  of  the  Bi- 
ble  Society,  prates  at  random,  and  never  goes  beyond  the  surface, 
but  one  who  has  given  proof  of  his  competency  to  investigate  intri- 
cate and  perplexed  subjects,  and  to  place  them  in  their  true  light. 

London  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  as  to  reflect  equal  credit  on  his  integrity  and  his 
judgment.  The  following  extract  will  (it  is  presumed)  be  not  unacceptable  to  the 
i-eadcr. 

"  It  is  well  known  that  we  labour  under  especial  difficulties,  when  wishing  and 
endeavouring  to  manifest,  in  all  things,  that  reverence  and  respect  which  we  owe, 
and  which  we  feel,  to  the  authority  placed  over  us,  we  are  yet  bound  in  our  con- 
sci^'nces  to  come  forward  in  support  of  some  objects  of  great  public  utility,  which 
unhappily  have  not  the  sanction  of  that  authority.  But  your  Royal  Highness  will 
allow  us  to  say,  that  we  launched  our  vessel  under  another  star,t  a  star  that  shines 
unclouded  for  ever  in  a  better  world.  Compelled  to  appeal  to  (he  authority  under 
which  we  act  as  Clergymen,  we  do  appeal  to  that  authority  with  confidence.  We, 
who  united  our  hearts  and  efforts  to  the  faithful  band  who  launched  this  vessel,  did 
this  under  the  most  benign  influence ;  and  who  will  tell  us,  that,  because  an  unpro- 
pitious  influence  now  acts  on  us,  and  an  adverse  wind  renders  our  passage  some- 
what more  toilsome,  we  are  to  scuttle  and  sink  the  vessel,  freighted  as  it  is  with 
blessings  for  ignoraut  and  suffering  man?" 

1  The  then  deceased  Bishop  Porteus. 
•  Page  0, 


CHAP.  II.]  AND  FOREIUN  BIBLE  bOCIETY.  54*7 

Who,  then,  would  question  the  decision  of  such  a  man  ?  We  may 
think  the  Bible  Society  to  be  an  affair  of  great  simplicity ;  but  Dr, 
Marsh's  keener  eye  penetrates  into  depths  which  escape  all  our  sa- 
gacity. Add  to  this,  that  he  is  a  champion  who  comes  forward  already 
crowned  with  various  victories.  It  is  not  easy  to  say,  what  effect  may 
be  produced  on  the  public  mind,  by  so  much  parade  and  ostentation : 
certainly,  the  man  who  uses  them,  will  not,  on  that  account,  rise  in 
the  estimation  of  persons  of  cool  and  dispassionate  judgment ;  yet,  I 
believe,  they  may  not  prove  altogether  ineffective  on  the  minds  of 
others  ;  and,  at  any  rate,  it  is  become  perfectly  justifiable  to  examine 
the  grounds  of  such  high  pretensions  to  profundity  and  penetration  in 
the  management  of  difficult  subjects.  Such  challenges,  menaces,  and 
parade,  not  only  justify,  but  invite  scrutiny  ;  they  must  be  understood 
as  breathing  defiance,  and  therefore  they  absolutely  provoke  con- 
test.* 

It  will  not  be  expected  that  the  author  should  enter  particularly 
into  the  merits  of  a  work,  which,  though  replete  with  sohd  informa- 
tion, and  abounding  in  acute  and  highly  instructive  remarks,  was 
written  to  serve  a  temporary  purpose.  Some  judgment  may  be 
formed  of  the  vigorous  sense  and  manly  feeling  which  characterize 
almost  every  part  of  it,  from  the  following  representation  of  the  cau- 
ses, which  occasioned  the  Professor  and  the  Dean  to  think  so  differ- 
ently on  the  same  great  and  interesting  question  : 

"  In  my  opinion.  Dr.  Marsh  could  never  have  arrived  at  such 
hostile  conclusions  against  the  Bible  Society,  if  he  had  not  followed 
the  very  reverse  of  Mr-  Locke's  directions  concerning  the  conduct  of 
the  human  understanding.  Whenever  a  subject  is  intricate  and  per- 
plexed, the  instructions  of  that  gi'eat  man  will  constantly  lead  the 
careful  student  to  separate,  as  much  as  possible,  from  each  other, 
the  several  circumstances,  which,  by  their  connexion,  serve  to  create 
darkness,  confusion,  and  intricacy.  Experience  also  has  shown, 
that,  considering  the  uncertain  and  complex  nature  of  human  con- 
cerns, those  are  generally  the  best  advisers,  who  do  not  much  em- 
barrass their  minds  with  intricate  prospective  theories,  but  carefully 
watch  the  circumstances  as  they  arise,  and  apply  the  suitable  reme- 
dies to  such  evils  as  actually  exist.  On  this  great  practical  principle 
are  grounded  all  the  observations  with  which,  in  these  Strictures,  I 
have  combated  Dr.  Marsh's  hostility  to  the  Bible  Society.  He,  on 
the  contrary,  in  the  character  of  an  inquirer,  has  involved  and  dis- 
guised one  of  the  simplest  questions  in  the  world  with  such  a  variety 

«  Page  19P. 


^Qg  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  {.PART  III. 

of  extrinsic  and  irrelevant  materials,  that  the  understanding  is  in 
danger  of  being  bewildered  and  alarmed  with  the  contemplation  of 
mere  fanciful  theories  and  conjectures,  instead  of  prosecuting  a  great 
and  positive  good  with  zeal  and  thankfulness. 

"  No  wonder,  then,  that  Dr.  Marsh  and  myself  should  arrive  at 
conclusions  almost  diametrically  in  contrast  with  each  other.  The 
Margaret  Professor,  influenced  by  the  dim  and  uncertain  light  of  re- 
mote consequences,  would  annihilate  the  Bible  Society  ;  whereas,  the 
Dean  of  Carlisle,  rejoicing  in  the  indisputable  good  which  actually 
arises  every  day  from  its  splendid  and  extensive  operations,  would 
not,  for  all  that  this  kingdom  can  bestow,  have  his  conscience  loaded 
with  the  bitter  reflection,  that  he  had  ever,  directly,  been  instru- 
mental in  obstructing  the  free  progress  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  among 
liis  fallow-creatures."* 

The  Dean's  conclusion  is  devout  and  impressive  : 
"  It  is  the  constant  prayer  of  a  Churchman,  that  the  good  Lord 
may  deliver  him  in  the  hour  of  death,  and  in  the  day  of  judgment ; 
and  1  have  observed,  that  men  whose  established^  reputation  for  ta- 
lents and  piety  efi'ectually  repels  the  most  distant  suspicion  of  enthu- 
siasm, have  had  their  serious  attention  drawn,  during  the  agitation  of 
this  great  question,  to  those  awful  moments  in  which  the  distinction 
of  Churchmen  and  )i3senters  shall  be  no  more  ;  and  have  expressed 
their  conviction,  that  they  will  then  be  the  least  disposed  to  repent  of 
having  supported  the  Bible  Society.  It  would  be  great  presumption 
in  me  to  rank  myself  with  such  characters,  in  any  point  of  view,  ex- 
cept my  entire  agreement  with  them,  that,  when  the  innumerable 
partialities  and  prejudices  which  serve  to  delude  mankind,  in  this  im- 
perfect state,  shall  completely  vanish,  or  shrink  into  their  just  dimen- 
sions, the  recollection  of  having  been  a  friend,  and  not  an  adversary, 
of  the  Bible  Society,  will  afford  me  a  vivid  satisfaction,  without  any 
apprehensions  of  blame  for  having  been  too  zealous  in  promoting  the 
dissemination  of  the  word  of  God." 

The  appearance  of  the  Dean  of  Carlisle's  "  Strictures"  roused 
the  spirit  of  the  Margaret  Professor,  and  drew  trom  him  a  "  P«,eply," 
in  which,  with  that  dexterity  which  never  forsook  him,  he  made  a 
show  of  defence,  while  he  substantially  conceded  what  was  alone 
worth  defending,  and  gave  to  his  retreat  the  air  of  a  victory.  What 
he  thought  of  his  cause,  may  be  learnt  from  the  desponding  resolu- 
tion with  which  he  takes  leave  of  the  controversy,  and  with  which, 
therefore,  tliis  History  may  not  improperly  take  leave  of  him. 

*  Page  38.0. 


CHAP,  tl.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETy.  569 

*'  I  have  long  since"  (says  the  Professor)  "  abandoned  the  thought 
of  opposing  the  Bible  Society.  When  an  Institution  is  supported 
with  all  the  fervour  of  I'eligious  enthusiasm,  and  is  aided  by  the  weight 
of  such  powerful  additional  causes,  an  attempt  to  oppose  it,  is  like  at- 
tempting to  oppose  a  torrent  of  burning  lava  that  issues  from  Etna  or 
Vesuvius/' 

The  dawn  of  those  successes  on  the  Continent,  which  terminated 
at  length  in  the  deliverance  and  resettlement  of  Europe,  had  a  very 
propitious  effect  on  the  Society's  general  interests,  and  particularly 
on  its  operations  as  directed  to  foreign  parts.  Among  the  transac- 
tions which  arose  out  of  ihis  change  in  the  tide  of  poUtical  affairs, 
one  ©f  the  earliest  and  most  important  was,  that  which  respected  the 
treatment  of  prisoners  of  war,  as  successively  released,  and  dismiss- 
ed to  their  homes.  The  first  objects  of  this  description  were  the 
Dutch.  As  soon  as  it  had  been  ascertained  that  the  prisoners  of  war 
belonging  to  that  nation  were  about  to  be  conveyed  to  their  own 
shores,  ir  order  to  assist  in  restoring  their  ancient  constitution,  and 
their  legitimate  Sovereign,  stepr,  were  taken  to  give  them  a  valedic- 
tory proof  of  the  concern  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society 
for  their  spiritual  welfare,  by  the  gift  of  a  Bible.  To  this  exercise 
of  sympathy  the  Parent  Institution  was  stimulated  by  the  call  of  her 
vigilant  and  zealous  Auxiliary  at  Colchester.  More  than  100  copies 
of  the  Dutch  Bible  were  thus  distributed  amioog  the  naval  and  military 
prisoners  quartered  in  that  town.  "  It  was"  (said  one  of  that  Soci- 
ety's Secretaries,  the  indefatigable  Mr.  Burgess)  truly  gratifying  to 
observe  the  pleasing  emotions  with  which  the  books  were  received 
by  the  prisoners  ;  and  it  would  not  be  possible  to  ennm"rafc  tl-cr  va- 
rious expressions  of  gratitude  to  that  nation,  which  did  not  consider 
the  wants  of  Foreigners  as  un^vorihy  of  its  notice.  Among  the  pri- 
soners v/ere  several  CathcUcs  ;  and  it  was  with  great  pleasure  we  as- 
certained, that  many  persons  to  whom  we  had  given  books,  were  en- 
gaged, the  aftorpart  of  the  evening,  ia  reading  them." 

As  the  cause  of  the  Allies  succeeded,  and  the  French  prisoners  of 
war  obtained  a  similar  release,  considerable  supplies  of  French  Bi- 
bles and  Testaments  were  despatched  to  the  several  Naval  Depots, 
in  order  thct  the  numerous  subjects  of  that  nation,  returning  in  cartels 
to  their  respective  homes,  might  be  accommodated  with  the  means  of 
religious  instruction,  both  for  themselves  and  tiieir  families,  by  a  copy 
of  the  Scriptures  in  their  own  language.  The  boon  thus  provided 
was  often  very  anxiously  solicited  ;  and  not  a  few  cases  appeared,  in 
which  the  generosity  of  the  donors  was  affectingly  acknowledged  by 
the  warmest  effusions  of  gratitude  and  benediction. 

71 


570  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  l?ART  Uh 

In  the  mean  time,  the  general  distribution  of  the  Scriptures  to  this 
class  of  unfortunate  sufferers,  both  in  our  own  and  in  Foreign  coun- 
ti'ies,  had  proceeded,  and  continued  to  proceed,  with  unabating  alac- 
rity. It  has  been  seen  with  what  promptitude  and  tenderness  the  St. 
Petersburg  Bible  Society  flew  to  the  spiritual  relief  of  the  miserable 
captives  and  invalids  dispersed  throughout  the  Russian  Empire,  and 
ministered  to  them  those  divine  consolations  which  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society  had  placed  at  their  disposal.  A  similar  distri- 
bution was  made,  chiefly  through  individual  agents,  in  every  other 
part  of  the  world,  to  which  access  could  be  obtained  :  and  it  is  a  sub- 
ject of  grateful  satisfaction  to  reflect,  that  few  instances  occurred,  in 
which  the  copies  transmitted,  though  exposed  to  more  than  ordinary 
casualties,  failed  of  reaching  their  destination,  and  of  appearing  to 
accomplish,  in  some  degree  at  least,  the  end  for  which  they  were  sent. 

From  the  disturbed  state  of  the  interior  of  France  a  short  time  pre- 
viously to  the  fall  of  Napoleon,  a  supply  of  English  Bibles  and  Tes- 
taments, addressed  to  the  British  prisoners  at  Verdun,  were  unavoid- 
ably detained  at  Paris.*  Such  an  interception  of  their  gift  occa- 
sioned the  donors  no  little  concern.  They  had,  however,  the  satis- 
faction to  learn,  from  the  Rev.  W.  Gorden,  the  Chaplain  at  Verdun, 
(whose  gratitude  for  this  intended  kindness  to  his  companions  in  tribu- 
lation and  bondage,  was  very  warmly  expressed,)  that  "  the  Commit- 
tee for  the  management  of  the  charitable  fund,  had  appropriated,, 
from  time  to  time,  from  the  subscriptions  placed  at  their  disposal, 
such  sums  as  were  necessary  for  the  purchase  of  any  Bibles  which 
had  been  offered  for  sale ;  and  that  every  encouragement  had  been 
given  for  the  communication  of  religious  instruction  in  the  different 
depots  of  our  captive  countrymen." 

It  deserves  attention,  and  should  be  recorded  to  the  honour  of  the 
service,  as  w^ell  as  of  the  individuals  themselves,  that  the  different 
Chaplains  to  the  Forces  co-operated,  for  the  most  part,  with  great 
readiness  and  sympathy,  in  distributing  the  Scriptures  among  the  sub- 
jects of  their  spiritual  direction.  For  the  performance  of  this  pas- 
toral duty,  they  had  very  encouraging  examples  in  the  conduct  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Owen,  Chaplain  General  to  the  Army  and  Navy,  and  of  his 
assistant,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Dakins.  With  a  zeal  highly  creditable  to 
their  vigilance  and  humanity,  these  gentlemen  promoted,  on  every 
occasion,  so  much  of  the  Society's  object  as  respected  fox'eign  troops 
in  the  British  service,  and  such  other  foreigners  as  might,  throQgh 


♦  The  books  hare  since  been  released,  and  placed  at  the  disposal  of  tbc  Society^ 
by  the  kind  offices  of  Boron  Sylvester  de  Sacy. 


OiAP.  n.l  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  §71 

the  vicissitudes  of  war,  be  found  in  prisons  or  hospitals,  placed  under 
British  superintendence. 

A  pleasing  instance  of  attention  to  this  important  branch  of  pro- 
fessional duty,  appeared  in  a  communication  from  the  Rev.  S.  Leg- 
gatt,  Chaplain  to  the  British  Forces  at  Lisbon.     A  number  of  Bibles 
and  Testaments,  in  the  French,  Spanish,  German,  and  Italian  lan- 
guages, having  been  forwarded  to  him  from  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bib?e  Society,  through  one  of  its  agents  at  Portsmouth,  Mr.  Leggatt 
very  cheerfully  undertook  to  distribute  them  to  the  prisoners  taken 
from  the  French,  including  natives  of  different  parts  of  the  Conti- 
nent, and  of  which  the  garrison  at  Lisbon  was  made  the  general 
depot.     In  performing  this  service,  Mr.  Leggatt  adopted  so  judicious 
a  system  of  distribution,  that  of  the  vast  multitudes  which  passed  in 
succession  under  his  notice  and  care,  "  there  was  scarcely  a  man, 
who,  without  some  fault  of  his  own,  might  not  have  profited  by  his 
well-intended  exertion."*     The  manner  in  which  Mr.  Leggatt  en- 
deavoured  to  give  effect  to  the  boon,  as  he  dealt  it  out  both  in  the 
hospitals  and  prisons,  was  adapted  to  convey  an  impression  of  disin- 
terested kindness,  and  to  convince  the  receivers,  that  those  to  whom 
they  were  indebted  for  the  gift,  felt  a  real  concern  for  their  welfare. 
Five  hundred  prisoners  are  described,  on  one  occasion,  as  "  forming  a 
broad  line  of  a  magnificent  circle,"  and— while  "  their  ears  and  minds 
-were  intent"  on  the  prayer  offered  up  "  for  a  blessing  on  the  use  of 
what  they  were  about  to  receive"— having  "  their  eyes  in  the  mean 
time  concentred  on  the  small  pile,  in  the  midst  of  which  was  con- 
tained the  proposed  donation."     The  distributor  expresses  a  natural 
wish,  that  "some  of  the  patrons  and  supporters  of  an  Institution — 
which  is  considered  as  an  honour  to  our  country,"  could  have  wit- 
nessed this  scene,  and  have  beheld,  in  how  grateful  a  manner,  "  the 
chiefs  of  the  companies  into  which  they  were  divided,"  received  the 
copies  "  formally  delivered  to  them,  in  the  name  of  God,  as  to  un- 
derstanding men,  who  must  not  fail  to  apply  them,  in  a  strictly  con- 
scientious manner,  in  the  way  they  should  beUeve  to  be  most  advan- 
tageous  to  their  brethren  in  adversity."     Mr.  Leggatt  adds  :    "  the 
ardour  with  which  books  of  any  kind  would  be  embraced,  as  a  source 
of  entertainment,  by  a  body  of  exiled  and  secluded  men,  more  than 
two-thirds  of  whom  can  read,  may  be  well  imagined;  and  the  effect 
that  may  probably  be  produced,  by  turning  the  love  of  novelty  and 
desire  of  information,  that  are  natural  to  the  human  mind,  into  so 
pleasant  and  profitable  a  channel,  must  be  an  object  of  high  antiri= 

«  S«>e  hi^  Letter,  Tenth  Report,  Appendix,  p  12-2. 


572  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  llj. 

pation  ;  and  the  earnest  prayer  of  all  who  could  have  witnessed  sich 
a  scene,  must  have  been,  that  the  stream  of  heavenly  knowledge, 
commencing  in  a  small  fountain,  might  llow  on,  increasing  in  depth 
and  breadth,  till  it  should  open  into  an  ocean  of  eternal  bliss." 

To  those  who  know  how  to  appreciate  the  value  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
tures in  circumstances  such  as  thoso  v/hich  have  been  described,  it 
must  appear,  of  how  great  importance  it  was  to  the  proiicable  exer- 
cise of  this  Chaplain's  muiisteriai  functions,  that  such  means  of  in- 
struction aiid  consolation  should  hitve  been  so  seasonably  and  so 
abundantly  put  into  his  hands.  Without  exalting  unduly  the  preten- 
sions of  the  Society,  it  may  be  suggested  as  probable,  that,  but  for  its 
exertions  in  this  department  of  beneficence,  many  thousands  of  un- 
fortunate captives  would  have  been  immured  in  our  prisons,  and  lan- 
guished in  our  hospitals,  v/ithout  obtaining  any  spiritual  relief,  or  even 
exciting,  to  any  useful  purpose,  the  feelings  of  religious  commisera- 
tion. That  such  would  have  been  the  event  in  the  instance  just 
quoted,  appears  from  Mr.  Leggatt's  confession  :  and  as  that  confession 
may  be  regarded  as  descriptive  of  other  cases,  no  less  than  his  own, 
it  shall  be  given  in  the  ingenuous  and  grateful  terms  in  which  he  has 
expressed  it : 

"  Engaged  as  I  have  been,  for  some  years  past,  in  an  unremitting 
round  of  the  arduous  duties  of  my  ovv'n  professional  department  in  this 
place,  had  not  the  books  in  question  been  volunteered  out  by  the  In- 
stitution, it  is  more  than  probable  that  my  mind  would  never  have 
considered  it  practicable  to  have  been  of  much  service  to  these  men  ; 
nor  that  I  had  made,  as  it  were,  time  for  any  exertion  in  their  behalf. 
With  such  an  opportunity  thus  thrown  upon  me,  the  motive  to  profit 
by  it  was  irresisUble  ;  and  I  may  flatter  myself,  that,  if  the  little  I 
have  said  to  these  pocr  captives  on  the  subject,  should  escape  their 
memory,  yet,  while  their  eyes  shall  see,  their  hands  shall  handle,  and 
their  hearts  continue  to  be  comforted  by,  that  word  of  life,  which, 
through  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  has  been  conveyed  to 
them,  they  must  entertain  a  sense  of  obligation  to  their  original  bene- 
factors, which  will  be  commensurate  in  duration  with  the  blessings 
derived  from  it." 

To  the  above,  as  referring  to  the  garrison  exclusively,  it  may  be 
added,  that  a  similar  distribution  was  made  of  Portuguese  Testaments, 
through  various  channels,  among  the  artificers  in  the  arsenals,  the 
crews  of  the  Bray:il  ships  and  merchantmen,  and  the  general  popu- 
lation of  Lisbon,  The  copies  thus  distributed  were,  for  the  most 
part,  very  gratefully  received.  In  some  cases  the  applications  for 
them  were  affcctingly  earnegt;  and  from  an  instance  particularly  speci- 


CHAP.  11.]  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  573 

fied,  in  which  a  Portuguese  expressed,  "  How  good  it  was  for  him  to 
read  the  Scriptures,"  as  well  3S  from  a  knowledge  of  the  fact,  that 
the  receivers  actually  read  the  Testaments  for  their  own  benefit,  and 
for  that  of  their  neighbours, — there  is  ground  for  concluding,  that  in 
this,  as  well  as  in  the  department  before  described,  the  exertions  of 
the  Society  in  the  Portuguese  metropoHs,  were  not  unattended  with 
some  portion  of  the  desired  effect. 

Nor  was  the  exercise  of  kindness  towards  enemies  confined  to 
Great  Pritain  and  her  AlUes.  America,  between  which  and  the  for- 
mer a  most  unnatural  war  (now  happily  terminated)  continued  to 
rage,  followed  in  the  same  steps,  and  claimed  her  share  also  in  this 
work  of  compassion  and  mercy.  It  has  been  seen  with  what  eager 
generosity  the  Bible  Society  of  Massachusetts  replaced  the  Scrip- 
tures which  had  been  diverted  from  their  destination  by  the  casual- 
ties of  war.  The  Bible  Societies  in  the  other  States  were  observed  to 
be  no  less  zealously  active  in  furnishing  with  copies  of  the  Scriptures 
such  British  prisoners  as  were  brought  within  the  reach  of  their 
benevolent  attentions.  This  was  particularly  the  fact  at  New-Or- 
leans, where  the  Louisiana*  Bible  Society  repaid  to  our  gallant, 
but  unfortunate  countrymen,  some  part  of  that  debt  which  had  been 
contracted  in  the  case  of  their  own,  confined  in  the  prisons  of  Great 
Britain.  Kow  strongly  this  latter  obligation  was  felt  by  our  Trans- 
Atlantic  brethren,  may  be  judged  of  by  the  manner  in  which  the  Se- 
cretary of  the  Virginia  Bible  Society  refers  to  the  emotion  produced 
on  tiiat  body,  "  when,  for  the  first  time,  it  was  communicated  to  them, 
that  the  American  prisoners  in  England  had  received  the  particular  at- 
tention of  our  agents  for  the  distribution  of  Bibles."  "  I  will  not 
attempt"  (observes  the  Secretary)  "  to  express  the  pleasure  which 
this  communication  has  a£Forded.  Who,  that  has  the  feehngs  of  a  man, 
or  a  Christian,  will  not  be  delighted  to  see,  amidst  the  calamities  and 
desolations  of  war,  the  mild  genius  of  Christianity  dispensing  its  bless- 
ings,  and  affording  its  consolations  ;"  This  reflection  will  be  strength- 
ened by  the  consideration,  that  the  attention  sofeehngly  adverted  to, 
was  mutual ;  that  the  subjects  of  both  countries  were  reciprocatino- 
towards  each  other  these  offices  of  love,  and  striving  who  should  best 
fulfil  the  law  of  Christ, — by  recompensing  evil  with  good. 

*  la  the  Report  of  this  Society,  under  the  head  of  «  English  Bibles  distributed," 
there  appears  the  following  article  : 

"  Sixty-four,  among /Arec  hundred  British  prisoners  in  the  public  prison  at  New- 
Orleans;  thirty,  among  three  hundred  patients  of  the  United  States  Hospital,  oi 
whom  one  hundred  and  eighty  were  British  prisoners.'" 


574  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [P^T  HI, 

To  the  active  influence  of  this  principle  it  is  to  be  ascribed,  that 
the  eariiest  advantage  was  taken  of  the  re-establishment  of  a  commu- 
nication with  France,  to  promote  exertions  for  the  moral  improvement 
of  a  people,  from  whose  misguided  and  restless  ambition  Great  Britain 
had  deeply  suffered,  not  indeed  in  her  territorial  possessions,  or  her 
political  strength,  but  in  the  resources  of  her  treasury,  and  the  blood 
of  her  subjects.  It  was  the  desire  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  to  rekindle  in  France  the  decayed  spirit  of  religion,  and  to 
awaken  a  zeal  for  the  dispersion  of  the  Scriptures  among  all  orders 
of  the  community.  Something  had  been  attempted  at  Paris,  with  a 
view  to  this  end,  through  the  mediation  of  the  deputies  from  the  Basle 
Society,  in  the  year  1812 ;  and  a  Bible  Committee,  formed  in  conse- 
quence of  their  exertions,  had  continued  to  exist  from  that  period. 
Previously  to  this  event,  the  Rev.  F.  Leo  had  projected,  during  a  visit 
to  Paris,  the  laudable,  but  arduous  undertaking  of  an  edition,  by  ste- 
reotype, of  Ostervald's  French  Testament,  for  the  use  of  the  Protes- 
tant part  of  that  nation.  To  this  work,  which  was  executed  with 
great  beauty  and  r.orrectnpss,  and  the  expense  of  Avhich  vvas  dis- 
charged by  voluntary  subscriptions,  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety contributed  600/.  These  were  promising  beginnings  :  but  they 
fell  grievously  short  of  the  remedy  which  was  wanted  for  the  igno- 
rance, infidelity,  and  licentiousness,  which  had  spread  their  morbid 
influence  through  a  country  inhabited  by  thirty  millions  of  people. 
The  conductors  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  were  sen- 
sible, that.,  besides  the  respect  which  is  due  from  one  independent  na- 
tion to  another,  particular  delicacy  and  caution  would  be  requisite  in 
all  their  intercourse  with  France.  Acting,  therefore,  on  those  prin- 
ciples which  had  uniformly  governed  their  proceedings  in  communica- 
tino-with  the  other  nations  of  Europe,  they  contented  themselves  witli 
presenting  copies  of  their  Reports  to  persons  of  character  and  inflii- 
ence,  both  in  the  capital  and  the  provinces,  and  in  conveying  such  in- 
formation of  the  nature  of  their  Society,  the  liberality  of  its  constitu- 
tion, the  simplicity  of  its  views,  and  the  utility  of  its  eff'ects,  as  might 
stimulate  Catholics  and  Protestants  to  copy  its  example,  and  profit  by 
its  assistance,  in  printing  and  disseminating  the  Holy  Scriptures  to  the 
widest  extent  among  the  members  of  their  respective  communions.* 
if  the  event  of  these  measures  did  not  correspond  with  the  sanguine 

♦  It  should  be  recorded,  to  the  honour  of  Thomas  Bates,  Esq.  of  Halton  Castle, 
in  the  County  of  Durham,  a  gentleman  whose  liberal  exertions  in  favour  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  have  been  for  many  years  so  conspicuous  in  the 
north  of  England,  that  he  presented  the  Society  with  a  post-obit  bond  for  2500/. 
ovc  thousand  pouvdi  of  which  were  to  be  appropriated  to  this  object 


CHAP.  Ill  Ar^D  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  575 

desires  (for  no  encouragement  liad  been  given  to  sanguine  expecta- 
tions) either  of  the  conductors  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, or  of  its  individual  supporters,  they  had,  at  least,  tho  effect  of 
establishing  a  communication,  from  the  influence  of  which,  under 
more  auspicious  circumstances,  some  good  results  might  be  expected 
hereafter  to  arise. 

But  it  must  not  be  dissembled,  that,  unless  the  moral  stupefaction 
which  has  succeeded  to  the  paroxysm  of  intidelity,  should  be  removed, 
the  influence  of  this  communication  will  operate  but  slowly,  and  with 
but  little  advantage.  For  any  movement  in  this  cause,  proportioned 
to  the  wants  and  the  resources  of  so  great  a  nation,  France  must  be 
indebted  to  the  awakened  energies  of  her  own  spirit,  and  to  the  ani- 
mated and  concurrent  exertions  of  her  own  subjects. 

Nor  should  it  be  forgotten,  that,  of  associated  eflbrts,  on  a  limited 
scale,  for  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures,  France  has  not  to  seek  a 
lesson,  or  an  example,  in  foreign  countries:  the  history  of  her  own 
will  furnish  her  with  both.  Let  her  call  to  mind  what  was  done  by 
certain  members  of  the  Gallican  Church,  at  the  commencement  of 
the  last  century  :  let  her  reflect,  that  at  that  period  a  Bible  Society 
EXISTED  IN  HER  CAPITAL  ;  and  that,  through  the  munificence  of  the 
rich,  and  the  liberality  of  persons  of  but  moderate  fortune,  repeated 
editions  of  an  authorized  New  Testament  were  printed,  and  dispersed 
at  a  reduced  price,  or  gratuitously,  both  in  Paris  and  in  the  provin- 
ces.* Let  her  be  reminded  of  the  sentiments  then  held  and  pro- 
mulged,  respecting  the  doctrine  contained  in  this  holy  Book — as  *'  un- 
questionably and  infinitely  surpassing  the  doctrine  of  all  the  saints ;" 
as  "  the  essential,  peculiar,  and  indispensable  rule"  for  the  direction 
of  "  all  Christians,"  and  "  the  law  by  which  they  shall  be  judged  at 
the  last  day."!  Let  her  also  be  reminded  of  the  high  authority  by 
which  the  study  of  it  was  at  that  time  recommended,  from  the  prece- 


*  For  an  interesting'  account  of  tliis  Societj',  sec  the  Preface  to  a  French  Nev^ 
Testament,  (selon  le  Vulgate,)  printed  at  Paris  in  1731.  For  the  communication  of 
this  fact  the  author  is  indebted  to  tlie  Rev.  J.  N.  Coleman,  of  Holwell,  near  Sher- 
borne, who  presented  the  Society  with  a  copy  of  the  Testament,  and  whose  trans- 
lation of  the  Preface,  &c.  may  be  seen  in  the  Christian  Observer  for  December, 
1815.  A  very  pious,  intelligent,  and  liberal  recommendation  of  the  Scriptures  to 
Catholics,  may  also  be  foutid  in  the  Preface  to  an  Italian  New  Testament,  printed 
by  authority  at  Bergamo  in  1791. 

t "  Cette  divine  doctrine,  qui,  sans  doute,  surpasse  influiment  la  doctrine  de  tous 
les  saints.  C'est  la  regie  cssentielle,  la  regie  propre,  et  indispensable,  de  tous  les 
Chretiens;  c'est  sur  cette  loi  qu'ils  scront  jug^tSs  an  dernier  jour."  Preface  as 
above. 


576 


HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH  [PART  Ilf. 


dent  of  "  the  holy  Virgin,  who  kept,  ruminated,  and  digested,  in  her 
heart,  the  truths,  the  mysteries,  the  virtues,  and  every  circanistance 
in  the  life  of  Christ,"* — down  to  that  of  "  Saint  Louis,"  who  waf 
accustomed  to  say,  that  "  he  had  rather  be  deprived  of  his  crown 
than  of  the  perusal  of  the  Holy  Scriptures."!  Let  but  this  Associa- 
tion|  be  revived,  or  one  similar  to  it  established,  in  Paris :  let  the 
successor  of  St.  Louis  take  it  under  his  patronage,  and  extend  its 
provisions,  on  the  principles  of  his  charter,  so  as  to  accomjiodate  all 
the  subjects  of  his  realm — France  will  then  acquire  a  greatness  which 
never  could  have  been  conferred  upon  her  by  the  spoils  of  the  Va- 
tican, or  the  occupation  of  the  Kremlin  ;  she  will  see  her  population 
return  to  order,  obedience,  and  happiness  ;  and  she  will  compensate, 
in  some  degree,  for  the  wounds  she  has  inflicted,  and  the  poisons  she 
has  S'^.attered,  by  aiding  the  dissemination  of  that  word  which  has  been 
imparled  both  for  the  nourishment  and  the  healing  of  the  nations. 

The  transactions  of  the  year  having  thus  been  detailed,  nothing 
now  remains,  but  briefly  to  record  the  interesting  solemnity  by  which 
it  was  closed.  On  the  4th  of  May,  and  at  the  usual  place,  the  Tenth 
Anniversary  of  the  Institution  was  celebrated.  The  crisis  at  which 
the  members  assembled,  was  extraordinary,  and  in  a  high  degree 
favourable  to  the  object  of  their  Meeting.  Europe  had  recently 
been  delivered  from  bondage  and  terror :  the  principal  instruments 
of  its  liberation  were  the  warmest  patrons  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society  ;  and  the  peace  with  which  they  had  sealed  that  de- 
liverance, was  of  a  moral,  rather  than  a  political  character  :  it  was 
"  not  an  arrangement  of  diplomatic  artifice,  endeavouring,  by  subtle 
contrivance,  to  obtain  advantages  which  the  force  of  arms  had  failed 

*  "  Imitons  la  sainte  Vicrgc,  qui  conscrvoit,  repaissoit,  ct  digeroit,  dans  son  cccur, 
les  verites,  les  mysti-res,  les  vertus,  et  cbaque  circonstance  He  la  vie  de  Jesus 
Christ."     lb. 

t  "  II  aimcroit  niieux  ttrc  priv6  dc  sa  couronne,  que  de  la  lecture  des  livres  sa- 
cr6s."    Ih. 

X  Wliat  opinion  the  members  of  the  Association  referred  to,  entertained  of  the 
entire  Bible,  may  be  inferred  from  the  following  passage,  in  the  "  Avertisement" 
which  follows  the  Preface  before  quoted  :  "  L'Ancien  Testament  renferme  Ic  Nou- 
veau,  comme  dans  sa  scmcncc,  et  en  figure  les  mystc'res.  Le  Nouveau  Testament 
dcveloppe  I'Ancicn,  ot  en  fait  recueillir  le  fruit.  Toutts  lex  parties  des  Divines  J'cri- 
iures  ont  clc  dictcespur  le  mime  Esprit,  qui  est  V Esprit  dc  Dieu  ;  ct  tendcnt  tovlcs 
«u  memc  but." 

"  The  Old  Testament  contains  the  New,  as  in  its  seed,  and  shadows  forth  its  mys- 
teries. The  New  TL'staraent  developes  the  Old,  and  enables  us  to  gather  its  fruit. 
All  the  parts  of  the  Diiune  Scriptures  haxc  been  dictated  by  ikt  tame  Spirit,  wkiih 
M  the  Spirit  of  God;  and  all  lend  to  the  samv  object." 


CHAP.  II.]  AKD  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY.  577 

to  secure ;  not  the  pause  of  exhausted  combatanis,  waiiJn*  to  recover 
strength  for  the  renewal  of  the  contest :  but  the  cordial  reconcilia- 
tion of  friends  and  Christians,  casting  away  inveterate  prejudice  and 
ready  to  embrace  as  brethren  whom  some  delusion  had  estranged."* 
These  considerations,  added  to  the  entrance  of  the  Society  into  the 
United  Netherlands,  the  hope  of  its  future  admission  into  the  territo- 
ries of  France,  and  the  actual  presence  of  many  individuals,  from 
distant  parts  of  the  world,  representing  so  many  constituent  portions 
«f  the  Bihle  Confederation — gave  to  the  scene  exhibited  on  the  Tenth 
Anniversaij-,  new  circumstances  of  splendour,  interest,  and  effect. 

Supported  by  Ilrf  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  Kent,  the  Chan- 
cellor of  the  ExcJiCquer,  and  a  numerous  assemblage  of  Prelates,  and 
other  Person^^es  connected  with  the  Institution,  the  President  re- 
ported, to  a  deeply  attentive  auditory,  the  fruits  of  the  Society's  la- 
bours, during  the  course  of  this  eventful  and  highly  prolific  year.  It 
was  matcer  of  great  and  general  exultation,  that,  while  the  Noble 
Lord  hud  to  exhibit,  as  part  of  those  fruits,  a  gross  income  of  more 
tha/i  87,000/.  and  an  issue  of  Bibles  and  Testaments  from  the  Lon- 
don Depository,  amounting  to  more  than  350,000  copies, — while  he 
had  to  stale  an  addition  to  the  list  of  confederated  Societies,  of  sixty- 
seven,  within  the  United  Kingdom,  and  of  multitudes  abroad,  among 
which  were  some  of  high  consideration  and  abundant  promise, — while 
he  had  to  describe  the  acceptableness  of  the  Institution  wherever  it 
appeared,  and  its  "  tendency  to  unite  Christians,  of  every  name, 
throughout  the  world,  in  one  golden  chain  of  harmony  and  love,"t — 
his  Lordship  could  appeal,  for  the  support  and  illustration  of  his 
strongest  statements,  and  his  most  glowing  descriptions,  not  only  to 
domestic,  but  to  foreign  witnesses ;  not  merely  to  deputies  attending 
from  British  Bible  Societies,  but  to  the  organs  and  representatives  of 
kindred  Institutions  in  some  of  the  most  important  countries  of  both 
hemispheres.  When  the  Rev.  Mr.  Paterson,  from  St.  Petersburg, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Pinkerton,  from  Moscow,  His  Excellency,  Comte  de  la 
Gardie,  from  Stockholm,  and  the  Rev,  Dr.  Romeyn,  from  New- York, 
successively  rose,  and  addressed  the  Meeting,  the  Russian,  Swedish, 
and  American  Societies  appeared  to  unite  their  oral  testimonies  to  the 
written  documents  in  proof  of  the  usefulness  of  the  Parent  Institution, 
and  to  proclaim,  beyond  the  power  of  contradiction,  the  achieve- 
ments of  its  energy,  and  the  triumphs  of  its  benevolence. 

•  Speed/of  tlic  Chancellor  of  tlie  Exchequer,  at  the  .iniiivcrsarj. 
I  President's  .'Speech. 


573  HISTORY  OF  THE  BRITISH,  &c.  [PART  III. 

To  this  grand  and  impressive  feature  of  the  Tenth  Anniversary, 
every  eye  appeared  to  turn  with  eager  attention,  and  every  heart  to 
respond  with  emotions  of  admiration  and  joy.  It  invested  the  So- 
ciety with  a  pecuhar  glory,  and  seemed  to  announce  the  near  ap- 
proach of  a  period,  "  when,  in  ttiese  annual  meetings,  instead  of 
welcoming  the  inhabitants  of  a  few  countries  only,  we  may  hail  the 
union  of  natives  of  every  quarter  of  ihe  globe  ;  when,  even  fi'om 
distant  realms,  the  delegates  of  a  thousand  Sister  Societies  may  has- 
ten to  pay  homage  to  the  Parent  Society  ;  to  announce  the  progress- 
ive triumphs  of  this  cause ;  to  tell  of  kindred  Institutions  starting 
up,  on  the  banks  of  remote  rivers,  and  in  the  depths  of  hidden  val- 
leys ;  to  proclaim  the  diffusion  of  these  celestial  treasures  over  re- 
gions as  yet  unknown,  as  yet  unvisited  by  ambition  o?  avarice,  and 
first  explored  by  the  dauntless  spirit  of  British  benevolente.  At  that 
period,  with  what  transport  will  the  records  of  this  Society  be  traced ! 
What  blessings  will  be  poured  on  the  hour  of  its  birth  ;  on  the  nation 
which  gave  it  being ;  on  the  names  of  those  who  have  watched  over 
its  infancy,  and  contributed  to  its  success !  And  surely  in  the  long 
list  of  its  distinguished  supporters,  a  peculiar  gratitude  will  rest  oa 
those  who,  placed  in  the  highest  rank  and  station,  have  thought  it  no 
dishonour  to  associate  their  greatness  with  such  an  object ;  and  who, 
with  no  less  justness  of  taste,  than  of  feeling,  have  perceived,  that, 
in  rallying  round  this  standard,  they  are  rallying  round  that  which  is 
not  only  the  best  security  of  social  order,  the  best  guard  of  social  hap- 
piness, but  is  also  the  pledge  and  promise  of  a  felicity  above  the 
Marmest  Gonceptions  of  the  human  imagination."* 

»  Sjieech  of  Charles  Giant,  Jun.  Esq. 


APPENDIX. 

— -it>oo- — 

No.  I. 

Patrons,  Officers,  ^-c.  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 

PRESIDENT, 

RIGHT  HO  jr.  LORD  TEIGJ^MOUTH. 

Vice  Presidents, 
The  Most  Rev.  The  ARCHBISHOP  of  CASHEL. 
Hon.  and  Right  Rev.  LORD  BISHOP  of  DURHAHT. 
Right  Rev.  LORD  BISHOP  of  SALISBURY. 
Rig:ht  Rev.  LORD  BISHOP  of  CHICHESTER. 
Right  Rev.  LORD  BISHOP  of  NORWICH. 
Hon.  and  Right  Rev.  LORD  BISHOP  of  GLOUCESTER- 
Right  Rev.  LORD  BISHOP  of  BRISTOL. 
Right  Rev.  LORD  BISHOP  of  ST.  DAVID'S. 
Right  Rev.  LORD  BISHOP  of  LANDAFF. 
Right  Rev.  LORD  BISHOP  of  MEATH. 
Right  Rev.  LORD  BISHOP  of  KILDARE. 
Right  Rev.  LORD  BISHOP  of  DERRY. 
Right  Rev.  LORD  BISHOP  of  CLOGHER. 
Right  Rev.  LORD  BISHOP  of  CLOYNE- 
The  Very  Rev.  the  DEAN  of  CARLISLE. 
The  Very  Rev.  the  DEAN  of  BRISTOL. 
Right  Hon.  EARL  of  MOIRA,  Governor  General  of  India. 
Right  Hon.  EARL  of  LIVERPOOL,  First  Lord  of  the  Treasury,  &c. 
Right  Hon.  EARL  of  ROMNEY. 

Right  Hon.  EARL  of  HARROWBY,  President  of  the  Council. 
Right  Hon.  Admiral  LORD  GAMBIER. 
Right  Hon.  LORD  HEADLEY. 
Right  Hon.  NICHOLAS  VANSITTART,  M.  P.  Chancellor  of  His  Majesty' 

Exchequer,  &c. 
Right  Hon.  Sir  EVAN  NEPEAN,  Bart.  Governor  of  Bombay. 
Sir  WILLIAM  PEPPERELL,  Bart. 
Sir  THOMAS  BERNARD,  Bart. 
Sir  GORE  OUSELY,  Bart. 
CHARLES  GRANT,  Esq.  M.  P. 
WILLIAM  WILBERFOCE,  Esq.  M.  P. 
THOMAS  BABINGTON,  Esq.  M.  P. 


-c,Q  APPENDIX. 

Treasurer, 
John  TnoRNTON,  Esq.  King's  Arms  Yard,  Coleman-street, 

Secretaries, 

Rev.  John  Owen,  M.  A.  Rector  of  Pagleshain,  Jlssexj 
(Address,  Fiilham,  Middicsex.) 

Rev.  Joseph  Hughes,  M.  A.  Battersea. 

Hev.  CnAS.  Fr.  Ad.  Steinkopff,  M.  A.  Minister  of  the  German  Lutheran  Churvk, 
Savoy,  London. 

Assistant  Secretary  and  Accountant, 

Mr.  Joseph  Tarn,  Earl-street,  Blackfriars,  London ; 

to  whom  Correspondence  concerning  the  Fundi  is  to  be  addressed- 

Collector, 

Mr.  Anthony  Wagner,  3,  Grosvenor-ro^v,  Chelsea; 

to  whom  Correspondence  concerning  Subscriptions  is  to  be  addressed. 

Depositary, 

Mr.  Richard  Cockle,  Earl-street,  Blackfriars,  London; 

l>  whom  Correspondence  concerning  Svppliex  of  Bibles  and  Testaments  is  to  be 

addreascd. 

N.  B.  The  above  arrangement  (which  will  not  take  effect  till  after  Midsummer 
next)  has  been  made  in  consequence  of  the  Society  having  purchased  Premises  in 
Earl-street,  where  all  its  business  will  in  future  be  transacted.  Mr.  Seeley,  who 
has  hitherto  acted  as  the  Society's  Depository  with  so  much  advantage  to  its  in- 
terest, will  continue  to  receive  Subscriptions  on  its  account. 

Subscriptions  and  Donations  are  also  received  by  Messrs.  Pole,  Thornton, 
and  Co.  Bartholomew-lane;  Hi.iikey  and  Co  Fenchurch-street;  Lubbock  and  Co. 
Mansion-house-street ;  Chatteris,  VVhitmore,  and  Co.  Lombard-street;  Hcares,  Fleet- 
street;  Hammerslcys,  Pall-Mail;  Morlaud  and  Co.  Pall-Mall;  Alexander  Duncan^ 
Esq.  Edinburgh  ;  Archibald  Newbigging,  Esq.  Glasgow ;  and  by  Mr.  John  Hatch, 
ss^-d,  190  Piccadilly. 
J»/arcM,  18ie. 


No.  II. 

Rules  for  Auxiliary  Societies,  Branch  Societies,  and  Bible  Assocc- 

tions. 

FOR  AN  AUXILIARY  SOCIETY. 

1.  That  the  Object  and  Cour-titufion  of  the  Britieh  and  Foreign  Bible  Societ* 
have  the  cordial  approbation  of  this  Meeting. 


APPE^'Dlx,  581 

2.  That  a   Society  be  formed,  to  be   called  "  llie  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  of 

,"  for  the  purpose  of  co-operating  v/ith  the  Urilish  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society,  in  promoting-  the  distribution  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  both  at 
borne  and  abroad. 

3.  That,  conformably  to  the  principles  of  the  Parent  Institution,  the  Bibles  and 
Testaineiits  to  be  circulated  by  this  Society,  shall  be  without  Note  or  Comment, 
and  those  in  the  languages  of  the  United  Kingdom  of  the  authorized  ver'iiou  only. 

4.  That  all  persons  subscribing  One  Guinea  per  annum,  or  upwards,  or  Ten 
Guineas  or  upwards  at  one  time,  shall  be  Members  of  this  Society. 

5.  That  the  business  of  this  Society  shall  be  conducted  by  a  President,  Vice 
Presidents,  a  Treasurer,  Secretaries,  ajid  a  Committee  consisting  of 

other  Members,  half  of  whom  shall  be  Mcn)bers  of  the  Established  Church ;  an<! 
tliat  Members  of  this  Committee  constitute  a  qr.ornrn. 

6.  Tliat  every  Clergyman,  or  other  Minister,  who  is  a  Member  of  (he  Society, 
shall  be  entitled  to  attend  and  vote  at  the  Meetings  of  the  Cotnniittee. 

7.  That  the  Committee  shall  meet  once  every  Month,  or  oftener,  on  some  day  to 
be  fixed  by  themselves. 

8.  That  the  Committee  divide  this  Town  and  Neighbourhood  into  Districts,  and 
appoint  two  or  more  of  their  Members  for  each  District,  who  may  associate  with 
themselves  any  Subscribers,  for  the  purpose  of  soliciting  Subscriptions  and  Dona- 
tions from  the  inhabitants  thersof;  and  that  they  establish  proper  Agents  and  Cor- 
respondents ill  different  parts  within  the  limits  of  this  Auxiliary  Society. 

9.  That  the  whole  of  the  Subscriptions  and  Donations  received  by  the  Society, 
shall  be  from  time  to  time  remittee!,  after  deducting  incidental  expenses,  to  the  Pa- 
rent Institution,  in  consideration  of  the  advantages  held  out  to  Auxiliary  Societies  ; 
viz.  "That  the  Committees  of  such  Societies  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  Bibles  and 
Testaments,  estimated  at  prime  cost,  to  the  amount  of  half  (he  entire  sum  remitted 
to  the  Parent  Institution,  if  their  local  necessities  shall  require  such  a  supply:  and 
further,  that  the  Members  of  Auxiliary  Societies  shall  be  entitled  to  (be  privilege 
of  purchasing  from  the  Depository  of  such  Auxiliary  Societies,  Bibles  and  Testa- 
ments on  the  same  conditions  as  the  Members  of  the  Parent  Institution." 

10.  That,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  full  effect  to  the  benevolent  design  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  in  their  Grant  of  the  Scriptures  for  distribution 
among  the  poor,  the  Committee  shall  make  it  their  business  to  inquire  what  families 
or  individuals,  residing  within  their  several  Districts,  are  in  want  of  Bibles  or  Tes- 
taments, and  unable  to  procure  them ;  and  that  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Commit- 
tee to  furnish  them  therewith  at  prime  cost,  reduced  prices,  or  gratis,  according  to 
their  circumstances. 

11.  That,  for  the  still  further  promoting  of  (he  circulation  of  the  Scriptures,  it  i» 
expedient  to  encourage  the  formation  of  Branch  Societies  of  such  districts  within 
the  sphere  of  this  Auxiliary  Society,  as  may  not  be  sufficiently  populous  to  form 
Auxiliary  Societies  of  their  own;  such  Branch  Societies,  and  the  individual  Mem- 
bers thereof,  to  be  endtled  to  the  same  privileges  from  the  Auxiliary  Society,  as  it 
and  its  individual  Members  enjoy  from  the  Parent  Institution. 

12.  That  such  persons  as  may  not  find  it  convenient  to  become  IMerabers  of  the 
Auxiliary  Society,  or  of  any  one  of  its  Branches,  shall,  upon  forming  themselves 
into  Bible  Associations,  be  entitled  to  purchase  at  (he  DcposKory  of  this  Society, 
wnder  the  direction  of  the  Committee,  copies  of  (he  Scriptures,  at  prime  cost,  for 
gratuitous  distribution,  or  sale  at  prime  cost  or  reduced  prices,  among  their  poorer 
neighbours." 

13.  That  all  Clergymen,  and  other  IVIinisters,  within  the  sphere  of  this  Society, 
making  Collections  in  their  respective  Congregations  in  behalf  of  the  Institution, 
shall  be  entitled,  on  remitting  such  Collections  to  the  Treasurer  of  this  Society,  to 
receive  Bibles  and  Testaments  to  an  amount,  not  exceeding  one-half  of  the  said 
respective  Collections,  estimated  at  prime  cost,  as  shall  be  found  to  be  needed  by 
the  poor  in  the  viciuity:  such  return  of  Bibles  and  Testaments  to  be  claimed  within 


582  APPENDIX. 

one  year  from  the  rcmittaneo  of  the  Collection.  It  is  recommended,  in  all  practi- 
cable cases,  to  supply  the  poor  by  sale,  rather  than  by  gift. 

14.  f  nat  a  General  Meeting'  of  the  Subscribers  be  held  at  the 

iu  each  year,  when  the  Accounts  shall  be  presented,  the  Proceedings  of  the  past 
year  stated,  a  new  CoiniKittec  appointed,  and  a  Report  agreed  upon,  to  be  printed 
under  the  direction  of  the  Committee,  and  circulated  among  the  Members. 

15.  That,  in  the  formation  of  the  new  Committee,  the  Treasurer,  Secretaries, 
and  such  three-fourths  of  the  other  Members  as  have  most  frequently  attended  the 
Committee,  shall  be  re-eligiblc  for  the  ensuing  year. 

16.  That  be  President,  Vice  Presidents,  Treasurer, 

Secretaries,  and  Members  of  the  Committee  for  the  year  ensu- 

ing. 

17.  That  Annual  Subscriptions  and  Donations  be  now  entered  into,  and  that 
they  be  also  received  by  the  Treasurer,  and  the  several  Bankers  of  this  town  and 
neighbourhood. 

18.  That  these  Resolutions  be  published  in  such  manner  as  the  Committee  may 
direct;  and  that  a  copy  of  them,  signed  by  the  Chairman,  be  transmitted  to  the 
President  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 

19.  That  the  Committee  meet  the  instant,  at  o'clock, 
and  prepare,  print,  and  circulate  an  Address  on  the  Object  and  Views  of  this 
Society. 

N.  B.  It  will  be  found  very  advantageous  for  the  Committee  to  hold  their 
first  Meeting  on  as  early  a  day  as  possible,  \vhile  the  subject  is  fresh  on  the 
minds  of  the  Members. 


FOR  A  BRANCH  SOCIETY. 


1.  That  the  Object  and  Constitution  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society 
bave  the  cordial  approbation  of  this  Meeting. 

2.  That  a  Society  be  formed,  to  be  called,  "  The    Branch  Bible  Society  of 

,"  for  the  purpose  of  co-operating  with  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  in  promoting  the  distribution  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  both  at  home 
and  abroad. 

3.  That,  conformably  to  the  principles  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
the  Bibles  and  Testaments  to  be  circulated  by  this  Society,  shall  be  without  note 
or  comment,  and  those  iu  the  languages  of  the  United  Kingdom  of  the  authorized 
version  only. 

4.  That  ail  persons  subscribing  One  Guinea  per  annum,  or  upwards,  or  Tea 
Guineas, or  upwards, atone  time,  shall  be  Members  of  this  Society. 

5.  That  the  business  of  this  Society  shall  be  conducted  by  a  President,  Vice 
Presidents,  a  Treasurer,  Secretaries,  and  a  Committee  consisting  of 

other  Members,  half  of  whom  shall  be  Members  of  the  Established  Church;  and 
that  Members  of  this  Cojnmittce  constitute  a  quorum. 

6.  That  every  Clergyman,  or  other  Minister,  \pho  is  a  Member  of  the  Society, 
shall  be  entitled  to  attend  and  vote  at  the  Meetings  of  the  Committee. 

7.  That  the  Committee  shall  meet  once  every  month,  oroftencr,  on  some  day  ta 
be  fixed  by  themselves. 

8.  That  the  Committee  divide  this  neighbourhood  into  Districts,  and  appoint  two 
or  more  of  their  Members  for  each  District,  who  may  associate  with  themselves 
any  Subscribers,  for  the  purpose  of  soliciting  Subscriptions  and  Donaiious  from 
the  inhabitants  thereof;  and  that  they  establish  proper  Agents  and  Correspondents 
in  different  parts  within  the  limits  of  this  Branch  Society. 


APPENDIX.  5g3 

9.  That  the  whole  of  the  Subscriptions  and  Donations  received  by  this  Society 
shall  be  remitted  half-yearly,  after  deducting  incidental  expenses,  to  the  Auxiliary 
Bible  Society  of  ,  on  condition  of  suoh  Society  granting  to  this  the 
sarac  privileges  which  the  Pareat  Institution  grants,  in  such  case,  to  its  Auxiliary 
Societies. 

10.  That  the  Committee  shall  make  it  their  business  to  inquire  what  families  or 
individuals,  residing  within  the  several  Districts,  are  in  want  of  Bibles  or  Testa- 
ments, and  unable  to  procure  them;  and  that  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee 
to  furnish  them  therewith  at  prime  cost,  reduced  prices,  or  gratis,  according  to  their 
circumstances. 

11.  That  such  persons  as  may  not  find  it  convenient  to  become  Members  of  this 
Society,  shall,  upon  forming  themselves  into  Bible  Associations,  be  entitled  to  pur- 
chase at  the  Depository  of  this  Society,  under  the  direction  of  the  ConiinittL-e,  co- 
pies of  the  Scriptures  at  prime  cost,  for  gratuitous  distribution,  or  sale  at  prime  cost 
or  reduced  prices,  among  their  poorer  neighbours. 

12.  That  all  Clergymen,  and  other  Ministers,  within  the  sphere  of  this  Society, 
making  Collections  in  their  respective  Congregations  in  behalf  of  the  institution, 
shall  be  entitled,  on  remitting  such  Collections  to  the  Treasurer  of  this  Society,  to 
receive  Bibles  and  Testaments  to  an  amount,  not  exceeding  one-half  of  the  said 
respective  Collections,  estimated  at  prime  cost,  as  shall  be  found  to  be  needed  by 
the  poor  in  the  vicinity ;  such  return  of  Bibles  and  Testaments  to  be  claimed  within 
one  year  from  the  remittance  of  the  Collection.  It  is  recommended,  in  all  practi- 
cable cases,  to  supply  the  poor  by  sale,  rather  than  by  gift. 

13.  That  a  General  Meeting  of  the  Subscribers  be  held  at 

the  in  each  year,  when  the  accounts  shall  be  presented,  the  Pro- 

ceedings of  the  past  year  stated,  a  new  Committee  formed,  and  a  Report  agreed 
upon,  to  be  printed  under  the  direction  of  the  Committee,  and  circulated  among 
the  Members. 

14.  That,  in  the  formation  of  the  new  Committee,  the  Treasurer,  the  Secretaries, 
and  such  three-fourths  of  the  other  Members  as  have  most  frequently  attended  the 
Committee,  shall  be  re-eligible  for  the  ensuing  year. 

15.  That  be  President,  Vice  Presidents, 
Treasurer,                  Secretaries,  and                  Members  of  the  Committee  for  the 
year  ensuing. 

16.  That  Annual  Subscriptions  and  Donations  be  now  entered  into,  and  that 
they  be  also  received  by  the  Treasurer,  and  the  several  Bankers  of  this  town  and 
neighbourhood. 

17.  That  these  Resolutions  be  published  in  such  manner  as  the  Committee  may 
direct  J  and  a  Copy  of  them,  signed  by  the  Chairman,  transmitted  to  the  President 
of  the  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  at 

18.  That  the  Committee  meet  the  instant,  at 

o'clock,  and  prepare,  print,  and  circulate  an  Address  ou  the  Objects  and  Views  of 
this  Society. 


FOR  A  BIBLE  ASSOCIATION. 

1.  That  an  Association  be  formed  for  the  purpose  of  Contributing  towards  the 
circulation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  without  note  or  comment,  particularly  among  the 
poor  of  this  neighbourhood,  and  that  it  be  denominated  the  Bible  Association 
of 

2.  That  every  Member  of  this  Association  subscribe  not  less  than  One  Penny  a 
week;  the  Contributions  to  be  payable  quarterly,  monthly,  or  weekly,  at  the  option 
'4  the  Subscribers. 


5S4  AfPEIVDIX. 

3.  That  for  every  twenty-four  Members,  the  Committee  appoint  a  gratuitous 
Collector,  (or  that  office  may  be  fillud  by  the  Subscribers  in  rotation,  each  for 
a  certain  period,)  to  receive  the  Contributions,  who  shall  pay  the  same  to  the  Trea- 
surer early  in  every  month. 

4.  That  the  business  of  the  Association  be  under  the  raanag-ement  of  a  Treasurer, 
a  Secretary,  and  a  Committee  consisting-  of  other  Members;  and  that 
the  Treasurer,  Secretary,  and  three-fourths  of  the  other  Members,  who  have  most 
frequently  attended  the  Committee,  shall  be  eligible  for  the  ensuing  year. 

5.  That  the  Committee  meet  once  every  mouth,  or  oftener,  on  some  day  to  be. 
fixed  by  themselves,  and  that  shall  form  a  quorum. 

6.  That  the  Committee  divide  this  neighbourhood  into  Districts,  and  appoint  a 
Sub-Committee  for  each  District,  for  the  purpose  of  soliciting  Subscriptions  from 
the  inhabitants  thereof 

7.  That  the  Committee  shall  make  it  their  business  to  inquire,  whether  any  fami- 
lies or  individuals,  residing  within  its  sphere,  are  in  want  of  Bibles  or  Testaments, 
and  unable  to  procure  them ;  in  which  case  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Committee 

-to  furnish  them  therewith  at  prime  cost,  reduced  prices,  or  gratis,  according  to  their 
circumstances. 

8.  That  the  funds  of  this  Association,  or  so  much  thereof  as  the  Committee  shall 
direct,  whether  arising  from  Subscriptions,  Donations,  or  the  sale  of  bibles  or 
Testaments,  at  prime  cost,  or  reduced  prices,  shall,  from  time  to  time,  be  expended 
in  the  purchase  of  Bibles  and  Testaments  at  prime  cu\f,  to  be  given  or  sold  among 
the  poor  of  this  neighbourhood,  as  before  directed,  and  that  the  remainder  of  such 
funds  shall  be  remitted  to  the  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  at  , 
or  the  Branch  Bible  Society  at  ,  in  aid  of  its  benevolent 
designs. 

0.  That  application  be  made  by  the  Committee  to  th6  Auxiliary  Bible  Society 
at  ,  or  to  the  Branch  Bible  Society  at  ,  for  per- 

mission to  lay  out  the  funds  of  this  Association,  in  purchasing  at  the  Depository 
«f  the  said  Society,  Bibles  and  Testaments  at  the  cost  prices. 

10.  That  a  General  Meeting  of  the  Subscribers  be  held  at 

the  in  each  year,  when  the  Accounts  (as  audited  by  the  Committee) 

shall  be  presented,  the  proceedings  of  the  past  year  reported,  and  a  Treasurer, 
Secretary,  and  Committee-men  appointed. 

11.  That  be  Treasurer,  Secretary,  and 
Members  of  the  Committee  for  the  year  ensuing. 

12.  That  Subscriptions  and  Donations  be  now  entered  into,  and  that  thoy  be 
also  received  by  the  Treasurer,  Secretary,  and  the  Members  of  the  Committee. 


FOR  A  MARINE*  BIBLE  ASSOCIATION. 

1.  That  we  form  ourselves  info  an  Association,  for  the  purpose  of  contributing 
towards  the  circulation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  without  note  or  comment,  and  that 
it  be  called,  "  The  Marine  Bible  Association  of  the  Ship  ,  Captain  ," 

2.  That  each  Member  of  this  Association  subscribe  not  less  than  One  Penny  a 
vj  eek. 

3.  That  ,  be  President  j  ,  Treasurer ;  and  , 
Secretary  of  this  Association.f 

^  This  species  of  Association  has  been  adfied  Fince  the  clo«e  of  the  tenth  year. 

t  On  hoard  of  large  ships,  the  Captaiu  sliould  be  Eolicited  to  become  President:  the  chief  Of- 
ficer Treasurer;  and  an  inferior  Officer  Secretary.  On  board  smaller  vessels,  the  .Waster  may 
fill  all  those  officer  himself;  or  the  .^late,  or  a  Sailor,  properly  qualified,  may  act  as  Secretary, 


APPENDIX.  ^g, 


4.  That  on  the  arrival  of  the  Ship  at  any  port  where  a  Bible  Society  is  esta 
ijlished,  the  Treasurer  be  requested  to  state  the  amount,  in  his  hands-  and  the 
whole,  or  such  proportion  of  it  as  the  Subscribers  shall  direct,  be  expended  in  the 
purchase  of  Copies  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  at  prime  cost,  from  the  Depository  of 
such  Society.  ^ 

5.  That  the  descriptions  of  Bibles  and  Testaments  to  be  purchased,  shall  be 
fixed  by  the  Subscribers.  ' 

6.  That  it  be  optional  ^vith  the  Subscribers,  to  vote  any  part  of  their  Funds  oc- 
casionally, for  the  geueral  purposes  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  •  the 
money  so  voted  to  be  paid  to  the  Committee  of  the  Bible  Society  at  any  port  where 
the  Ship  may  touch,  specifying  the  name  of  such  Sliip  and  Captain. 

7  That  all  orders  on  the  Treasurer  shall  be  signed  by  the  President,  Secretary 
and  two  other  Subscribers.  '    ci.iciaij', 

8.  That  three  Subscribers  shall  be  appointed  to  examine,  approve,  and  sign  the 
Treasurers  accounts,  previously  to  the  General  Report,  and  also  to  any  consider- 
able payment  out  of  the  Funds.  ^  »-""siuer 

t'J«  In?  'J^f^^''^^^y  «^«»  keep  minutes  of  all  the  proceedings  of  the  Associa- 
tion, and  shal^  in  connexion  with  the  President  or  Treasurer,  draw  up,  at  least 
Z'JJi?"'  '  ^TJ'  *°  ^'  ""'"^  P"^"*^'y  '"^  '^'  Subscribers:  which  Report  sha 
Es^i  ^'"?""*«'^;"«"^y  ••^•^^•ved  and  paid,  the  number  of  Bibles  and  Testa- 
ments sold  and  also  of  those  given,  the  beneficial  effects  produced  by  their  peru- 
sal, as  well  as  by  their  sale  or  gift  in  foreign  countries,  with  any  interesting  facte 
beSsm  t^VtT'.^''''"^''  ''^  ?^  Association:  a  Copy  of  wWch  ReporfsS 
crihTr  1  ^*^'^°'""''"''°^^"y  ^'^'"  •'^°"^ty  on  shore  which  the  Sub- 
.scnbers  may  think  proper. 


No.  IV. 

COMPENDIUM  of  the  History  of  the  British  and 

Foreign  Bible  Society  to  February y  1816. 

AUXILIARY  AND  BRANCH  SOCIETIES  IN  THE  UNITED 
KINGDOM  AND  ADJACENT  ISLANDS. 

Pno-lnnil  -*''^''  Branches.  Total. 

"a'Ps 22  20  42 

Berwick-upon-Tweed l  , 

Scotland \\\' * 

Ireland !!'.!!! 

Isle  of  Man .'!!.*!!.'!!! 

Guernsey '.'.'.'. 

Jersey 


154 

urancnes. 
152 

22 

20 



51 

65 

62 

z 

— 

235 

299 

116 

G6 

1 


534 


of  sVbsSrs' of' On'^^^^^^^^  %'^  ^'^  numerous  Bible  .Association.,  consisting  cbiefly 


7.3 


586  APPENDIX. 

Bible  Societies  established  in  Foreign  Parts,  encouraged  by  pecuniary 
aid  from  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  or  by  its  example. — 
Also  Editions  of  the  Scriptures  purchased,  printed,  or  printing  by 
them,  hi  various  Languages  and  Dialects,  aided  by  Donations  from 
the  same  Society. 

EUROPE.  Bibles.  Test. 

I.  German  Bible  Society  at  Basle,  instituted  1804 

1.  Geraian  Bibles  and  TestaoncDts 20000  15000 

2.  ^'rench  Bibles  and  Testaments 3000  4000 

3.  Romanese  Testaments,  2000  in  each  dialect 4000 

4    Italian  Testaments 3000 

II.  Zuricli  Bible  Society,  instituted  1812 

Germnn  Bibles  and  Testaments.    ..    3000  4000 

HI.  Chill-  Bible  Society,  instituted  1813 

Romanese  Bibles 3000  

IV.  Schatfhausen  Bible  Society,  instituted  1813. 

V.  St.  Gall  Bible  Society,  instituted  1813. 

VI.  Bern  Bible  Society. 

VII.  Lausanne  Bible  Society,  instituted  December  30,  1814. 

VIII.  Geneva  Bible  Society,  instituted  December  31,  1814. 

IX.  Hungarian  Bible  Institution  at  Presburg,  formed  in  1S12. 

Sclavonian  Testaments   3000 

X.  VVirteniberg  Bible  Society,  instituted  at  Stutgardt,  1812. 

German  Bibles  and  Testament? 15000  7C00 

XI.  IVassau-Homburg-  Bible  Societj ,  instituted  January  1,  1816. 

XII.  Berlin  Bible  Society,  instituted  1805 

1.  Bohemian  Bible,  two  editions 8000  

2.  Polish  Bibles  and  Testaments 8000  4000 

XIII.  Prussian  Bible  Society,  instituted  August  2,  1814,  with 

Auxiliary  Societies  at  Potsdam,  Dantzig,  Halle,  Breslau, 
Wesel,  and  other  places. 

XIV.  Kanigsberg  Bible  Society,  instituted  1S12 

Lithuanian  liibles  and  Testaments        3000  3000 

XV.  Elberfeld  Bible  Society,   for  the  Grand  Dutchy  of  Berg, 

instituted  July  13,  1814;  with  Auxiliary  Societies  at 
Cologne,  Solingen,  &c.  and  Bible  Associations  in  the 
Manufactories. 

XVI.  Thuringian  Bible  Society  at  Erfurt,  instituted  1814. 
XVH.  Eichsfekl  Bible  Society,  instituted  March  15,  1815;  with 

an  Auxiliary  Society  at  Nordhausen. 

XVIII.  Cleve  Bible  Society,  instituted  1815. 

XIX.  New-Wied  and  Wi'ed  Runckel   Bible  Society,  instituted 

January  8,  1818. 
XX    Saxon  Bible  Society,  instituted  August  10,  1814. 

XXI.  Hanover   Bible  Society,  instituted  July  25,  1814;    with 

an  Auxiliary  Society  at  Osnaburgh 

German  Hibles 10000  > 

XXII.  Brunswick  Bible  Society,  instituted  June  IS,  1815. 

XXIII.  Lubeck  Bible  Society,  instituted  September  16,  1814. 
XXiV.  Hambro-Altona  Bible  Society,  instituted  October  12,  1814. 

XXV.  Bremen  Bible  Society,  instituted  April,  1815. 

XXVI.  Frankfort  Bible  Society,  instituted  January  4,  1816. 

XXVII.  Strasburg  Bible  Society. 

XXVIII    Ratisbon  Bible  Society,  instituted  1805. 

German  Testaments 5OO0O 

XXIX.  Stockholm  Bible  Society,  instituted  1819. 

Swedish  Bibles  and  Testaments  (on  standin:?  types) IIOOO  17600 

XXX.  Gothenbursr  Bible  Society,  instituted  1813. 

XXXI.  Westeras  Bible  Society,  instituted  1813. 

Carried  forward 84000  1 14600 


APPENDIX.  587 

Brouslit  forward 81000  114600 

XXXII.  Island  of  Gothland   Bible  Society  at  Wisby,  insti- 

tuted 1813. 

XXXIII.  Swedish  Bible  Society,  instituted  ISl-l. 

XXXIV.  Lund  Bible  Society,  instituted  1815. 

XXXV.  Danish  Bible  Society,  instituted  1814. 

XXXVI.  Iceland  Bible  Society,  instituted  July,  1815. 

XXXVII.  Finnish  Bible  Society  at  Abo,  instituted  1812 

Finnish  Bibles  and  Testaments  (on  standing  types) 5O0O  5000 

It  is  in  contemidstion  to  form  AUXILIARY  SOCIETIES  and 
BIBLE  ASSOCIATIONS  throughout  Finland. 

XXXVIII.  Russian  Bible  Society  at  St.  Petersburg,  instituted 

Januai-y  23,  1813,  with  its  Auxiliaries  j  viz. 

XXXIX.  Moscow  Bible  Society,  instituted  July  16,  1813,;.  "  . 
XL.  Dorpatian  Bible  Society  at  Dorpat,  instituted  June  22^  1813. 
XLI.  Courland  Bible  Society  at  Mittau,  instituted  June  28,  1813. 
XLII.  Livonian  Bible  Society  at  Riga,  instituted  July  5,  1813. 
XLIII.  Esthonian  Bible  Society  at  Reval,  instituted  July  16,  1813'. 
XLIV.  Yaroslafr  Bible  Society,  instituted  1813.  ' 
XLV.  Oesel  Bible  -Society,  instituted  1814. 

XLVL  Woronege  Bible  Society,  instituted  1814. 
XLVII.  Kamenetz-Podolsk  Bible  Socictj',  instituted  1815. 
XLVIII.  Theodosian  Bible  Society,  instituted  July  17,  1815! 
These  have  undertaken  the  printing  of  the  Scriptures  in  the  sixteen 
following  languages  and  dialects 

1.  Calmuc;  the  New  Testament,  in  which  language  the  Scriptures 

were  never  printed  before. IdiTO 

2.  Armenian  Bibles  and  Testaments 5000  aOOO 

J.  Finnish  Bibles  and  Testaments  for  the  use  of  the  Finnish  Inhabitants 

in  the  Government  of  St  Petersburg 5000  2000 

4.  German  Bible  with  standing  types 5000            

5.  Polish  New  Testament 5000 

6.  French  Bible 6000  1000 

7.  Sclavonian  Bibles  and  Testaments,  for  the  use  of  iVattv*  RaMJanj...  5008  5000 

8.  Dorpatian  Esthonian  Testament 5000 

9.  Revalian  Esthonian  Testament 10000 

iO.  Lettonian,  or  Lettish,  Testament 15000 

{I.  Persian  Testament , 5000 

12.  Georgian  Testament .' 5008 

13.  Saroogitian  Testament 5000 

M.  rClodern  Greek  Testament 

15   Moldavian  Testament 5000 

16.  Tartar  Gospel  of  St.  Luke,  5000  Copies.  — -  . 

Total 114000        188600 

The  Committee  of  the  Dorpatian  Society  have  established  a  BIBLE  ASSOCIATION  \a 
every  Parish,  under  the  superintemtenee  of  the  Pastor :  these  have  been  found  of  very 
great  advantage  among  the  labouring  classes. 

XLIX.  Amsterdam  English  Bible  Society,  instituted  March  23,  1814, 
L.  Netherlands  Bible  .Society,  at  Amsterdam,  comprehending  Branch  Societies 
in  the  following  districts,  viz. 

Rotterdam,  The  Hague,  Enkuysen,  Utrecht,  Haerlem,  Leyden,  Dordt,  As- 
sen,  Vlaerdingen,  Groningen,  Delft,  Leeuwarden,  Middleburg,  Goes,  Schie- 
dam, Oud  Beyerland,  Zutphen,  Alkmaar,  Maasshiys,  Gorcum,  Hoorn,  Zwoll, 
Zirczee,  Zalt  Bommel,  Breda,  Ainersfoort,  Campen,  Deventer,  Edam,  Put- 
ten,  Tholen;  making  a  Total  of  Eighty-two  Bible  Societies  in  Europe, 
A  plan  has  been  adopted,  and  in  a  dei^ree  carried  into  effect,  for  estaMishing, 
within  the  City  of  Amsterdam  and  its  environs,  32  BIBLE  ASSOCIATIONS. 

ASIA. 

t.  Calcutta  Auxiliary  Society,  instituted  1811. 

II.  Colombo  Auxiliary  Society,  (in  the  Island  of  Ceylon,)  instituted  1812. 

III.  Bombay  Auxiliary  Society,  instituted  1813. 

IV.  Java  Auxiliary  Society,  instituted  June  4,  1814. 

V.  Astrachan  Bible  Societv.  instituted  1815,  as  an  Auxiliary  to  the  Russian  Bible 

S<..c!et\-. 


5:88  Al'PENDiX. 

AFRICA. 

I.  Mauritius  and  Bourbon,  Islea  of,  Auxiliary  Society,  instituted  1812. 

II.  St.  Helena,  Island  of,  Auxiliary  Society,  instituted  1814. 

AMERICA. 

One  Hundred  and  Twenty-nine  Bible  Societies,  or  upwards,  have  been  es- 
tablished on  the  American  Continent;  viz. 

One  Hundred  and  twelve,  or  upwards,  in  the  United  States,  (of  which  Thir- 
teen, or  more,  are  Female  Institutions,)  several  of  which  have  received  pecu- 
niary aid  from  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 

Quebec  Bible  Society,  instituted  1812. 

Nova  Scotia  Bible  Society,  established  at  Halifax,  in  November,  1813,  with 
Branch  Societies ;  viz.  Annapolis,  Antig-onishe,  Argyle,  Chester,  CorGwallis, 
Cumberland,  Hampshire,  Horton,  Londonderry,  Parrsborough,  Queen's 
County,  Shelburne,  Truro,  and  Yarmouth. 

Pictou  Bible  Society,  instituted  1813. 

WEST  INDIES. 

Jamaica  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  of  the  People  of  Colour,  instituted  1812. 
Antigua  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  instituted  February  9,  1816. 

There  are  559  Auxiliary  and  Branch  Societies  within  the  British 
Dominions^  independently  of  Bible  Associations. 


Bibles.  Test 

Bibles  and  Testaments  printed  or  purchased  on  the  Con-T 
tinent  of  Europe,  and  sent  to  various  parts  for  cheap  Sale>     25000        50000 
or  Gift    S 

Editions  of  the  Scriptures  printed  for  the  Societyy  previously  to  Dec.  31,  1815. 

Bibles. 
English,  various  editions.. ..542,429 

Welsh ,46,242 

Gaelic  22,(100 

Irish  

Manks  ■ 

French  13,000 

Spanish  

Portuguese 

Italian  

The  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  has  printed,  or  aided  the 
printing  or  circidation  of  the  Scriptures,  in  part  or  in  the  whole,  in 
SIXTY-THREE  different  languages  or  dialects. 


Test. 

Bibles. 

Test. 

63:i,.')04 

Dutch   5,000 

I5,COO 

81,178 

Danish  500 

10,000 

20,000 

German  8,000 

13,000 

7,500 

Greek,  Ancient  anil  Modern 

5,000 

2,250 

Greek,  Modern   

10,000 

79,000 

Arabic .    1,439 

20,000 

Esquimaux,  the  four  Gospels 

1,000 

20,000 

Mohawk,  St  John's  Gospel  . 

2,000 

11,000 

1  Ethiopic  Psalter  2,100 

APPENDIX. 


589 


iSSVES  OP  BIBLES  AND  TESTAMENTS  BY  THE  SOCIETY. 

* 

Bibles.      Test.        Total 

From  March  7, 1804,  to  Sept.  17,  1805 

None  issued,  the   Universities  not  having   completed  their 
stereotype  eilitions 

From  Sept.  17,  1805,  to  June  15,  1808,  (2^  years) 

When  the  present  Depository  was  established 
From  June  15,   1808,  to  March  25,  1809,  (about  9 

months) 

From  March  25,  1809,  to  Feb.  16,  1810,  {nearly  11 

months) 

From  Feb.  16,  1810,  to  March  25,  1811,  (13  months).. 
From  March  25,  1811,  to  Feb.  21,  1812,  {about  11 

months) 

From  Feb.  21,  to  Dec.  31,  1812,  (10  months) 

From  Dec.  31, 1812,  to  Dec  31,  1813,  (1  year) 

From  Dec.  31,  1813,  to  Dec.  31,  1814,  (1  year) 

•  From  Dec.  31,  1814,  to  Dec.  31,  1815,  (1  ijear) 


Total  issued  in  Great  Britain  in  10^  years 

Purchased  and  issued  for  the  Society  on  the  Continent 
of  Europe 


Total  issued  on  account  of  the  Society 

Printed,  and  printing-,  on  the  Continent  of  Europe,  by 
Bible  Societies,  aided  by  Donations  from  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society 


114000188600   302600 


N.  B.  In  addition  to  the  above,  the  Society  has  expended  about  700ni.  for  the  distribution  by- 
Societies,  and  confidential  Agents,  in  various  parts  of  the  Continent,  Bibles  and  Testaments  in  the 
French,  German,  Swedish,  and  Danish  languages,  the  exact  number  of  which  cannot  be  ascer- 
tained. 


Grants  of  Money,  and  Value  of  Bibles  and  Testaments,  given  away 
by  the  Society. 


I.    s.  d. 

First   Year 366    2  10 

Second  Year    *. , .  800     6  10 

Third  Year    3816  14  4 

Fourth  Year  4028     9  0 

Fifth  Year 9749  17  0 

Sixth  Year 4955  14  0 

Seventh  Year   14587     8  7 

Eighth  Year 10232    5  1 

Ninth  Year   17976  15  2 

Tenth  Year 13030     2  7 

Eleventh  Year  28703  13  0 

Total   ..,,...,,..,,,, 108247     8  5 


590 


APPENDIX. 


Nett  Annual  Receipts  and  Expenditures  of  the  Society  to  the 
31  si  of  March,  1815 

Receipts,  including 
Sales  of  Sib.  Sf  Test.  Expenditure!. 

I.        s.    d.  I'      s.    d. 

First  Year    5,592  10     5  69110     2 

Second   Year   8.827  10     8|  1,637  17     5l 

Third  Year 6,998  19     7  5,053  18     3 

Fourth  Year 10,039  12     Oi  12,206  10     3i 

Fifth  Year 11,289  15     3"  14,565  19     7^ 

Sixth  Year 23,337     0     2i  18,543  17     1 

Seventh  Year 25,998     3     1  28,302  13     7 

Eighth  Year 43,532  12     5i  32,419  19    7i 

Ninth  Year    76,455     1     0  69,496  13     8 

Tenth  Year    87,216     6     9  81,652     1     5 

Eleventh  Year  . . .  .99,894  15     6  81,021  12     5 


Total  Amount.... 399,182     6     7        348,592  13     6| 

N.  B.  The  Society  was  under  enj^ag-ements  (at  the  close  of  the  eleventh  year) 
for  various  Money  Grants  to  promote  the  object  of  the  Institution  in  Foreig:n  parts, 
for  Returns  of  Bibles  and  Testaments  to  Auxiliary  Societies,  and  for  Bibles  and 
Testaments  ordered  from  the  several  authorized  presses,  to  the  extent  of  about 
40,000?. 


INDEX. 


A. 

A  BERDEEN  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  321. 

Aberystwith  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  414. 

Abo,  extract  from  the  circular  letter  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Consistory  of,  recom- 
mending the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures,  305. 

Bible  Society  established,  for  the  province  of  Finland,  306. — Its  activity, 

451 — Grants  to,  for  printing:  the  Finnish  Scriptures,  304,  454. — The  types 
prepared  at  St.  Petersburg,  and  an  impression  of  5000  taken  oft'  there,  479. 

Abyssinian  Christians,  447,  note. 

Adams,  Rev.  Dr.  529,  note. 

Addison,  Col.  514. 

Address,  by  the  Rev.  J,  Hughes,  entitled,  The  Excellency  of  the  Holy  Scriptures 
an  Argument  for  their  more  general  Dispersion,  10. — Extracts,  11. — Pre- 
sented to  the  Bishop  of  London,  (Porteus,)  20. 

■ ,  extracts  from  one,  in  which  the  intention  of  forming  a  Society  for  the  dis- 
tribution of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  was  first  announced,  18. 

to  the  parochial  clergy,  dissenting  ministers,  &c.  in  behalf  of  the  British 

and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  58. 

of  the  Society  in  Scotland  for  propagating  Christian  Knowledge,  declara- 


tory of  its  co-operation  with  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, ! 
,  see  Prospectus. 


AfTghan,  or  Pushtoo  version  of  the  Scriptures,  394,  note. 

Africa,  some  Arabic  translations  of  the  Scriptures  among  the  negroes  of,  highly 
prized,  157. — Supplies  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  352. — Progress  of  the  So- 
ciety's views  in,  503. — The  Arabic  Bible  much  prized  fey  the  IMohammedaa 
natives,  503. 

Albany,  (New- York)  Bible  Society  formed,  409.— A  supply  of  Bibles,  &c.  sent 
to,  351. 

Alers,  William,  Esq.  19,  23,  29,  34. 

Alexander,  Emperor  of  Russia,  approves  of  the  plan  of  printing  the  Bible  in  the 
Finnish  tongue,  and  contributes  towards  the  expense,  304. — Copy  of  his  let- 
ter to  the  Governor  General  of  Finland,  306.— Authorizes  the  Abo  Society  to 
collect  subscriptions  throughout  his  empire,  307 — Patronizes  and  contributes 
to  the  fund  of  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  Society,  386,  387,  389,  480. 

Alexander,  James,  Esq.  first  Treasurer  to  the  Calcutta  Corresponding  Committee, 
268. 

Allan,  Thomas,  Esq.  217. 

Allen,  William,  Esq.  extract  from  his  speech  at  the  formation  of  (he  City  of  Lon- 
don Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  432. 


592  INDEX. 

Alsace,  Bibles  distributed  at,  80. 

Altona,  Mr.  Steinkopff's  visit  to,  489,  note. 

America,  North,  supplies  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to  British  settlers,  soldiers,  and 

colonists,  there,  135. — A  Bible  Society  established  at  Philadelphia,  207  5 

which  is  followed  by  several  others,  237. 

, ,  supplies  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  351. 

, ,  increase  and  diligence  of  Bible  Societies  in,  286,  319,  407,506. 

Their  number,  588. 

,  ,  Juvenile  and  Female  Bible  Associations  formed  in,  533. 

,  ,  favourable  dispositions  of  the  British  provinces  in,  towards  the 

British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  514 — -See  Canada  and  Nova  Scotia. 
,  South,  Spanish  Testaments  sent  to  Monte  Video,   192  j  which  are  sup- 
pressed by  the  Bishop  of  Buenos  Ayres,  ih. 
American  prisoners  of  war  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  S7o. 
Amharic,  the  popular  dialect  of  the  Abyssiniansj  translations  of  the  Scriptures 

into,  449. 
Araon,  Rev.  Dr.  490. — Extract  from  his  Address  to  Mr.  Steinkopff,  ib. 
Amsterdam,  a  communication  with,  opened,  485 — Establishment  of  the  English 

Bible  Society  at,  ib.  587  ;  and  of  the  United  Netherlands  Bible  Society,  486. 
Anglesea,  an  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed  in  the  Isle  of,  414. 
Anson,  Viscount,  321,  344. 
Antigua,  a  supply  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  351. 

Bible  Society  established,  588. 

Auunderayer,  a  converted  Brahmin,  assists  in  the  Telinga  translation  of  the  New 

Testament,  270. 
Apology  for  the  opponents  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  61. 
Arabic  versions  of  the  Scriptures,  146,  154,  156,265,  271,392,397,  503- 
Armenian  version  of  the  Scriptures,  479,  587. 
Armour,  Mr.  497. 
Arrosian  (Westeras)  Bible  Society  formed,  460. — Copy  of  its  Address  to  Lord 

Teignmouth,  462. 
Asia,  supplies  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  352 — Number  of  Bible  Societies  in,  587- 
Asselin,  Monsieur,  on  the  utility  of  translating  the  Scriptures  into  the  common 

language  of  the  Abyssinians,  363,  note. 
Association  in  Birmingham,  113,  115,  120,209. 
in  Dublin  "  for  Discountenancing  Vice,  and  Promoting  the  Knowledge 

and  Practice  of  the  Christian  Religion,"  12- — Correspondence  with,  56 — 58. 

— Its  origin  and  progress,  103. — Supplied  with  Bibles  and  Testaments  by  the 

British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  139. 
in  London,  in  aid  of  the  Funds  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 


ciety ;  the  first  of  its  kind  in  South  Britain,  113- 
Associations,  Bible,  increase  of,  529, 535 — Rules  for,  583. — See  Auxiliary  Societies 

_ ^, ,  Juvenile,  first  instances  of,  531. 

— — , ,  Female,  532. 

Astrachan  Bible  Society  instituted,  587- — See  Sarepta. 

Augustine,  Most  Rev.  the  Archbishop  Vicarius  of  Moscow,  sanctions  the  formation 

of  the  Moscow  Bible  Society,  473. 
Austria,  grant  towards  the  formation  of  a  Bible  Society  in,  54 — See  Neurenberf 

frwff  Basle 


INDEX.  593 

Austria,  Protestant  congregations  in,  supplied  with  tlie  Scriptures,  351. 
Auxiliary  Societies  formed  during  the  first  six  years  of  the  British  and  Foreiga 
Bible  Society  ;  viz. 

Reading,  28th  March,  1809,  209,  211. 

Nottingham,  30th  March,  1809,  212. 

Newcastle-upon-Tyne,  30th  March,  1809,  225. 

Edinburgh,  31st  July,  1809,  ib. 

East-Lothian,  4th  October,  1809,  ib. 

Leeds,  25th  October,  1809,  ib 

Exeter,  8th  December,  1809,  ib. 

Manchester  and  Saiford,  4th  January,  1810,  ib, 

Kendal,  5th  January,  1810,  ib. 

Bristol,  1st  February,  1810,  ib. 

Sheffield,  5th  February,  1810,  ib. 

Leicester,  19th   February,  1810,  ib. 

Hull,  4th  April,  1810,  ib. 

' ■ J  their  importance  to  the  parent  Institution,  225. — General  rules 

adopted  by  them,  226.  • 

)  &c.  organization  of  a  general  plan  for,  349,  535,  536. Great 

increase  of,  290,  516,  529. 
'    ' ,  various  notices  of,  viz. 


Aberdeen,  321. 
Aberystwyth,  414. 
Anglesea,  414. 
Bacup  Branch,  291, 
Bath,  321. 
Bedford,  322. 
Beverley,  424. 
Biddeford,  424. 
Bishop-Wearmouth,  291. 
Blackheath,  540. 
Bloomsbury  and  South  Pan 

eras,  432. 
Bombay,  499—501. 
Bourton-on-the-Water,  423. 
Brecon,  524. 
Bristol,  292,  293. 
Bromwicb,    West 

424. 
Buckingham,  346. 
Bury  Branch,  291. 
Caermarthen,  414. 
Caernarvon,  414. 
Camberwell,  423- 
Cambridge,  330,  419 
Canterbury,  423. 
Cardigan,  524. 
Carlisle,  519. 
Chard,  423. 
Chester,  414,  421. 


and    Wednesbury, 


Cinque  Ports,  423,  424,  note. 
Clapham,  423,  424. 
Coggeshall,  Ladies',  532,  note. 
Colchester  and  East  Essex,  324,  529, 

569,  note. 
—    ■  • — ,  Ladies',  532,  7iote. 
Congleton,  423. 
Cornwall,  291,  292,  423. 
Cumberland,  519. 
Darlington,  539. 
Denbigh,  524. 
Devon  and  Exeter,  423. 

,  Minor,  531,  note 

Doncaster,  424. 

Dorking,  423. 

Dublin,  Ladies',  532. 

Dudley,  529,  note. 

Durham,  424. 

Edmonton,  and  North-East  Middlesex, 

424,  425. 
Essex,  424. 

,  East,  529,  note. 

,  South- West,  424,  425. 

Exeter,  423. 

—— — ,  Minor,  531,  note. 
Fife  and  Kinross,  414 
Flintshire,  518,  524. 
Frome,  423. 
Glasgow,  321 


74 


594 


INDEX. 


Auxiliary  Societies  continued. 
Gloucester,  414. 
Guernsey,  424. 
Hackney  and  Stoke  Newiogton, 

424,  516. 
Halifax  (Nova  Scotia,)  514. 

(Yorkshire)  321. 

Halstead  Branch,  529,  note. 
Hampshire,  424. 
Henley-on-Thames,  424,  426. 
Hereford,  516- 
Hertfordshire,  340. 
High-Wycomb,  539. 
Hinckford  Branch,  529,  note. 
Holborn  Sunday  School  Association, 

530. 
Holywell  (Flintshire)  518,  524. 
Huddersfield,  591. 
Huntingdonshire,  341. 
Ipswich,  328. 
Islington,  432. 
Kent,  41'*. 
Kingsbridge,  424. 
Kingston,  423. 
Kinross,  414. 
Kautsford  Branch,  291. 
Launceston  and  East  Conuvall,  424. 
Leeds,  542. 
Leicester,  354,  517. 
London,  City  of,  427. 

. ,  East,  432,  436. 

,  North,  and  Islington,  432. 

,  North-East,  432. 

,  North-VVest,  432,  436,  437. 

Lothian,  West,  291- 
Liverpool  (Lancashire)  291. 

(Nova  Scotia)  514. 

Maidstone,  424. 
Man,  Isle  of,  424. 
Manchester,  292. 
Mauritius,  Bourbon,  &c.  503. 
Merioneth,  414. 
Middlesex,  424. 

,  North-East,  424,  425. 

Montrose,  291. 

Neath,  291. 

IVewington,  Stoke,  424,  518. 

Norfolk,  327. 

Northa-npton,  414,  416. 

Worthumberlaud,  424- 


Auxiliary  Societies  continued 
Norwich,  327. 
Nova  Scotia,  514,  515 
Oxford  University,  519,  et  seq. 
Oxfordshire,  423. 
Pembroke,  414. 
Perth,  414. 
Petherton,  423- 
Pictou  (Nova  Scotia)  492. 
Plymouth,  321. 
Port  Louis,  (Mauritius)  503. 
Pontefract,  424. 
Portsmouth,  424. 

Queen's  County,  (Nova  Scotia)  514 
Rotherham,  291. 
Rutland,  414. 
St.  David's,  414. 
St.  Helena,  503. 
Sheffield,  Female,  532,  nofc 
Shields,  North,  424. 
Somerset,  414,  516. 
Southampton  Branch,  435. 
Southwark,  426,  539,  540. 
Staffordshire,  343. 
Stirlingshire,  526. 
Stockport,  423. 
Stockton,  424. 
Stourbridge,  424- 
Stroud,  423. 
Suffolk,  328. 
Surrey,  414. 
Swansea,  291,  292. 
Tavistock,  424. 
Tindale  Ward,  424. 
Tiverton  Branch,  529. 
Uttoxeter,  291- 
Uxbridge,  291. 
Warrington  Branch,  291- 
AVarwickshire,  424. 
Wearmouth,  Bishop,  291 . 
Wellington,  Somerset,  423. 
West  Bromwich  and  Wednesbury, 

424. 
West  Lothian,  291. 
Westminster,  424,  432,  433,  434- 

,  Ladies',  532- 

Weymouth,  291. 
Wilts,  414. 

Woodford  and  South->Vest  Essex, 
424,  426. 


INDEX,  595 

Auxiliary  Societies  continued.  Auxiliary  Societies  continued. 

Worcestershire,  424.  York  Juvenile,  531. 

Wyconib,  High,  539  Subsidiary,  531. 

York,  321,342,424. 

JB 

Babington,  Thomas,  Esq.  34,  579. 

Bacup  Branch  Society  formed,  291. 

Baker,  William,  Esq.  340. 

Ball,  Sir  Alexander,  285. 

Ball,  Right  Rev.  Bishop,  54. 

Bangor,  Right  Rev.  Bishop  of,  see  Warren. 

Baptist  Mission  at  Serarapore,  53,  81,  144,  146,  151. 

—  Missionaries  at  Serampore,  their  assiduity  and  disinterestedness  in  pro- 
ceeding with  the  Oriental  translations,  261. 

Barclay,  Sir  Robert,  favours  the  cause  of  the  Society  in  Mauritius,  503. 

Barclay,  Gurney,  Esq.  428,  432. — Extract  from  his  speech  at  the  formation  of  the 
City  of  London  Auxiliary  Society,  431. 

Barnard,  Viscount,  321. 

Barry,  Lady  Lucy,  532. 

Basle  Religious  Society,  54. 

,  the  inhabitantfa  of,  unable  in  Cnrm  a  Bible  .Sncietjr  of  their  own,  join  that  at 

Nurenberg,  79. 

,  the  Nurenberg  Society  removed  to,  121. — Extract  from  the  Public  Address 

on  that  occasion,  ib. — Its  progress,  191. — Publishes  the  German  Testament 
and  Bible,  195. — Its  importance  as  a  medium  through  which  to  circulate  the 
Scriptures  in  the  South  of  France,  196. — Second  and  third  editions  of  the 
German  Bible  printed,  and  French  Bibles  and  Testaments  distributed,  by 
it,  230. 

Bible  Society,  its  progress  in  printing  the  German  Scriptures,  376,  451, 

455. — Mr.  Steinkopff's  visit  to,  376. — Assisted  by  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  455. — Unanimity  between  the  Protestants  and  Catholics  in, 
ib. — Number  of  Bibles  and  Testaments  issued  by,  586. 

Batavia,  origin  of  the  Bible  Institution  at,  53. 

Bates,  Thomas,  Esq.  his  exertions  and  liberality,  574,  note. 

Bath,  Countess  of,  147,  no(e. 

Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  321. 

Bavaria,  New  Testaments  sent  for  distribution  In,  65. — Extract  of  a  letter  from  a 
Catholic  Professor  in,  addressed  to  "  All  the  Members  of  the  London  Bible 
Society,"  313. 

Bayley,  Rev.  H.  V.  227. 

Beaufort,  Duke  of,  416. 

Bedford,  Duke  of,  321,  323,  338,  416. 

and  Bedfordshire  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  proceedings  at  its  formation, 

323. 
Beilby  Porteus,  Right  Rev.  Bishop  of  London,  the  Plan  of  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society  submitted  to,  and  cordially  received  by,  26. — Interests 
himself  in  the  welfare  of  the  Society,  and  recommends  Lord  Teignmouth  to  be 
its  President,  36. — Becomes  himself  a  Vice  President,  38. — His  joy  on  hear- 


596  INDEX. 

ing  the  letter  of  a  Roman  Catholic  priest  of  Swabia,  65. — Attemptg  made  to 
detach  him  from  the  Society,  82,  116. — Zealous  for  the  Oriental  translations, 
147. — His  concern  at  the  hostility  of  the  Bengal  Government,  153. — His 
exertions  to  procure  patronage  for  the  Society,  166 — Publishes  a  defence  of 
the  Society,  in  reply  to  Mr.  Twining'e  Pamphlet,  183. — His  death,  221. — 
Extract  from  his  letter  to  Governors,  &c.  in  the  British  West  India  Islands 
222,  note. — Tribute  to  his  memory,  424. 

Belfast  Branch  Society,  242,  note. 

Bengal,  a  supplj^  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  352. — See  Calcutta. 

Bengalee  version  of  the  Scriptures,  265,  497- 

Berg  Bible  Society  and  Auxiliary  Associations,  586. 

Berlin,  commuuication  from,  on  the  scarcity  of  Bohemian  Bibles,  62. — Grant  to- 
wards the  establishment  of  a  Bible  Society  there,  ib — The  Society  founded, 
under  the  sanction  of  the  King  of  Prussia,  99. — Extract  from  its  Address, 
ib. — Second  grant  to,  from  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  100. — Un- 
dertakes an  edition  of  the  Bohemian  Bible,  and  perseveres  in  its  labours  dur- 
ing the  occupation  of  the  city  by  the  French,  121. — The  Bohemian  Bible 
completed,  194. — Undertakes  an  edition  of  the  Polish  Bible,  ib. ;  and  receives 
farther  assistance  from  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  195,  231.— 
Completes  the  edition  of  the  Polish  Scriptures,  282;  and  is  assisted  by  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  to  distribute  them  gratuitously,  301. — 
Grant  to,  for  a  new  impression  of  the  Bohemian  Bible,  302. — Its  persever, 

aiicc,    272 —  Number  vt  £il>lc=>  and  Tc=.tamcuto  Joouea  by,    586. 

Bern  Bible  Society,  586. 

Bernard,  Thomas,  Esq.  (now  Sir  Thomas,  Bart.)  34,  579. 
,  Ladies  A,  C.  and  H.  532. 

— — — — ,  Sophia,  a  poor  woman  of  Alsace,  her  exemplary  and  benevolent  con- 
duct, 80. 

Berwick-upon-Tweed  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  585. 

Beverley  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  424. 

Bible  Society,  a,  established  in  1780;  result  of  its  labours  in  1813,  12- 

(Catholic)  in  France  in  1731,  its  zeal,  recommendation  of  the  New 

Testament,  575. — Its  opinion  of  the  entire  Bible,  575.,  note. 

Bibles  and  Testaments  printed  and  issued  by  the  Society,  589. 

Biblical  Library  begun,  71- 

Bibliotheca  Biblica,  a  library  established  by  the  Calcutta  Corresponding  Coro- 
mittee,  276 — Contributions  to  it,  from  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  281. 

Biddeford  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  424. 

Birkbeck,  Wilson,  Esq.  34,  139,  535,  note. 

Bir'.iingham  Association,  113,  115,  120,  209- 

Bishop- Wormouth  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  231- 

Black,  R.  v  Mr.  89. 

Blackburn,  Rev.  Dr.  227. 

Blackhealli  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  540. 

Bible  Associations,  ib. 

Blake,  Captain  William,  suggestion  from,  on  the  propriety  of  supplying  revenue- 
cutters  with  the  Scriptures,  289. 

Bloomsbury  and  South  Paucras  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  432. 


INDEX. 


59^ 


Boase,  Henry,  Esq.  9, 19,  34. 

Bog'ue,  Rev.  L*.  204,  note. 

Bohemia  supplied  with  Testaments,  &c.  from  the  Institution  at  Halle,  123, 
451. 

Bohemian  Bibles,  585.     See  Berlin. 

Bombay,  origin  of  the  Institution  at,  for  translating  the  Scriptures  into  the  Orien- 
tal laufjuages,  53.— Materials  sent  to  for  printing  the  Malayalim  Scriptures, 
281. — Portuguese  Testaments  sent  for  distribution  at,  493- 

Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  499,  587. — Resolutions  at  its  6rst  meet- 
ing, 499. — Patronage,  500. — Proceedings,  ib — Extract  from  its  congratula* 
tory  address  to  Sir  Evan  Nepean,  ib, 

Booker,  Rev.  Dr.  529,  note. 

Booth.  Rev.  E.  227. 

Boston,  see  Massachusetts. 

,  Lord,  321. 

Bourbon,  see  Mauritius  and  Port  Louis. 

Bonrton  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  423. 

Branch  Societies,  multiplication  of,  529,  535.— Rules  for,  582. 

Brant,  Captain,  his  translations  of  portions  of  the  Scriptures,  and  the  Liturgy  of 
the  Church  of  England,  into  the  Mohawk  language,  67. 

Braybrooke,  Lord,  321. 

Brazil  Ships  at  Lisbon  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  572. 

Brecon  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  524. 

Bremen  Bible  Society,  586. 

Bristol  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  225,  228. — Its  Rules  adopted  by  most 
other  Auxiliary  Societies,  226. — Its  zeal,  243- — Its  eminent  services  in  pro- 
moting similar  Institutions,  292;  and  in  distributing  the  Scriptures,  293. 

,  Earl  of,  321. 

,  Right  Rev.  Bishop  of,  579. 

,  Very  Rev.  Doari  of,  ib. 

British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  its  origin,  1,  et  seq. — See  Society. 

British  prisoners  of  war  supplied  with  the  Scriptures;  viz.  in  France,  290,  351 ;  in 
America,  573,  tiote. 

Bromwich,  West,  and  Wednesbury  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  424. 

Brown,  Rev.  David,  Provost  of  the  College  of  Fort  William,  Calcutta,  53,  146, 
150. — His  exertions  in  favour  of  the  Oriental  Translations  of  the  Scriptures, 
262 ;  and  their  success,  314  — Communication  from  on  the  subject,  264. — Ap- 
pointed Secretary  to  the  Calcutta  Corresponding  Committee,  268 ;  and  to  the 
Calcutta  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  319.— -Copy  of  his  circular  letter,  in  the 
former  capacity,  .268. — Extract  from  his  sermon  on  New- Year's  day,  1810, 
272 — See  also  316. — Beneficial  results  of  that  discourse,  in  furtherance  of  the 
Society's  interests,  275. — Projects  the  Bibliotheca  Biblica,  277. — Presides  at 
the  formation  of  the  Calcutta  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  218;  to  which  he  after- 
wards becomes  the  Secretary,  319 — His  death,  395.— Reyiew  of  his  labours, 
and  tribute  to  his  memory,  ib. 

Brownlow,  Mrs.  532. 

Bruce  on  the  state  of  the  Ethiopic  Scriptures  in  Abyssinia,  448,  note. 

Brunnmark,  Rev.  Dr.  60. — His  operations  and  success  in  Sweden,  in  favour  of  the 
Society's  views,  303,  459,  460,  463,  465,  488.— Extracts  from  his  speech  at 
the  formation  of  the  City  of  liondon  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  428 ;  and  from 


598  INDEX. 

\ 

his  reply  lo  the  vote  of  thanks  from  the  Committee  of  the  Parent  Institution, 
for  his  services  on  the  Continent,  466. — His  death,  ib.  vote- 

Brunswick  Bible  Society,  586 

Brunton,  Rev.  Henry,  undertakes  a  new  version  of  the  Scriptures  in  the  Tartar 
dialect,  131. 

Beucleugh,  Duke  of,  321. 

Buchanan,  Rev.  Dr.  5c,,  144,  145, 151 — Presents  his  Memoir  to  Lord  Minto,  188- 
— Projects  the  "  Christian  Institution"  in  India,  on  the  reduction  of  the  Col- 
lege, 262. — His  account  of  the  languages  spoken  in  Hindoostan,  270;  and  of 
the  reception  of  the  Syriac  New  Testaments  sent  to  Travancore,  450. — His 
death,  ib. 

Buckingham,  Marquis  of,  321,  346. — Extracts  from  his  speech  at  the  formation  of 
the  Bucks  Auxiliary  Society,  ib. 

,  Rev.  Archdeacon  of,  530. 

■ ,  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  346. 

Buckinghamshire,  Earl  of,  530. 

Buddhou  priests  assist  in  the  Pali  translation  of  the  Scriptures,  497. 

Buenos  Ayres,  a  supply  ©f  the  Scriptures,  in  Spanish,  sent  to,  135. 

,  the  Roman  Catholic  Bishop  of,  suppresses  the  Spanish  Testaments 

sent  to  Monte  Video,  192. 

Bull,  Rev.  John,  326. 

Bunnell,  Joseph,  Esq.  34 

Burgess,  Mr.  (of  Colchester)  569. 

Burghardt,  Rev.  C.  F.  his  Esquiraau.K  translation  of  the  Gospels  printed  by  the 
Society,  410,  447. 

Burman  translation  of  the  Scriptures,  265. 

Burn,  Rev.  Edward,  projector  of  the  Birmingham  Association,  115. 

Burrowes,Rev.  Dr.  104. 

Bury  Branch  Society  formed,  291- 

Butterworth,  Joseph,  Esq.  34,  217. 


Caermarthen  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  414. 

Caernarvon         do.  do.       do.  ib. 

Caithness,  Earl  of,  526. 

Calcutta,  origin  of  the  Institution  at,  for  translating  the  Scriptures  into  the  Oriental 
languages,  53. 

,  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  318,  522. — Grant  of  assistance  to,  320. 

— Its  success,  390;  and  patronage,  391. — First  anniverlary,  390,  395. — Ad- 
dress to  the  Roman  Catholics  in  India,  390. — Letter  from  Kristna,  a  heathen, 
391. — Operations  during  its  second  year,  492,  ct  scq.  500. — Extract  from  its 
second  Report,  relative  to  the  Colombo  Auxiliary  Society,  404,  vote. 

__ Corresponding  Committee,   144,  150,  268. —  Copy  of  its  Circular  ad- 


dress, 263. — Subscriptions  in  consequence  of  the  Rev.  D.  Brown's  New- Year's 
sermon,  276,  note. — The  Bibliotheca  Bihlica  established,  276 — Measures  for 
purchasing  and  distributing  Tamul  Bibles,  277,  281. — Prosperity  and  zeal  of 
the  Committee,  282,  314—316,  391,  495.— Increased  grant  to,  319.— Pro- 
gress of  tho  Oriental  tranplatjoup,  391. — Embarrassments  in  consequence  of 


INDEX. 


599 


the  fire  at  Serampore,  393 ;  and  Dr.  Leyden's  death,  394.— Farther  losses  in 
the  deaths  of  the  Rev.  D.  Brown,  395;  aud  of  the  Rev.  H.  Martyn,  396. 

Cahnuc  translation  of  the  Scriptures,  154,  480,587. 

Calmucs,  short  account  of,  154. 

Camberwell  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  423. 

Cambridge,  His  Royal  Highness,  the  Duke  of,  433. 

Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  330,  353,  519. 

Campbell,  Rev.  Alexander,  413. 

,  Rev.  John,  ib. 

Canada,  supplies  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  189,  351,  511. — Progressive  interest  of 
the  Society  in,  515. — See  Mohawk  and  Six  Nations. 

Cansteiu  Bible  Institution,  at  Halle,  in  Saxony,  short  account  of,  97,  490. — Sup- 
plies the  Bohemian  congregations  in  Prussia  with  New  Testaments,  &c.  123  ; 
and  the  German  uolouists  on  the  Wolga  with  Bibles  aud  Testaments,  132.— 
See  Halle. 

Canterbury  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  423. 

Cape  of  Good  Hope.     Sec  Good  Hope. 

Cardigan,  Earl  of,  321. 

Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  524. 

Carey,  Rev.  Dr.  53,  81 — -First  proposes  the  Oriental  Translations  to  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  144. — Assists  in  forming  the  Calcutta  Correspond- 
ing Committee,  267. — His  account  of  the  effects  of  the  Scriptures  distributed 
in  India,  495,  nofe. — Assistance  derived  from  his  Sanscrit  and  Bengalee  ver- 
sions, in  translating  the  Scriptures  into  the  Cingalese  and  Pali  dialects,  497. 

Carlisle,  Very  Rev.  the  Dean  of,  339,  519,  579.— His  defence  of  the  Society  against 
Dr.  Marsh,  545. 

Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  519. 

Carlyle,  Rev.  J.  D.  his  Prospectus  for  printing  an  Arabic  Bible,  156. 

Carolina,  South,  Bible  Society  formed,  286. 

Carrington,  Lord,  321. 

Cartels  returning  home  with  prisoners  of  war,  supplied  with  ^he  Scriptures,  351, 

Carysfort,  Earl,  321 — His  address  at  the  formation  of  the  Huntingdon  Auxiliary 
Society,  341- 

Cashel,  Most  Rev.  Archbishop  of,  190,  579. 

Cashmirean  Brammance,  a,  converted,  394,  note. 

Castlecoote,  Lady,  532. 

Castlereagh,  Lord,  extract  from  his  speech  at  the  formation  of  the  Westminster 
Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  434- 

Cathcart,  Earl,  his  exertions  at  the  court  of  Russia,  in  favour  of  a  Bible  Institution 
at  St.  Petersburg,  386. 

Catholics,  See  Roman  Catholics. 

Ceylon,  degraded  state  of  the  Christian  religion  in,  168. 

Auxiliary  Bible  Society  established,  400,  493. 

,  state  of  the  Protestant  and  Catholic  population  in,  496 — Great  scarcity 

of  the  Scriptures  in,  497. — A  Cingalese  translation  of  the  New  Testament 
determined  on,  for  the  use  of  the  Heathen  and  Mahommedan  natives,  493.— 
Sec  Cingalese. 

Chalmers,  Rev.  Mr.  542. 


60Q 


IJXDEX. 


Chaplains  lo  the  Forces,  their  co-operation  with  the  Society,  570.— Good  example 
in  the  Chaplain  General  and  his  Assistant,  ib. 

Chard  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  423. 

Charitable  Institutions  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  351.— .Vee  Hospitals,  Work- 
houses, &c. 

Charles,  Rev.  Thomas,  of  Bala,  proposes  anew  edition  of  the  Welsh  Bible,  by  sub- 
scription, 9  ;  which,  added  to  his  inquiries  for  supplies  of  that  book,  led  to  the 
formation  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  73. —  Engaged  to  revise  the 
Oxford  copy,  for  a  new  edition,  by  the  Society,  ib. — Uupleasant  discussion  in 
consequence,  ib  — Satisfaction  of  the  Committee,  74 — Reference  to  the  Rev. 
Walter  Davies,  ib. — The  itivestigation  stopped,  75. — Observations, 75 — 79.— 
Promotes  the  interest  of  the  Society  in  the  Principality,  84,  444. 

Chatham,  Earl  of,  321,  327- 

— ,  Countess  of,  532,  note. 

Chauraont,  Mr.  51. 

Chelsea,  Royal  York  Hospital,  supplied  with  the  Scriptures  for  foreign  Soldiers, 
351. 

Chester  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  414,  421. 

Chichester,  Right  Rev.  Bishop  of,  579. 

China,  the  attention  of  the  Society  drawn  towards  that  country,  48. — Correspond, 
ence  relative  to  the  MS.  in  the  British  Museum,  49. — Progress  of  the  So- 
ciety's views  in,  265,  266,  501. 

Chinese  translations  of  the  Scriptures,  501. 

«'  Christian  Institution,"  an  association  projected  in  India,  by  Dr.  Buchanan,  for 
promoting  the  Oriental  translations,  263. 

Chur  Auxiliary  Bible  Committee,  376,  455,  457.— Romanese  Bibles  issued  by, 
586. 

Church,  General,  446. 

Cingalese  translation  of  the  Scriptures,  265,  403,  492,493,  496. 

Cinque  Ports  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  423,  424. 

Circulation  of  the  Scriptures,  appointment  of  a  Sub-Committee  for,  47. 

Clapham  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  423,426. 

Clarke,  Rev.  Dr.  Adam,  constructs  a  scale  of  types,  for  printing  the  Scriptures  in 
the  Tartar  dialect,  156  — On  the  want  of  an  edition  of  the  Scriptures  in  the 
Arabic  language,  159. — His  recommendation  to  print  the  Greek  Testament 
in  both  the  ancient  and  modern  dialects,  205- — His  eminent  services  to  the 
Society,  and  disinterested  conduct,  161,  217,  372,  451, 

,  Rev.  Dr.  Edward's,  reply  to  Dr.  Marsh's  "  Inquiry,"  &c.  354. 

Clarkson's  "  History  of  the  Abolitior»  of  the  Slave  Trade,"  extract  from,  22,  note. 
— Attends  at  the  formation  of  the  Norwich  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  330. 

(Jleve  Bible  Society,  586. 

Clogher,  Right  Rev.  Bishop  of,  579. 

Clonfert,  Right  Rev.  Bishop  of,  298. 

Close,  Major,  428. 

Clowes,  Rev.  John,  227. 

<  Moyne,  Right  Rev.  Bishop  of,  358,  579. — Extract  from  his  speech  at  the  formation 

of  the  North-West  London  Auxiliary  .Society,  436. 

<  'obbold.  Rev,  Thomas,  329. 


INDEX.  gOi 

Cock,  Horatio,  Esq.  aceepfs  the  presidency  of  the  Colchester  Auxiliary  Society, 
326. 

Coggeshail  Ladies'  Bible  Association,  532,  note. 

Coke,  Rev.  Dr.  14. 

Coker,  John,  Esq.  435,  521. 

Colchester,  an  attempt  to  form  an  Auxiliary  Society  at,  opposed  by  the  Bishop  of 
London,  (Randolph)  and  produces  an  attack  upon  the  Parent  Institution  by 
Dr.  Wordsworth,  245. 

■ and  East  Essex  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  particulars  of  its  establish- 
ment, and  of  the  obstacles  it  had  first  to  encounter,  324. — Extract  from  its 
second  Report,  529,  note. — Distribution  of  Dutch  Bibles  by,  569. 

— Ladies'  Bible  Association,  532,  note. 


Coleman,  Rev.  J.  N.  575,  note. 

Collins,  Governor,  his  letter  of  acknowledgment  for  the  supply  of  the  Scriptures 
sent  to  Van  Dienien's  Land,  136- 

Colombo,  origin  of  the  Society's  Institution  at,  53. — Auxiliary  Bible  Society  esta- 
blished, 400,  587.— Patronage,  401 — Proceedings,  402,  492,  496. 

Committee  new-modelled,  30. 

Congleton  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  423. 

Connecticut  Bible  Society  formed,  237- — Extracts  from  its  third  Report,  408, 409. 

Constantinople,  supplies  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  351. 

Convicts  at  Woolwich,  supplies  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  141. 

,  embarked  for  New  South  Wales,  supplied  v/ith  the  Scriptures,  351. 

Cooke,  Stephen,  Esq.  his  exertions  in  promoting  the  interest  of  the  Society  in 
Jamaica,  411. 

Copenhagen,  singular  preservation  of  the  Icelandic  Bibles  deposited  there  during 
its  bombardment,  163. — Public  meeting  at,  for  the  formation  of  a  Danish  Bi- 
ble Society,  467. — See  also  373,  375. 

Copies  of  the  Scriptures,  in  various  languages,  circulated  by  the  Society,  350. 

Cork  Bible  Society,  established,  190. — Extract  from  its  Report,  215. — Bibles  and 
Testaments  distributed  by,  216.— Grant  to,  242- 

Cornwall  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  291,  292,  424. 

Cornwallis,  Marquis,  321. 

Correspondence,  to  whom  it  should  be  addressed,  580. 

Corresponding  Committee  at  Calcutta,  144,  150. 

Corrie,  Rev.  Mr.  280. 

Council  of  Trent,  how  far  it  prohibited  the  reading  the  Scriptures  to  the  laity,  63. 

"'Country  Clergyman's  Letter  to  Lord  Teignmouth,"  correction  of  an  error  in, 
17,  note. — Its  virulence  against  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  82. — 
Extracts  from,  ib.  note — Answer  to,  84. — The  writer  makes  a  second  attempt 
to  detach  the  Bishop  of  London  (Porteus)  from  the  Society,  46 — 48. 

Counsellor  of  State,  a,  his  emotions  on  hearing  of  the  formation  of  the  St.  Peters- 
burg Bible  Society,  482. 

Courland,  success  of  the  Society's  views  in,  477 — Supply  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to, 
488. 

Bible  Society  established,  587. 

Coventry,  Earl  of,  321. 

Cowie,  Robert,  Esq.  19,  34. — Opens  the  business  at  the  first  public  meeting  for 
forming  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  23. 

Coxe,  Lieutenant,  141. 

75 


602  INDEX. 

Cradock,  Sir  John,  extract  from  his  Address  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  Cape  of  Good 
Flope,  on  the  importance  of  circulating  of  the  Scriptures,  and  promoting  edu- 
cation, 505. 

C'ranganore,  the  Roman  Catholic  Archbishop  of,  prohibits  the  circulation  of  the 
Scriptures,  63,  note. 

Crawford,  Charles,  Esq.  (now  Lord)  34. 

Crofton,  Lady  Charlotte,  532. 

Cumberland,  His  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of,  433. 

,  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  519» 

Cunningham,  Rev.  J.  W.  his  defence  of  the  Society  against  Dr.  Maltby's  attack, 
36r,  417. 

Cyril,  Archbishop  of  Constantinople,  his  declaration  in  favour  of  the  Society's 
modern  Greek  Testament,  446. 


Dakins,  Rev.  W.  326. 

,  Rev.  Dr  570. 

Dale,  David,  Esq.  promotes  the  interests  of  the  Society  in  Scotland,  85,  321. 

Dalecarlia,  the  natives  refuse  to  join  in  the  war-prayer  against  Great  Britain,  428. 
— A  Bible  Society  formed  in,  459. 

Dairy mple.  Rev.  Dr.  promotes  a  resolution  for  a  collection  in  the  Synod  of  Glas- 
gow and  Ayr,  ou  behalf  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  86. 

Danish  New  Testaments  printed  for  the  use  of  prisoners  of  war,  205.— Who  are 
supplied  therewith,  373,  444. — Letter  of  acknowledgment  from  Dr.  Miinter, 
Bishop  of  Zealand,  374. 

Bible  Society  formed,  466,  587. 

Dantzig,  contributions  from,  in  aid  of  the  Berlin  Bible  Society,  123- 

Darlington  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  539. 

Davies,  Rev.  W.  on  the  proposed  new  orthography  for  the  Welsh  Bible,  78. 

Dealtry,  Rev.  William,  reference  to  his  "  Vindication  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,''  7'o,  75. — His  reply  to  Dr.  Wordsworth's  attack  upon  Lord 
Teignmouth,  247,  249,  251.— Notices  of,  353,  369.— His  "  Vindication  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  in  answer  to  Dr.  Wordsworth's  second 
attack,"  294. — His  eulogy  on  that  gentleman,  296. — Extract  from  his  speech, 
on  being  appointed  Secretary  of  the  Hertfordshire  Auxiliary  Society,  340. — 
His  reply  to  Dr.  Marsh's  "  Inquiry,"  &c.  355. — Extracts  from  his  "  Review 
of  Mr.  Norris's  attack,"  &c.  364,  516,  notes. — His  "  Advantages  of  Dlstribu 
ting  the  I^oly  Scriptures,"  &c.  and  "  Appeal  to  Mechanics,"  &c.  541. 

De  la  Gardie,  Count,  .sec  Gardie. 

Denbigh  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  524. 

Denmark,  correspondence  begun  with,  relative  to  the  want  of  Bibles  there,  5o. — 
Measures  for  promoting  a  Bible  Society  in,  373,  375,  466.  Liberality  of  the 
government  towards  Mr.  Henderson,  while  engaged  in  completing  the  Icelan- 
dic Bible,  375. 

Derby,  Earl  of,  321. 

Derry,  Right  Rev.  Bishop  of,  579. 

De  Sacy's  French  Bible  printed  by  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  Society,  449,  479. 

Deen-ranges,  Rev.  Mr.  his  Telinga  translation  of  the  New  Testament,  270. 


INDEX.  603 

Devon  and  Exeter  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  424. — Minor  Bible  Association 
531,  note. 

Doering,  Rev.  Dr.  490. 

Dolben  Sir  William,  extract  from  his  letter,  read  at  the  formation  of  the  Suflfolk 
Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  328. 

Doncaster  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  424. 

Dorking'     do.  423. 

Dorpat,  a  supply  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  477- — Extract  from  the  Address  of  the 
Bible  Society  in,  acknowledg'ing  the  receipt  of  them,  488. 

Bible  Society  in,  instituted,  587. 

Dorpation  Esthonian  New  Testaments,  587. 

Douglas,  Marquis  of,  526. 

Druck,  Professor,  54. 

Dublin  Association,  13,  103, 139. — See  Association. 

Ladies'  Bible  Association,  532. 

. A  Bible  Society  established  in,  103. — Furnished  with   Bibles  and  Testa^ 

nients  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  139. 

Dudley  and  Ward,  Viscount,  321. 

Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  529. 

,  Charles,  Esq.  540. 

Dundas,  Right  Hon.  Lawrence,  Lord  Mayor  of  York,  342. 

Dunmore,  Earl  of,  526. 

Durham,  Right  Rev.  Bishop  of,  38. — Patronizes  the  printing  of  an  Arabic  Bible 
156._Notices  of,  321,  530,  579— His  letter  to  the  Society,  on  its  eighth  an- 
niversary, 357- — Accepts  the  presidency  of  the  Oxford  Auxiliary  Society,  523. 

, ,  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  423, 424. 

Dutch  New  Testament  printed  for  the  use  of  prisoners  of  war,  205. 

Dutch  Bibles  sent  to  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  297. — An  edition  for  aliens  in  Great 
Britain,  444. — Furnished  to  prisoners  of  war,  569. 

— prisoners  of  war,  returning  home,  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  569. 

Dysart,  Earl  of,  321. 


East  India  Company,  acknowledgment  of  its  readiness  to  facilitate  the  operations 
of  the  Society  in  India,  290. 

East  Lothian  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  instituted,  225. 

Edinburgh  Presbytery  espouses  the  cause  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
90. 

Auxiliary  Bible  Society  instituted,  225. 

Edmonton  and  North-East  Middlesex  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  424,  425. 

Edwards,  Hon.  J.  P.  412. 

Egmont,  Earl  of,  517. — Extract  from  his  letter  to  the  Provisional  Committee  of  the 
Somerset  Auxiliary  Society,  ib. 

Eichsfeld  Bible  Society,  586. 

Elberfeld  Bible  Society  for  the  Gfand  Duchy  of  Berg,  and  Auxiliary  Associations, 
586. 

England,  number  of  Auxiliary  and  Branch  Societies  in,  585. 

J'3nglish  Bibles,  resolution  for  ensuring  a  competent  supply  of,  47. — Farther  pro- 
ceedings, 55. 


604 


INDEX. 


English  Bibles  and  Testaments  issued  from  the  Society's  depository,  443. — See  atso 
351. 

Bible  Society  in  Holland  established,  485. — Extract  from  its  public  Ad- 
dress, 487. 

Esquimaux  edition  of  St.  John's  Gospel,  240. 

translation  of  the  Gospels,  297,  351,  410, 446. 

Essex  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  424. 

East,  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  529,  note. 

South- West,  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  424,425. 

Esthonia,  application  from  a  Lutheran  Church  in,  and  grant  to,  130. — Its  happy 
consequences,  ib. — Progress  of  the  Society's  views  in,  283,  476. — A  supply  of 
the  Scriptures  sent  to,  488. 

,  Bible  Society  established,  587- 

Esthouian  New  Testaments,  587. 

Ethelston,  Rev.  Charles,  227. 

Ethiopic  version  of  the  Scriptures  for  the  Abyssinians,  447. 

Etonians'  contribution  towards  a  projected  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  at  Windsor, 
531,  note. 

Evangelical  Society  at  Stockholm,  its  activity  and  success,  302- — Extract  from  its- 
second  Report,  302. — Baron  Rosenblad  called  to  preside  over  it,  452- 

Europe,  distribution  of  the  Scriptures  in,  351. — List  of  Bible  Societies  in,  586. 

Ewald,  Rev.  Mr.  123. 

Exeter,  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Fisher,  Bishop  of,  38,  149,  212.— See  Fisher  ajirf  Salisbury. 

Bible  Society  instituted,  225. 

r—  Minor  Bible  Association,  531,  note. 


Falkheisen,  Rev,  fllr.  54. 

Falmouth,  Viscount,  291,321. 

Farish,  Rev.  Professor,  extracts  from  his  account  of  the  formation  of  the  Cam- 
bridge University  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  333,Mofe,  339. 

Female  Bible  Associations,  532- 

Fern,  John,  Esq.  34. 

Fife  and  Kinross  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  414. 

Finance,  Committee  of,  appointed,  47- 

Finland,  great  scarcity  of  the  Scriptures  in,  303. — A  Bible  Society  established  in, 
304,  587. — An  edition  of  the  Bible  in  the  Finnish  dialect  printed  at  Abo,  382, 
383,  587. — Grant  for  promoting  this  object,  454. — See  Abo. 

Finlanders  in  Great  Britain  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  444. 

Finnish  Bibles,  state  of,  at  the  period  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  be- 
ing formed,  60. — The  account  inacurate,  61. 

Fisher,  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Bishop  of  Exeter,  (afterwards  of  Salisbury,)  38,  149,  212- 
— President  of  the  Reading  Auxiliary  Society,  212- 

Flintshire  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  518,  524. 

Foreign  troops,  and  poor  foreigners,  in  Great  Britain,  supplied  with  the  Scrip- 
tures, 351. 

Fort  William,  Calcutta,  the  reduction  of  the  College  at,  occasions  a  revival  of  the 
Society's  interest  in  India,  262.— The  Calcutta  Auxiliary  Bible  Society 
formed,  318 — See  Calcutta. 


INDEX.  ,^0^ 

Foster,  Thomas  Furley,  Esq.  140. 

Foyster,  Samuel,  Esq.  19. 

France,  the  South  of,  supplied  with  Bibles  and  Testaments,  through  the  Societv  at 

Basle,  196,  230.  ' 
— ,  British  prisoners  of  war  in,  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  290,  351  •  as  are 

likewise  Protestant  congregations  in,  351.  ' 

Frankfort  Bible  Society, 
Frederick  William,  IV.  King  of  Prussia,  patronizes  the  Berlin  Bible  Society,  99- 

Freeman,  Rev.  Mr.  notice  of  his  translation  of  certain  parts  of  the  Scriptures  into 

the  Mohawk  language,  67. 
French  Bible  Society  formed  in  1792,  concise  history  of,  13,  et  seq. 
' Bibles  printed  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  110  207    350 

445 ;  by  the  St.  Petersburg  Society,  479.— See  also  587.  '         ' 

prisoners  of  war  in  Great  Britain,  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  351 

Testaments  printed  at  Paris,  in  1731,  and  distributed  by  Catholics,  575  - 

Interesting  extracts  from  Preface  to,  ib.  and  notes. 
Freshfield,  J.  VV.  Esq.  defends  the  Society  against  Mr.  Norris's  Attack,  516 
Fridag,  Sebastian,  Esq.  34. 
Frome  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  established,  423. 
Fiihnen  a  Religious  Society  in,  54.-Icelandic  New  Testament  sent  from,  to  Ice- 

land,  128,  162. 

Bible  Society,  its  great  exertions,  373. 

Fuller,  Rev.  Andrew,  81. 


Gaelic^versjon  of  th^e^Scriptures,  107.-Aa  edition  resolved  on,  108.~Disfributio. 

Galitzin,  Prince  Alexander,  various  notices  of  his  attention  to  promote  the  object  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  in  Russia,  308,  383,  386,473  485- 
tliX'lsl  ^""^  '^"■^"'"""^'^  °"  '^^  ^«™^«°«  «f  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible 

Gallicia,  a  supply  of  Polish  Bibles  sent  to,  301. 

Gambler,  Lord,  38,  372,  579- 

Gandolphy    Rev.  Peter,  extracts  from  his  "Congratulatory  Letter  to  Professor 
Mars     '  439.-H.S  testimony  to  the  fallacy  and  novelt'y  of  the  doctr  ne 
the  Scriptures  without  comment  are  insufficient,  &c.  483  vote 

Gaols  supphed  with  the  Scriptures,  141,  206,  351  ' 

•""toS;"  ^pi^-Sf '-'"""'"°"'  "^ ""-  ™  '-'^--^^  - "'  *' 

Gardner,  Lord,  321. 
Gaskii;,  Rev.  Dr.  73. 
GatcUfFe,  Rev.  John,  227. 
General  Meetings,  see  Meetings. 
Geneva  Bible  Society,  586. 

^''^iyi::?,  f'r^  ^^ '^  ?.f '^  '°™^''  286.-Com„unicatior.  from,  287. 
—Extracts  from  its  public  Address,  288. 

Georsi«n  New  Testaments,  587. 


606 


INDEX. 


German  colonists  on  the  Wolga,  131.— Supply  of  Bibles  and  Testaments  sent  to, 
from  the  Institution  at  Halle,  ib — Joy  with  which  they  were  received,  201. 

Bible  Society  instituted  at  Nurenberg,  54, 59. — Removed  to  Basle,  120. — 

For  its  proceedings,  see  Nurenbcrg-  o«rf  Basle. 

Testaments  distributed  in  Great  Britain,  111. 

Bibles  printed  and  circulated  by  the  British  and  Foreig'n  Bible  Society, 

4445  by  the  B^sle  Society,  455  ;  by  the  Wurtemberg  Institution,  457  j  and  by 
the  St.  Petersburg  Society,  483. — Sec  also  587- 

Catholics,  distribution  of  the  Scriptures  among,  379. 

Germany,  progress  of  the  views  of  the  Society  in,  285,  379,  457. — Cordiality  be- 
tween the  Protestants  and  Catholics  of,  in  promoting  the  circulation  of  the 
Scriptures,  313,  491. — Great  demand  for  Bibles  and  Testaments  in,  491. 

_..  poor  in,  supplied  with  the  Scriptures  by  th€  Society,  351. 

Gibraltar,  supply  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  189,  351. 

Gisborne,  Rev.  Thomas,  extracts  from  his  speeches  at  the  formation  of  the  Staff- 
ordshire Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  345 ;  and  at  that  of  the  Chester  Society, 
421,  422. 

filasgow,  the  first  City  in  Scotland  that  espoused  the  interests  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  85. — Resolution  of  the  Presbytery  to  have  a  public 
collection  for  it,  86,  113,  208;  which  is  followed  by  the  Synod  of  Glasgow 
and  Ayr,  ib.  88. — The  collection  ordered  to  be  annual,  216. — Auxiliary  Bible 
Society  formed  in,  321. — Extract  from  its  public  Address  on  the  occasion,  ib. 
note. 

,  Earl  of,  321,  526". 

,  Port,  see  Greenock. 

Glogau,  Rev.  Mr.  124. 

Gloucester,  His  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of,  321,  338.— Extract  from  his  letter 
to  the  Bishop  of  Bristol,  334,  note. 

,  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Huntingford,  Bishop  of,  his  letter  to  the  Mayor  of  Glou- 
cester, on  occasion  of  the  formation  of  an  Auxiliary  Society  for  that  city  and 
county,  417.— Reply  by  the  Rev.  J.  Owen,  418. 

- - — ,  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Ryder,  Bishop  of,  579 — See  Ryder. 

,  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  414. 

Goa,  Archbishop  of,  ineffectual  application  to,  requesting  permission  to  circulate  the 
Scriptures  among  the  Catholics  of  Malabar,  494. 

Good  Hope,  Cape  of,  supply  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to  the  British  settlers,  soldiers, 
and  colonists  there,  135.— Tribute  of  gratitude  from,  297-— Circulation  of 
German  and  Dutch  Bibles  at,  352,  504.— The  "  Bible  and  School  Commission'' 
formed,  ib.— Its  object  and  consequence,  ib. 

Gorden,  Rev.  W.  570. 

Goree,  supply  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  189. 

Gosse,  Joseph  Smith,  Esq.  19. 

Gothenburg  Bible  Society  formed,  459,  462.— Copy  of  its  Addre.s9  to  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  464. — Lord  Teignmouth's  Reply,  ib. 

Gothland  Bible  Society  formed,  459,  462.— Review  of  its  origin  and  progress,  459- 

Grafton,  Duke  of,  321.— Extract  from  his  speech  at  the  formation  of  the  North- 
ampton Auxiliary  Society,  416. 

Grant,  Charles,  Esq  M.  P.  10, 34,  38,  434.     . 

,  Charles.  Jun.  Esq.  426,  578. 


INDEX.  6D7 

Greek  Scriptures,  an  editioa  of,  in  the  ancient  and  modern  dialects,  by  the  British 

and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  204. 
Islands,  success  of  the  Society  in,  311. — Supplies  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to, 

351. 
Metropolitan  of  Moscow,  his  approbation  of  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  So- 
ciety, 481. 
New  Testaments  printed  and  circulated  by  the  Society,  311,  446,  587,  588. 

— Approbation  of  Cyril,  Archbishop  of  Coostrantinople,  446. 
Greenock  and  Port  Glasgow  Society  for  circulating  the  Holy  Scriptures,  formed, 

210. — Merges  into  the  Greenock  and  Port  Glasgow  West  Renfrewshire  Bible 

Society,  ib. 
Grenville,  Lord,  321. 
Grey,  Hon.  Lady,  544,  note. 
Grill,  Claes,  Esq.  34. 
Grimston,  Viscount,  321- 
Grisons  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  376. 
Grosvenor,  Earl,  patronizes  the  Holywell  Auxiliary  Society  for  Flintshire,  518, 

524. 
Guernsey  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  424. 

,  a  supply  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  351. 

Gustafson,  Rev.  Martin,  459. 

H. 

Hablitz,  Counsellor,  386,  note. 

Hackney  and  Stoke  Newington  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  424,  516. 

— —  Juvenile  Association,  at  Miss  Teulon's  School,  531. 

Hagar,  Dr.  49. 

Halifax  (Nova  Scotia)  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  514,  588. — Its  Branches,  ib. 

(Yorkshire)  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  321. 

Hall,  Rev.  Robert,  243,  369 —His  speech  at  the  second  anniversary  of  the  Leices- 
ter Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  355. 

■ Rev.  S.  227. 

—  William,  Esq.  14. 

Halle,  in  Saxony,  a  communication  with,  opened,  54,  97.— Account  of  the  Canstcin 
Bible  Institution,  97,  122,  409.     See  Canr.tein, 

Halstead  Branch  Society,  529,  note. 

Hamburgh- Altona  Bible  Society  formed,  586. 

Hammcrsley,  Thomas,  Esq.  281. 

Hampden,  Viscount,  321. 

Hampshire  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  424. 

Haudfield,  Colonel,  428, 

Hanover  Bible  Society  instituted,  586.— German  Bibles  distributed  by,  ib. 

Hans  Jerta,  Chevalier,  460. 

Hardcastle,  Joseph,  Esq.  34. 

Hardewicke,  Earl  of,  321,  333,  338,  357- 

Hardy,  John,  Esq.  Recorder  of  Leeds,  442,  note. 

Harrington,  J.  H.  Esq.  President  of  the  Calcutta  Auxiliary  Society,  318. 

Harrowby,  Earl  of,  530,  579. 

Hastings,  Warren,  Esq.  182. 


60S  *NDEX. 

Haygartb,  William,  Esq.  oo  the  dialects  of  Greece,  447,  note. 

Head,  Mr.  John,  328. 

Headley,  Lord,  579. 

Henderson,  Rev.  Ebenezer,  125,  232,  235,  375,  462,  468— His  proceedings  rela- 
tive to  the  Icelandic  version  of  the  Scriptures,  375,  469. 

Henley-upon-Thames  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  424. 

Henniker,  Lord,  321. 

Hereford  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  516. 

Hertford,  Marquis  of,  321. 

Hertfordshire  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  particulars  of  its  formation,  342. 

Hertzog,  Rev.  Dr.  54. 

Hess,  Rev.  J.  J.  Antisles  (or  Head)  of  the  Zurich  Clergy,  54,  380.— Promotes  the 
formation  of  a  Bible  Society  in  that  Canton,  377.— Copy  of  his  letter,  acknow- 
ledging a  grant  from  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  378. 

Hewitt,  Hon.  Mrs.  532. 

Hibernian  Bible  Society,  its  origin,  103.— Extract  from  its  Report,  214.— Bibles 
and  Testaments  distributed  by,  215. — Its  patronage,  exertions,  and  grant  to, 
from  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  342. — Increase  of  its  influence 
and  branches,  441. 

Hibernian  Sunday  School  Society  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  351. 

Hieraer,  Mr.  135,  202. 

Highlands  of  Scotland,  state  of  the  Scriptures  in,  prior  to  the  year  1805, 107- 
— See  Gaelic. 

High-Wycomb  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  539. 

Hill,  Rev.  Rowland,  36. 

Hinchinbroke,  Viscount,  321,  341. 

Hinckford  Branch  Society,  529,  note. 

Hindoo,  singular  letter  from  an,  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  279. 

Hindoostan,  Dr.  Buchanan's  statement  of  the  languages  used  in,  270. 

Hindoostanee  translations  of  the  Scriptures,  265,  270,  271, 392,  396. 

Hinton,  Rev.  James,  520. — His  defence  of  modern  Dissenters,  521, 

Hoare,  Rev.  Charles,  417. 

,  W.  H.  Esq.  34,  207. 

Hobart,  Right  Jlev.  Dr.  Bishop,  of  New- York,  238. 

Hodo-son,  Rev.  Archdeacon,  extract  from  his  account  of  the  Life  of  Bishop  Porteus, 
explanatory  of  the  views  entertained  by  that  Prelate,  in  attaching  himself  to 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  26,  note. 

Hodson,  Thomas,  Esq.  34. 

Holborn  Sunday  School,  furnishes  the  first  example  of  a  Juvenile  Bible  Association, 
530. 

Holland,  state  of  the  Scriptures  in,  at  the  period  of  the  formation  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  62.— Proceedings  in,  relative  to  the  object  of  the  So- 
ciety,  485. — See  Amsterdam. 

Hollingsworth,  S.  Esq.  on  the  expediency  of  sending  the  Scriptures  to  China  in 
the  language  of  the  natives,  49,  50. 

Holstein,  success  of  the  Society  in,  379.— Supplies  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  351- 

Holywell,  (Flintshire)  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  518,  524. 

Honduras,  supplies  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  351. 

Hooker,  Rev.  Richard,  on  the  sufficiency  of  the  Scriptures  with  comment,  &c.  484 


INDEX.  608 

iioiiklns,  Captain  John,  suggesis  the  plan  of  supplying  the  crews  of  revenue  cut- 
ters with  the  Scriptnres,  289. 

Horneman,  H.  F.  Esq.  375. 

Horsley,  Right  Rev.  Bishop,  on  tlie  sufficiency  of  the  Scriptui-es,  &c.  496,  nofe 

Horst,  Rev.  Mr.  269,  273,  .378. 

Hose,  J.  D.  Esq.  34. 

Hospitals  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  141,  206,  551. 

Hottentot  congregations  in  South  Africa  supplied  with  the  Scripturea,  352. 

Howard,  Robert,  Esq.  34,  47. 

Howley,  Right  Rev.  Pr.  Bishop  of  London,  517,  note. 

Hiiber,Rev.  Mr.  54,201. 

Huddersfield  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  291. 

Hughes,  Rev.  Joseph,  first  suggests  the  idea  of  promoting  a  universal  distribution  of 
the  Scriptures,  9,  45. — Requested  to  prepare  an  address  to  the  public  on  the 
subject,  ib.  which  he  produces  in  May,  1803,  10. — Extracts  from  it,  16. — Ap- 
pointed one  of  the  Secretaries  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  28. — 
The  Society  greatly  indebted  to  bis  exertions,  45,  580. 

Hull  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  225. 

Humphrey's  "  Account  of  the  Society  for  Propagating  theGospeliu  Foreign  Parts," 
extract  from,  67- 

Hungary,  distressing  scarcity  of  the  Scriptures  in,  309. — A  Bible  Society  esta- 
blished at  Presburg,  310. — Supplies  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  351.— Sclavo- 
nian  Testaments  distributed  by  the  Hungarian  Society,  586. 

Hunter,  Alderman  Sir  C.  S.  428. 

,  Rev.  Dr.  89. 

Huntingdonshire  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  341. 

Huntley,  Marquis  of,  321. 

I. 

Iceland,  want  of  Bibles  in,  125. — Letter  from  Lord  Teignmouth  to  the  Bishop  o^", 
126. — Resolution  of  the  Fuhnen  Society  to  print  an  Icelandic  Testament,  129 
—Co-operation  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  126,  129 — The 
edition  completed,  163. — Singular  preservation  of  the  Copies  at  Copenhagen, 
when  that  City  was  bombarded,  ib. — Extract  of  a  letter  from  the  Sheriff  of, 
470. 

Bible  Society  formed,  587- 

Icelandic  Scriptures,  various  particulars  relative  to,  374 — 377,  476. 

India,  a  correspondence  opened  with,  on  the  subject  of  translating  the  Scriptures 
into  the  Oriental  languages,  53. — Grants  for  that  purpose,  144,  150. — En- 
glish and  German  Bibles  and  Testaments  sent  to,  for  the  use  of  poor  Europe- 
ans there,  151- — The  Government  of,  unfavourable  to  the  views  of  the  Society, 
152,  188.— State  of  Christianity  in,  168. — Success  of  the  Society's  views  in,  on 
the  reduction  of  the  college  at  Fort  William,  262,  282,  313. — Various  particu- 
lars relative  to  the  Oriental  translations,  261,  265,  314,  392,  393,  492,  495, 
496. — The  Calcutta  Corresponding  Committee  formed,  267. — Singular  letter 
of  a  native  Hindoo,  addressed  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  279. 
— Distribution  of  the  Tamul  and  Portuguese  Scriptures,  314. — ^The  Calcutta 
Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  317,  390. — The  Catholic  Bishop  of  Verapoli, 
Vicar-General  of  Malabar,  consents  to  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  in  his 
76 


jglO  INDEX. 

diocese,  391. — Letter  from  Kistna,  a  Heathen  native,  ih. — Fire  at  the  printing- 
house  of  the  Baptist  Missionaries  at  Serampore,  393.— General  effects  of  the 
Scriptures  upon  the  natives,  494,  495. 

Ipswich  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  321. 

Ireland,  state  of,  in  reference  to  the  views  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, 88 — The  Society's  first  impression  of  the  New  Testament  distributed  in, 
103. — Bible  Societies  formed  in,  for  the  Synod  of  Ulster,  and  city  and  county 
of  Cork,  190. — The  schools  in,  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  ib. — Want  of 
the  Scriptures  in,  358. — Increase  of  Bible  Societies  in,  441, 526. — Their  num- 
ber, 585 Sunday  schools  and  poor  in,  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  351. 

Irish  Bibles,  resolution  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  for  ensuring  a 
competent  supply  of,  47,  55. — Stereotyped,  444. 

. New  Testaments,  order  for  printing,  from  Bishop  Bedell's  version,  239— 

Completed,  289 

Bibles  and  Testaments  printed  by  the  Society,  588. 

Schools  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  190. 

Islington  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  432,  433. 

Italian  Scriptures  proposed  to  be  printed  for  the  use  of  the  Levant,  &c.  204. 

= Testaments  printed  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  285,  288. 

307,444,588. 


Jaenick6,  Rev.  J.  on  the  scarcity  of  Bohemian  Bibles,  62. — Establishes  a  Bible  So- 
ciety at  Berlin,  under  the  Sanction  of  the  King  of  Prussia,  99. — His  Letter  to 
the  King,  100;  and  his  Majesty's  Reply,  101. 

Jamaica,  success  of  the  Society  in,  411. — An  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  for  People  of 
Colour  formed,  412,  588. 

Java,  copies  of  the  Chinese  Testament  sjpnt  to,  502. 

Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  587,  ib, 

Jedeur,  Very  Rev.  Dr  460. 

Jersey,  a  supply  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  351. — A  Bible  Society  in,  585. 

Jerta,  Hans,  Chevalier,  460. 

John,  Rev.  Dr.  269,  270,  273,  314. 

Johnson,  Dr.  Samuel,  extract  from  one  of  his  Letters,  on  the  absolute  necessity  of 
circulating  the  Scriptures,  109. 

Johnston,  Sir  Alexander,  promotes  the  institution  of  an  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  in 
Ceylon,  400. — Letter  from,  ib. — Aclinowledgment  of  bis  services,  403. — Ap- 
pointed an  honorary  life  governor  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
404. 

Johnston,  Rev.  Croxton,  227. 

Jones,  Rev.  Mr.  89. 

Jounarian  Ghoshaul,  a  nativp  Hindoo,  his  singular  letter  to  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  Society,  279. 

Jowett,  Rev.  Dr.  333,  note. — His  account  of  the  preliminary  steps  taken  by  the 
junior  students  of  Cambridge  University,  towards  the  formation  of  a  Bible 
Society  there,  338. 

Juvenile  Associations,  their  rise  and  importance,  530.— Justificatiop  of  them,  535- 


mofix. 


K. 


en 


Kaiuenetz- Podolsk  Bible  Society  instituted,  587. 

Kamensky,  Mr.  Nicholas  Bantish,  473. — Notice  of  his  death,  474,  note. 
Karass,  state  of  the  Christian  Mission  at,  130. — Types,  papers,  &c.  sent  to,  for 
printing  an  edition  of  the  Scriptnres  in  the  Tartar  dialect,  131. 

Kendale  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  225. — Its  zeal,  243. 

Kent,  His  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of,  433,  434,  442,  577. 

Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed, 414. 

Ker,  Dr.  177,  note- 

Kief,  zeal  of  the  Greek  Metropolitan  of,  in  co-operating  with  the  St.  Petersburg' 
Bible  Society,  480. 

Kiesling,  Mr.  Tobias,  54 — His  account  of  the  formation  of  a  Bible  Society  at  Nu- 
renberg,  59. 

Kildare,  Right  Rev.  Bishop  of,  579 —On  the  want  of  the  Scriptuies  in  Ireland,  358. 

King,  Rev.G.  331. 

Kinghorn,  R6v.  J.  328,  note. 

Kingsbridge  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  424. 

Kingston  ditto.  423. 

Kinross  ditto.  414. 

Kirkwall,  Viscount,  321. 

Kistna,  a  Hindoo  Convert,  391. 

Kitcherer,  Rev.  Mr.  296~. 

Kuapp,  Rev.  Dr.  Director  of  the  Orphan  House  at  Halle,  in  Saxony ;  his  cordial 
co-operation  with  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  54,  98,  124,  132. — 
On  the  increased  demand  for  Bibles  and  Testaments  ffom  the  Caustein  Insti-' 
tution  at  Halle,  490. 

Knox,  Lady  Mary,  532. 

Knutsford  Branch  Society  formed,  291. 

Kohloff,  Rev.  Mr.  269,  273,  278,314. 

Kohlmeister,  Rev.  Mr.  his  account  of  the  reception  of  the  Esquimaux  edition  of 
St.  John's  Gospel  in  Labrador,  297. 

Konigsberg,  communication  from,  on  the  want  of  Bibles  in  Lithuania,  &c.  124. 

—  Bible  Committee  formed,  283. — Its  exertions  to  supply  the  Poles  in 

Prussia  with  the  Scriptures,  301 — Lithuanian  Bibles  and  Testaments  distribu- 
ted by  it,  586. 

Korsakoff,  General  Alexander  Kimskoy,  472,  note. 

Kotchubey,  Count,  131,  note,  386,  note,  388. 


Labrador,  progress  of  the  Esquimaux  Gospel  in,  297,  411. — The  Esquimaux 
Christians  in,  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  351. — Successes  of  the  United 
Brethren  in,  410. — -See  Esquimaux. 

Lahlenius,  Rev.  J.  A.  on  the  want  of  the  Scriptures  in  Westmania  and  Dalecarlia, 
461. 

Laing,  Rev.  Mr.  285. 

Lanack,  Presbytery  of,  favourable  to  the  British  and  foreign  Bible  Society,  216. 

Landaff,  Right  Rev,  Bishop  of,  579. 


612 


J.NDEX. 


Lapland,  an  erroneous  account  of  the  state  of  the  Scriptures  in,  60,  61. — Grant 

to  the  Stockhohu  Evang'elical  Society  towards  an  edition  of  the  New  Testa 

ment  in  the  dialect  of,  231- 
Laponese  New  Testaments,  303,  308,  375. 
Latrobe,  Rev.  C.  J.  240. 

Launceston  and  East  Cornwall  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  424- 
Lausanne  Bible  Society  instituted,  586. 

Laws  and  Regulations  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  40. 
Lea,  Richard,  Esq.  19,  34- 
Lee,  Mr.  succeeds  Dr.  Buchanan  as  translator  of  the  New  Tcstatueut  into  the 

Syriac  language,  451. 
Leeds  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  225. — Noticed,  442. 
Lefroy,  C.  E.  Esq.  author  of  Letters  signed  "  Peter  the  Hermit,"  in  the  Oxford 

Journal,  524,  note. — See  also  520,  note. 
Leggatt,  Rev.  S.  571. 
Leicester  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  225. — Extracts  from  its  address,  243,  356, 

517. 
Leighlin  and  Ferns,  Right  Rev.  Bishop  of,  extract  from  his  Charge  to  the  Clergy 

of  his  diocese,  526. 
JLeitrim,  Countess  of,  532- 
Leman,  Mr.  John,  412 
Leo,  Rev,  F.  309,  574. 
Lettonian  New  Testaments,  587. 

Levant,  great  demand  in,  for  modern  Greek  Testaments,  310,446. 
Letters  from  King  George  L  of  England,  to  the  missionaries  at  Tranquebar,  178. 
Leyden,  Dr.  278,  392— His  death,  394- 
Leyonmark,  Hon.  G.  retires  from  the  presidency  of  the  Evangelical  Society  at 

Stockholm,  452. 
Library  of  different  versions  of  the  Holy  Scripture.s,  established  for  the  use  of  the 

British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  71. 
Lieven,  Count,  477. 
Liflbrd,  Viscountess,  532. 
Liljencrantz,  Baron,  460. 
Lindsay,  Rev.  H.  446. 
Lisbon,  foreign  troops  in  the  General  Hospital  at,  supplied  with  the  Scriptures, 

351. 
Leister,  Thomas,  Esq.  344. 
Lithuania,  want  of  Bibles  in,  124.— Supply  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to  the  Polish 

schools  in,  301- 
Lithuanian  Bible,  the  Konigsberg  Committee  resolve  to  print  one,  283. — Number 

distributed,  586. 
Littlehales,  Lady  Elizabeth,  532. 
Liverpool,  Earl  of,  579.— Patronizes  the  Cinque  Ports  Auxiliary  Bible  Society, 

424. — His  conduct  at  the  second  Anniversary  of  that  Institution,  425,  vote. 
Liverpool  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  291. — Difficulties  in  the  way  of  its  insti- 
tution, ib.  removed,  ib. — Its  activity  and  success,  292. 

(Nova  Scotia)  Branch  Society  formed,  514,515. 

Livonia,  want  of  the  Scriptures  in,  284. — Grant  of  money  towards  forming  a  Bi- 
ble Society  in,  ib. — A  supply  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  351,  488. 
Livonian  Bible  Society  instituted  at  Riga,  587- 


London  Associations  to  aid  the  funds  of  the  British  and  Foreigii  Bible  Society,  by- 
collecting-  small  sums,  the  first  of  its  kind  in  South  Britain,  Hi,  120,  210. 

London,  Lord  Bishop  of,  sec  Beilby  Porteus. 

5  City  of,  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  427'. 

,  East,  ditto.  432,  433,  436. 

,  North,  and  Isling^ton,     ditto.  432,  433. 

)  North-East,      ditto.  432,  433,  545. 

,  North- West,     ditto.  432,433,436,437. 

,  Missionary  Society  sends  out  Mr.  Morrison  to  China,  with  a  view  to  his 

translating  the  Scriptures  into  the  language  of  that  country,  501,  502,  note. 

,  Swedish  Lutheran  Church  in,  extract  from  its  public  Address,  445. 

Lorton,  Viscountess,  Patroness  of  the  Dublin  Ladies'  Bible  Association,  532. 

Lothian,  West,  Auxiliary  Bible"  Society  formed,  291. 

Louisiana  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed  at  New-Orleans,  509.— Its  importance, 

>  Great  scarcity  of  Bibles  in,  509,  510.— Distribution  ef  the  Scriptures 

in,  by  the  Philadelphia  and  New- York  Societies,  510. 
Lubeck  Bible  Society,  instituted,  586. 
Lund  Bible  Society  instituted,  587. 
Lusatia,  hospitals  in,  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  490. 
Lutheran  translation  of  the  German  Bible  printed  by  the  St.  Petersburg  Society,  479. 

M. 

Macaulay,  Zachary,  Esq.  32,  34,426,  450. 

,  General,  obligations  of  the  Society  to,  for  his  patronage  of  the  aialar. 

alim  translation,  270. 

3Iac  Intosh,  Sir  James,  270- 

Mac  Intosh,  Rev.  Dr.  originates  a  communication  between  the  Society  and  Am- 
sterdam,  486  j  which  leads  to  the  formation  of  the  English  Bible  Society  in 
that  city,  ib.;  and  to  the  establishment  of  the  United  Netherlands  Bible  So^ 
ciety,  ib. 

.Madras,  Portuguese  Testaments  sent  to,  493. 

Magee,  Rev.  Dr.  104. 

Magnusen,  Very  Rev.  Dean,  376. 

Mahone,  Lord,  321. 

Mahratta  version  of  the  Scriptures,  265. 

Maidstone  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  424. 

Maine,  (North  America)  Bible  Society  formed,  286. 

>  grateful  reception  of  Bibles  in,  506. 

Maitland,  Alexander,  Esq.  19,  34. 

Malabar,  state  of  Christianity  in,  167.-The  Roman  Catholic  Bishop  ol,  consent- 
to  the  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  throughout  his  diocese,  167— Distribution 
of  the  Scriptures  among  the  Catholics  of,  390— Impediment,  392. 

Malay  translation  of  the  Scriptures,  265. 

Malayalim  translation  of  the  Scriptures,  167, 265,  270,  281,  450,  494,  495. 

Malta,  distribution  of  Italian  Testaments  in,  285,  311,  351. 

Maltby,  Rev.  Dr.  attacks  the  Society,  and  impugns  its  wisdom  in  putting  the  whole 
of  the  Scriptures  into  the  hands  of  the  lower  classes,  367. 

Manchester  and  Salford  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  225,  227.~H?  eminor.^ 


614  l^^DEX. 

services  m  promoting  similar  Institutions,  292. — Its  activity  in  distributing 
the  Scriptures,  293.— Extract  from  its  Report,  ib. 

Manchester,  Duke  of,  321,  341. 

Mann,  Right  Rev.  Bishop  of,  causes  Manks  Testaments  to  be  circulated  in  his  di- 
ocese, 289. 

Blann,  Isle  of,  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  424,  440.— A  Bible  Society  in,  585. 

Manks  version  of  the  Scriptures,  289,  444,  588. 

Mann,  Rev.  Alexander,  412,  413. 

Mansfield,  Rev.  Edward,  417,  note. 

Marburg  Catholic  .Bible  Depository,  490. — Extract  of  a  letter  from  the  Catholic 
Professor  of  Divinity  at,  492. 

Marine  Bible  Association,  289,  note. — Rules  for,  584. 

Marsh,  Professor,  his  "  Address,"  &c.  in  favour  of  the  Society  for  Promoting: 
Christian  Knowledge,  in  preference  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
334 ;  answered  by  the  Right  Hon.  N.  Vansittart,  335.— A  misconception  of, 
corrected,  266,  «ofe.— Publishes  his  "  Inquiry,"  &c.  352— Strictures  upon  it, 
353._His  "  Appendix"  published,  j6.— His  "Answer"  to  Mr.  Vansittart's  Se- 
cond Letter,  &c.  367.— Led  into  auav/kward  dilemma  by  his  "  Inquiry,''  438. 
—Quotation  from  that  publication  respecting  the  want  of  Bibles  in  Germany, 
with  a  practical  refutation  of  his  reasoning,  490.— His  opposition  productive 
of  a  warm  friend  to  the  Society,  522— Replied  to  by  the  Dean  of  Carlisle, 
545._Takes  leave  of  the  controversy,  568. 

Marshman,  Rev.  Joshua,  53— Notices  of  his  Chinese  translations  of  the  Scrip- 
tures, 267,  501,  502. 

Martin,  Ambrose,  Esq.  9,  34. 

Martyn,  Rev.  Henry,  on  the  various  editions  of  the  Arabic  Scriptures,  160.— His 
Arabic,  Persian,  and  Hindoostanee  translations  of  the  Scriptures,  265,  271, 
316,392,  394.— His  death,  397.— Review  of  his  labours,  with  some  particulars 
of  his  Journey  to  Shiraz.  397 — 399. 

Massachusetts  Bible  Society  established,  237.— Extracts  from  its  Reports,  407, 
409,  506. — Its  generous  conduct  respecting  the  Scriptures  captured  by  an 
American  privateer,  511.— Extracts  from  its  public  Address  on  that  occasion^ 

512. 
Mauritius  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  404. 

Meath,  Countess  of,  532. 

^ J  Right  Rev.  Bishop  of,  579— On  the  want  of  the  Scriptures  in  Ireland, 

358— Extract  from  his  speech  at  a  public  meeting  in  Kells,  527- 

Meer,  Seyd  Ali,  the  Persian  translator,  397. 

Meetings,  General,  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society:  the  first,  20  ;  the  se- 
cond, 32;  the  third,  or  first  anniversary,  86;  the  fourth,  or  second  anniver- 
sary, 118;  the  fifth,  or  third  anniversary,  147;  the  sixth,  or  fourth  anniver- 
sary, 193  ;  the  seventh,  or  fifth  anniversary,  217;  the  eighth,  or  sixth  anni- 
versary, 258.— .See  Anniversary  Meetings, 

Merian,  Rev.  Dr.  Antistes  (or  Head)  of  the  Basle  Clergy,  his  interview  with  Mr. 
Steinkopif,  377. 

Merimac  Bible  Society,  512,  note. 

Merioneth  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  414. 

Messina,  rapid  distribution  of  Italian  Testaments  at,  312.— Meeting  of  the  Ca- 
tholic Clergy  on  the  occasion,  ih 

Metchersky,  Prince.  386. 


IWDEX.  615 

Methodists,  Wesleyan,  liberal  contributions  from,  217. 

Middlesex  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  424. 

,  North-East  do.  424, 425. 

Milford  Haven,  petition  from  the  crews  of  twenty  revenae  cutters  in,  289. 

Mills,  Samuel,  Esq-  prepares  the  outline  of  the  intended  Society  for  promoting  a 
more  extensive  circulation  of  the  Scriptures,  afterwards  denominated  the  Bri- 
tish and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  17. — Further  exertions  in  its  behalf,  19,  23, 
34, 47. 

,  Mr.  his  exertions  and  success  in  promoting  Bible  Societies  in  the  United 

States  of  America,  509. 

■'Milne,  Rev.  William,  502. 

Milner,  Very  Rev.  Dean,  353. 

,  Right  Rev.  Dr.  extract  from  his  Pastoral  Charge,  on  the  pernicious  effects 

of  Bible  Institutions,  483,  note. 

Milton,  Viscount,  321. 

Minto,  Lord,  392. — Extract  from  his  College  Speech,  265,  note. 

Mirza,  Fitret,  the  Oriental  translator,  265,  271,  392. 

Missionaries,  Baptist,  at  Serampore,  their  persevering  diligence  in  the  Oriental 
translations  of  the  Scriptures,  261,  392,  393,  493,  495. 

Mississippi  Bible  Society  formed,  509. 

Mittau  Bible  Society  forn.ed,  477. 

Mogileff,  extract  from  the  Pastoral  Epistle  of  the  Catholic  Archbishop  of,  recom- 
mending the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  Society,  482. 

Mohammedans  of  Africa,  the  Arabic  Bible  much  prized  by,  503. 

Mohawk  translation  of  St.  John's  Gospel,  by  Captain  Norton,  the  Indian  Chief,  66. 
— Printed  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  69. — Joyfully  received 
by  the  Indians  of  Upper  Canada,  192. 

Moira,  Earl  of,  321,  434,  579. — Extract  from  his  Speech  at  the  formation  of  the 
Elast  London  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  436. 

Moldavian  New  Testaments,  587. 

Molineux,  Lady,  532. 

Moncrieff,  Robert  Scott,  Esq.  his  exertions  to  promote  the  views  of  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society  in  North  Britain,  88. 

Mongols,  or  Moguls,  a  short  account  of,  155. 

.Monte  Video,  a  supply  of  Spanish  Testaments  sent  to,  192 ;  which  are  suppressed  by 
the  Roman  Catholic  Bishop  of  Buenos  Ayres,  ib. 

Montgomery,  Mr.  540. 

Montrose  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  291. 

Montucci,  Dr.  Antonio,  his  offer  to  superintend  a  proposed  impression  from  the 

Chinese  MS.  of  the  New  Testament  in  the  British  Museum,  48. 
.Moore,  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Bishop,  of  New- York,  237. 

Moravian  Brethren  in  North  America,  South  Africa,  and  the  West  Indies,  their 
exertions  to  promote  the  object  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  240, 
— ^Their  success  in  promoting  that  object  in  Labrador,  410. — See  Esquimaux. 

Morgan,  Lieut.  Colonel  De,  64,  note. 

Morpeth,  Viscount,  extract  from  his  letter  to  the  Dean  of  Carlisle,  on  the  formation 
of  the  Cumberland  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  519. 

Morrison,  Rev.  Mr.  48.— His  Chinese  translations  of  the  Scriptures,  501,  502. 

Moscow,  extract  of  a  letter  from  the  Greek  Archbishop  of,  481. 

— — .~-j  Bible  Society,  particulars  of  its  original  projection,  384 — Frustrated  by 


616 


INDEX. 


the  Freuch  Invasion,  585. — Resumed  and  carried  ialo  effect,  473,  587- — Ab- 
stract of  its  plan,  473.— Extract  from  its  public  Address,  473. 

Mosely,  Rev.  W.  on  the  State  of  religion  in  China,  48. 

Munich,  testimony  of  a  Catholic  Clergyman  in,  to  the  want  of  the  Scriptures  in 
Germany,  381. 

Miinter,  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Bishop  of  Zealand,  favourable  towards  the  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society,  373. — Copy  of  his  letter  to  Lord  Teignmouth,  374. — 
Extract  from  his  Address,  announcing  the  formation  of  tke  Danish  Bible  So- 
ciety, 467. 

Murray,  Lindley,  Esq.  extract  from  his  letter  on  the  formation  of  the  York  Aux- 
iliary Bible  Society,  342. 


Naples,  supplies  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  351. 

Nares,  Rev.  Archdeacon,  51,  voie,  213. 

Nashville  Bible  Society  formed,  509- 

Nassau-Hall  (New  Jersey)  Bible  Society  formed,  507,  533. 

Nassau-Honiberg  Bible  Society  instituted,  586. 

Naudi,  Dr.  285. 

Nayr  of  Travancore,  anecdote  of  a,  494,  note. 

Neale,  Benjamin,  Esq.  428— Extract  from  his  speech  at  the  formation  of  the  City 

of  London  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  430. 
Neath  Au-siliary  Bible  Society  formed,  291. 
Negroes  in  the  West  Indies,  gratifying  account  of  their  reception  of  the  Scriptures, 

298. 
Neilson,  Rev.  Dr.  his  testimony  to  the  accuracy  of  the  Irish  New  Testaments 

printed  by  the  Society,  289. 
Nepean,  Sir  Evan,  579. — Promotes  the  formation  of  the  Bombay  Auxiliary  Bible 

Society,  499.-"His  liberal  donation  to  it,  500. 
Netherlands,  United  Bible  Society,  see  Amsterdam. — Its  Auxiliaries,  587. 
New  Brunswick,  a  supply  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  189- 
Newcastle-upou-Tyne  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  instituted,  225. 
Newfoundland,  supplies  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  351. 
Newgate,  prisoners  in,  supplied  with  Bibles  and  Testaments,  140. 
Newington,  Stoke,  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  424,  516. 
New  Jersey  Bible  Society  formed,  237,  507,  533. 
Newman,  Rev.  William,  515, note. 
New  Orleans,  a  Bible  Society  formed  at,  for  the  province  of  Louisiana,  509.— Its 

importance,  511. 
New  South  Wales,  see  Wales. 
New  Testament,  first  Stereotype  edition  of,  102. 

New-York,  three  Bible  Societies   formed  in,  237.— Extracts  from  their  Reports, 
410    507- Their  great  utility,  and  seasonable  establishment,  506 — Dis- 
tribute French  Bibles  in  Louisiana  and  Canada,  511. — Grant  of  assistance  to,  ih. 
New  Wied  and  Wied  Runckle  Bible  Society  instituted,  586. 
Nicolai,  Baron,  383. 
Nordcn,  Right  Rev.  Bishop,  303. 
Nordhausen  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  instituted,  586. 
Norfolk,  Duke  of,  416. 


INDEX.  gl7 

Norfolk,  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  327. 

Normanton,  Right  Hon.  Earl  of,  Archbishop  of  Dublin,  214. 

Norris,  Rev.  H.  H.  his  attack  upon  the  Society,  365,  516. 

North  America,  «ce  America. 

Northampton  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  414,  415. 

Northesk,  Earl  of,  321. 

North  Shields  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  424. 

Northumberland  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  424. 

Norton,  Captain,  John,  a  Chief  of  the  Six-Nation  Indians,  in  Upper  Canada,  tran^^- 
Jates  St.  John's  Gospel  into  the  Mohawk  language,  66. — His  address  to  the 
Indians,  70. — His  translation  printed  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
and  joyfully  received  by  the  Indians,  69,  192. 

Norway,  supplies  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  351. 

Norwich,  Right  Rev.  Bishop  of,  321,  358,  579. — Becomes  a  Vice  President  of  the 
Society,  298,  327. — Proposes  the  Resolutions  at  the  formation  of  the  Norfolk 
and  Norwich  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  327. — Patronizes  the  Ipswich  Aux- 
iliary Bible  Society,  329. 

,  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  327- 

Nottingham  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  213,  224. 

Nova  Scotia,  a  supply  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  189, — A  supply  of  Bibles  and 
Testaments  destined  for,  captured  by  an  American  privateer,  and  replaced  by 
the  Massachusetts  Bible  Society,  511. 

,  Societies  formed  in,  514,  588. — Ineffectual  opposition,  515. 

Novassilsoff,  Count,  131. 

Nurenberg  Bible  Society  instituted,  under  the  recommendation  and  patronage  of 
the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  54,  59- — Joined  by  the  inhabitants  of 
Basle,  79,  120. — Votes  and  grants  to,  from  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, 54, 97. — Its  beneficial  influence,  91,  230. — An  error  of,  93. — Prints  an 
edition  of  the  German  New  Testament,  66,  95;  and  makes  arrangements  for 
a  new  impression  of  the  whole  Scriptures  in  the  German  language,  95 — Re- 
mits a  supply  of  Testaments  to  London,  for  the  use  of  Germans  in  Great  Bri 
tain,  111.— The  Society  transferred  to  Basle,  120, 196. 


Oberlin,Rev.  Mr.  on  the  distribution  of  Bibles  in  Alsace,  80. 

Obscurity  of  the  Scriptures,  a  novel  and  fallacious  doctrine,  483,  note. 

Oesel,  Bible  Society  instituted,  587. 

Ohio,  Bible  Society  formed,  509. 

Orford,  Earl  of,  321. 

Oriental  correspondence,  a  sub-committee  appointed  for,  52. — Opened,  ib. 

translations,  proceedings  relative  to,  143, 151, 152.  187,  261, 264,  et.  seq, 

314,392,493,496. 
Osborne,  Lord  Francis,  333,  338 — Extract  from  bis  speech  at  the  formation  of  the 

Cambridge  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  333,  note,  * 

Osnaburg,  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  instituted,  586. 
Ostervald's  French  Testament,  574. 

Otter,  Rev.  William,  defends  the  Society  against  Dr.  Marsh's  attack,  354,  369. 
Ousely,  Sir  Gore,  397,  579.— Letter  from  the  King  of  Pcv^ia  to,  599. 
Owen.  llev.  Dr.  570. 

77 


618  IWDEX. 

0wen,  Rev.  Johu,  his  first  acquaintance  with  the  plan  of  the  Britis^  and  Foreiga 
Bible  Society,  20. — Introduced  to  the  Provisional  Committee,  ib. — Prevailed 
upon  to  move  the  resolutions  at  the  first  general  meeting,  22, 23 — Appointed 
Secretary  to  the  Society,  vice  the  Rev.  Josiah  Pratt,  32. — Answers  the  attack 
of  a  "  Country  Clergyman,''  84. — Delivers  a  memorial  to  the  Bishop  of  Lon- 
don, in  defence  of  the  Society,  117 — Answers  Mr.  Twining's  Pamphlet,  173— 
Noticed,  580. — Misrepresentation  of  his  speech  at  the  formation  of  the  Ipswich 
Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  365,  note. — Extract  from  his  speech  at  the  formatiou 
of  the  Northampton  Auxiliary  Society,  416. — Copy  of  his  letter  to  the  late 
Bishop  of  Gloucester,  418. 

Oxford  and  Oxfordshire  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  424.— Particulars  of  its  establLsbr 
ment,  520. 


Paisley,  Presbytery  of,  216. 

Pali  translation  of  the  Scriptures,  404, 498. 

Paris,  a  Bible  Committee  formed  in,  376. 

Park,  Mr.  Mungo,ou  the  attachment  of  the  Africans  to  their  books,  157. 

Paterson,  Rev.  Alexander,  130,  note. 

,  Rev.  John,  125,  162,  197,  232,  235,  577- -Instructed  to  promote  the 

formation  of  a  Bible  Society  for  Finland,  304. — His  journey  to  St.  Petersburgj 
382. — Interview  with  Prince  Galitzin,  383. — Visits  Moscow,  384. — Presents 
the  plan  of  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  Society  to  Prince,  386. — His  tour  to 
Esthonia,  476. — Testimony  to  his  indefatigable  co-operation  with  the  St.  Pe- 
tersburg Society,  485. 

Pauper,  a  Russian,  his  address  to  the  president  of  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  Society, 
482. 

Paxton,  Rev.  George,  suggests  the  propriety  of  an  Ethiopic  version  of  the  New 
Testament  for  Abyssinia,  447. 

Pearson,  Rev.  Hugh,  extract  from  his  speech  at  the  formation  of  the  Oxford  Aux- 
iliary Bible  Society,  524. 

Peasant,  a  Russian,  his  address  to  the  President  of  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  So- 
ciety, 482. 

Pembroke  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  414. 

Pepperell,  Sir  William,  Bart.  38,  579. 

Perceval,  late  Right  Hon.  Spencer,  a  firm  friend  to  the  Society,  416. — Allusion  t» 
his  tragical  end,  429,  430. 

Persia,  letter  from  the  King  of,  to  Sir  Gore  Ousely,  399,  note. 

Persian  translation  of  the  Scriptures,  265,  270,  392,  397,  587. 

Perth  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  414. 

"  Peter  the  Hermit,"  an  anonymous  writer  in  the  Oxford  Journal,  52Q,  524,  nofe<: 

Petersburg,  St.  Bible  Society  formed,  382,  389,  587. — Patronized  by  the  Emperor 
Alexander,  389,  479. — Its  zeal  and  operations,  451,  472.— Extract  from  aa 
ofhcial  communication  from,  containing  a  summary  of  its  proceedings,  478. 
— Extracts  from  its  first  report,  484. — Sec  also  477. 

Petherton  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  423. 

Philadelphia  Bible  Society  formed,  207. — Extracts  from  its  public  address,  208.-<- 
Grant  to,  209. — Its  zeal  and  success,  236. — Its  beneficial  influence,  ib. — Ex- 
tract from  its  Third  Report,  299.— Bibles  aud  Testaments  distributed  by,  .>20 


INDEX. 


619 


—•uraat  to,  in  aid  of  the  fund  for  purcliasing  stereotype  plates,  406. — Its  ac- 
•    tivity  in  encouraging  similar  Institutions,  506. — Sends  French  Testaments  for 
gratuitous  distribution  in  Louisiana,  410 Grant  from  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society  towards  that  object,  511. 

' Female  Bible  Society,  506— Extract  from  Bishop  White's  Address  to 

it,  533. 

Phillips,  Richard,  Esq.  his  services  in  organizing  a  general  plan  for  Auxiliary  and 
Branch  Societies,  and  Associations,  349,  535. — His  exertions  in  circulating 
publications  favourable  to  the  design  of  the  Society,  366. — Assists  at  the  for- 
mation of  the  City  of  London  Auxiliary  Society,  427- 

Pictou  (Nova  Scotia)  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  514,  588. 

Pinkerton,  Rev.  Robert,  131,  383,  577.— His  exertions  to  promote  the  establish- 
ment of  a  Bible  Society  at  Moscow,  384 ;  impeded  by  the  French  invasion, 
ib. — Repairs  to  St.  Petersburg,  and  assists  in  the  organization  of  a  Bible  So- 
ciety in  that  city,  386. — Returns  to  Moscow,  and  accomplishes  his  original 
design,  473. 

Pitts,  Rev.  Dr.  Chaplain  to  the  British  embassy  at  St.  Petwsburg,  386. 

Pius  VI.  his  veneration  for  the  Holy  Scriptures,  311. 

Plato,  Most  Rev.  the  Archbishop,  Metropolitan  of  the  Greek  Church  in  Russia, 
Letter  to,  on  the  distribution  of  the  Scriptures,  133. 

Plymouth  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  321. 

Dock,  tribute  of  gratitude  for  the  Bibles  and  Testaments  sent  to  the  sol- 
diers and  sailoj-s  in,  297. 

Plummer,  Thomas,  Esq.  340- 

Podolsk,  Catholic  Archbishop  of,  his  approbation  of  the  design  of  the  St.  Peters- 
burg Society,  481.— Extract  from  his  circular  letter  on  behalf  of  tho  St. 
Petersburg,  or  Russian,  Bible  Society,  ib.  491. 

. —  Bible  Society  instituted,  587- 

Pohle,  Rev.C.  269,  273. 

Poland,  supplies  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  351. 

Poles  in  Prussia  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  301. 

Polish  edition  of  the  Bible  undertaken  by  the  Berlin  Society,  194.— Grants  of  as- 
sistance to,  from  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  195,  231. 

Scriptures  printed  and  circulated  by  the  Berlin  Society,  282,  301. 

New  Testaments  printed  by  the  St.  Petersburg  Society,  479. — See  also  587. 

Schools  in  Lithuania  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  301. 

Pomerania,  success  of  the  Society's  intentions  in,  379. 

Pontefract  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  424. 

Porteus,  see  Beilby  Porteus,  Bishop  of  London. 

Port  Glasgow,  see  Greenock. 

Port  Louis  (Mauritius)  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  404,  503,  588. 

Portsmouth  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  424. 

Portugal,  supplies  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  351. 

Portuguese  Testaments,  203.  • 

Scriptures  distributed  at  Tanjore  and  Tranquebar,  314 — See  also 

445,493,572,588. 

Potchett,  Rev.  Mr.  150. 

Pratt,  Rev.  Josiah,  appointed  one  of  the  Secretaries  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Biblf  Society,  29— His  plan  of  an  enlarg<^  Committee  adopted,  ol—Retires 


G20  JKDEX. 

from  the  Secretariat,  32. — Grateful  remembrance  of   his  services,  45 Sec 

also  427,  432,  538,  545. 
Presburg'  Bible  Society  formed,  309. 
Preservation  of  the  Icelandic  copies  of  the  Scrii)tures,  during  the  bombardraent 

of  Copenhag'en,  163. 
Princeton,  .see  Nassau-Hall  mid  New  Jersey. 
Prisoners  of  war,  their  case  first  taken  into  consideration,  109.— Resolution  to 

supply  them  with  the  Scriptures,  110.— Supplies  {jranted,  142,  190,  205,  351, 

274,  569,  573. 

' ,  British  in  France,  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  290,  351. 

Prisoners  in  Newgate,  a  supply  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  140. 

Prisons,  various,  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  141,  351. 

Proby,  Viscount,  321. 

Prohibition  of  reading  the  Scriptures  among  the  Roman  Catholics,  64. 

Promissory  letter  from  the  Chief  Sacrificer  of  the  Heathen  tribes  in  the  vicinity 

of  the  Sea  of  Baikal,  483. 
Prospectus  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  as  published  by  the  Commit- 

tee,  34. 
Protestant  congregations  in  France  and  Austria  supplied  with  the  Scriptures, 

351. 
Prussia,  success  of  the  Berlin  Bible  Society,  on  its  first  establishment,  99. — Sup- 
plies of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  351. — See  Beriin. 
Prussian  Bible  Society  instituted,  with  its  Auiliaries,  586. 
Pushtoo,  or  AfTghan  version  of  the  Scriptures,  394,  note. 


Quakers,  a  misconception  relative  to  their  view  of  the  Scriptures  corrected,  21. — 

Extract  from  their  Annual  Epistle,  ib.  nofe. 
Uueb?c  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  588. 

Queen's  County  (Nova  Scotia)  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  514. 
Queries,  addrr-ssed  to  various  parts  of  the  United  Kingdom,  and  of  the  Continent, 

relative  to  the  State  of  the  Scriptures,  10. 

R. 

Randolph,  Right  Rev.  Bishop,  extract  from  his  letter  to  the  Colchester  clergy, 

112. —  Inimical  to  the  Society  and  its  views,  324,  517,  note. 
Ratisbon  Roman  Catholic  Bible  Society  founded,  91,  230. — Its  public  address,  91. 

—Its  progress,  230,  312,380,  491.— Testaments  distributed  by,  586. 
extract  of  a  letter  from  the  Regent  of  the  Roman  Catholic  college  at, 

492. 
Reading  sets  the  example  of  an  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  209. 
Reinhard,  Rev.  Dr.  380. 
Religious  Tract  Society,  see  Society. 

Renfrewshire,  West,  Auxiliary  Bible  Societj'  instituted,  210. 
Rcnouard,  Rev.  G.  159. 
Reval  Bible  Society  formed,  477,  587- — Its  acknowledgment  of  the  S^wcdish  and 

German  Scriptures  sent  to  places  in  the  Baltic,  488. 
Rcveliaa-Esthonjau  New  Testamcuts,  587. 


INDEX.  621 

Kevpnue  Cutters  eupplicd  with  the  Scriptures,  289. 

Ilejuer,  Joseph,  Esq.  19,  34,44. 

Reynolds,  Richard,  Esq.  243. 

Rhode-Island,  great  scarcity  of  the  Scriptures  in,  prior  to  the  establishment  of  a 
Bible  Society  for  that  place,  506. 

Richardson,  Mr.  Thomas,  229. 

— ; ,  Rev.  W.  his  activity  in  promoting  the  interests  of  the  Society  iu  York- 
shire, 343- 

Riga  Bible  Society  formed,  477,  587. 

Riversdale,  Lord,  321. 

Roberts,  Rev.  John,  complains  of  the  appointment  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Charles  to 
revise  the  text  of  the  Welsh  Bible,  73.— Extracts  from  his  pamphlet,  79, 
et  scq. 

Roman  Catholic  Bible  Society  at  Ratisbon,  see  Ratisbon, 

. Catholics  of  Swabia  desire  to  co-operate  with  the  British  and  Foreign  Bi- 
ble Society,  in  the  distribution  of  the  Scriptures,  62,  90,  93. — Extract  of  a 
letter  from  one  of  their  clergy,  95. 

,  how  far  the  sacred  books  are  prohibited  to  the  laity  of  their 

church,  64. 

of  Germany,  their  laudable  exertions  in  promoting  the  circulation 

of  the  Scriptures,  312,  379,  490- — Extract  of  a  letter  from  a  Professor  in  Ba- 
varia, to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  ib. — Extract  of  a  letter  from 
a  distinguished  Clergyman  of  their  communion,  to  the  same  body,  491. 

— of  Malabar,  circulation  of  the  Scriptures  among  them,  390;  im- 


peded, 494. 

in  Russia  supplied  with  French  Bibles,  379. — Sec  also  491. 

of  Switzerland  permitted  and  encouraged  to  read  the  Scriptures, 

257. 

Romanese  New  Testament  printed  for  the  use  of  the  Grisons,  230,  376. 

Romeyn,  Rev.  Dr.  577. 

Romney,  Earl  of,  579. 

Rose,  Right  Hon.  George,  extract  from  his  speech  at  the  formation  of  the  West 
minster  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  435. 

Rosen,  Professor,  462 — Extract  from  his  Speech  at  the  formation  of  the  Gothen- 
burg Bible  Society,  463. 

Rosenblad,  Baron,  his  accession  to  (he  presidency  of  the  Stockholm  Evangelical 
Society,  452. — Extracts  from  his  introductory  Speech,  ib. 

Rosing,  Rev.  Mr.  207,  374. 

Rotherham  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  291. 

Rothes,  Earl  of,  presides  at  the  formation  of  the  Southwark  Auxiliary  Bible  So- 
ciety, 426. 

Rowcroft,  Mr.  429. 

Rules  for  Auxiliary  Societies,  Branch  Societies,  and  Bible  Associations,  580. 

Rush,  Dr.  Benjamin,  tribute  of  respect  to  his  memory,  207,  note. 

Russia,  attempts  towards  a  communication  with,  130.— Distressed  situationof  the 
inhabitants  for  want  of  Bibles,  131, —  Letter  to  the  Greek  Metropolitan,  from 
Lord  Teignreouth,  132— Result  of  the  inquiry  as  to  the  state  of  the  Scrip- 
tures in,  383.— Progress  of  the  Society's  intentions  in,  382,  472— The  St. 
Petersburg  Bible  Society  instituted,  i6.— Particulars  relative  to  the  Moscow 


622  ^^^^^- 

Societies,  384,  473,  ct.  seq. — The  Catholics  in,  supplied  with  Bibles,  479.— 

See  further  -under  Moscow,  Paterson,  St.  Petersburg,  Pinkcrton,  &c. 
Russian  Bible  Society,  472,  474,  587— See  St.  Petersburg. 
Rutland  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  414. 
Ryder,  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Bishop  of  Gloucester,  516. — His  reply,  while   Dean  of 

Wells,  on  being  invited  to  co-operate  in  forming  the  Somerset  Auxiliary  Bible 

Society,  5ir. 

S. 

Sabat,  the  Arabic  translator,  265,  271,  392. 
Sacy,  Baron  Sylvester  De,  449,  570. 

Sailer,  Professor,  231. — Extract  from  his  last  publication,  95. 
Sailors,  British,  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  289,  297,  351. 
Sailor's  widow,  anecdote  of  a,  297- 

St.  David's,  Right  Rev.  Bishop  of,  promotes  the  formation  of  an  Auxijiary  Bible 
Society  in  his  diocese,  414. — Extracts  from  his  Charge  on  the  objection  to  the 
distribution  of  the  Bible  without  the  Common  Prayer  Book,  440. — His  Charge 
productive  of  a  new  impulse  in  South  Wales,  in  favour  of  the  Society,  525. 

, Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  414. 

St.  Domingo,  a  supply  of  Bibles  sent  to  the  French  in,  135. 

St.  Gall  Bible  Society  formed,  456,  586. 

St.  Helena  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  503,  588. 

Salisbury,  Dr.  Fisher,  Lord  Bishop  of,  38,  149,  150,  212,  321,358,  579.— Patron- 

izes  the  Wilts  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  415. 
Salt,  Henry,  Esq.  448. — On  the  state  of  the  Ethiopic  Scriptures  in  Abyssinia, 

449,  note. 
Samogitian  New  Testaments,  587. 
Sandwich,  Earl  of,  321. 

?ianscrit,  Shanscrit,  or  Sungskreet,  version  of  the  Scriptures,  265,  497. 
Sarepta,  correspondence  with  the  IMoraviau  mission  at,  132,  154. 
Saxton  Bible  Society  instituted,  586. 
Saxony,  success  of  the  cause  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  in,  97,o79. 

The  hospitals  of,  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  490. 

Schaflfhausen  Bible  Committee,  455,  457,  586. 

Scheidegger,  Catharine,  a  woman  of  truly  Christian  benevolence,  81. 

Schepler,  Maria,  her  exemplary  conduct,  81. 

Scherer,  Very  Rev.  G.  G.  his  account  of  the  origin  of  the  St.  Gall  Bible  Society, 

456. 
Schermerhorn,  Mr.  his  exertions  and  success  in  promoting  Bible  Societies  in  the 

United  States  of  America,  509. 
Schcene,  Mr.  De,  promotes  the  object  of  the  Society  in  Lithuania,  283. 
Schoener,  Rev.  John  Godfried,  59. 
School  contributions  to  the  fund  of  the  Society,  530. 
Schools,  gratuitous,  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  190. 
Schrceder,  Herman,  Esq.  19,  34. 

Schwabe,  Rev.  Dr.  490.  .       „., ,    o 

Scotland,  gratifying  progress  of  the  views  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety in,  85,  88, 107, 120,  216.-- Increase  of  Auxiliary  Societies  in,  526,530. 
—Their  number,  585. 


INDEX,  •  623 

Scriptsres  "hard  to  be  understood,"  a  novel  and  pernicious  doctrine,  483. 

,  editions  of,  printed  for  tlie  Society,  588. 

Seckendorf,  Count,  notice  of  his  death,  and  character,  458. 

•Seramporc,  the  scheme  of  Oriental  translations,  projected  by  the  Baptist  Missiona- 
ries at,  introduced  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  144. — Grant  of 
assistance  towards  that  object,  ib — Extract  from  the  proposals  for  translations; 
145. — Success,  146,  151. 

,  Baptist  Missionaries  at,  various  particulars  of  their  proceedings  in  the 

Oriental  translations,  261,  265,  314,  392,  492,  493,  495. 

Shands,  Hon.  John,  promotes  the  interests  of  the  Society  in  Jamaica,  412. 

Shanscrit,  see  Sanscrit. 

Sharp,  Granville,  Esq.  34. — Presides  at  the  first  and  second  public  meetings  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  22,  33. — Obligations  of  the  Society  for  his 
early  patronage,  44. — His  munificent  gift  of  versions  of  the  Scriptures  towards 
forming  a  Biblical  Library,  72. 

■ ,  William,  Esq.  grateful  tribute  to  his  ttieraory,  211,  note, 

Shaw,  Mrs.  532. 

Shetfield  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  225. 

Female  Bible  Association  formed,  531,  note. 

Shepherd,  Rev.  H.  promotes  the  formation  of  a  Bible  Society  at  Port  Loais,  fov 
Mauritius,  Bourbon,  Ssc  404.— Extract  from  his  public  Address  on  the  sub- 
ject, ib.  note. 

Sherbroke,  Sir  J.  C.  accepts  tbe  office  of  President  of  "  the  Bible  Society  of  Nova 
Scotia,"  &c.  at  Halifax,  514. — Extract  from  his  Letter  on  the  occasion,  515. 

Shewell,  John,  Esq.  328. 

Shields,  North,  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  424. 

Sicily,  successes  of  the  Society  in,  311. — Distribution  of  Italian  Scriptures  ioj 
312,351. 

Sick  and  wounded  in  foreign  hospitals  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  351,  490. 

Sierra-Leone,  supplies  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  189, 352. 

Silecia,  Polish  Scriptures  sent  to,  301 ;  and  the  hospitals  in,  supplied  with,  351_, 
490. 

Simcockes,  Rev.  Thomas,  413. 

Simeon,  Rev.  Charles,  339. — Extract  from  his  sermon  before  the  Cambridge  Uni- 
versary,  in  favour  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  332. His  de- 
fence of  the  Society  against  Dr.  Marsh,  354. 

Six-Nation  Indians  in  Upper  Canada,  68. —  See  Mohawk  and  Norton. 

Sky,  Isle  of,  great  scarcity  of  Gaelic  Bibles  in,  107. 

Slavonian  version  of  the  Scriptures,  309,  474,  479,  586,  587. 

Smith,  Rev.  Dr.  of  Homerton,  14. 

,  Rev.  Jeremiah,  227. 

,  Joseph,  Esq.  34. 

,  Mr.  Thomas,  appointed  Collector,  Sec.  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So 

ciety,  30. 

Smyrna,  supplies  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  352. 

Sraythies,  H.  Esq.  327. 

Societies,  religious,  an  enumeration  of  such  as  promoted  the  circulation  of  the 
Scriptures,  with  the  dates  of  their  respective  institution,  11. 

Society,  British  and  Foreign  Bifele,  its  origin,  1,  et  *eq'.— First  movement  towards 
its  formation,  8 — An  address,  in  favour  of  the  circulation  of  the  ScriptnrcP, 


624 


INDEX. 


resolved  on,  9. — Produced,  10. — Extracts  from,  16. — Plan  of  the  Society  first 
submitted  to  the  public,  17. — Extracts  from  its  first  public  address,  18. — 
Public  meeting  for  its  formation,  20. — Resolutions,  23. — Liberal  contributions 
from  the  company  present,  25 — Proceedings  communicated  to  the  Bishop  of 
London,  (Porteus,)  ib. ;  who  most  cordially  approves  of  the  plan,  26. — Diflicul- 
ties  in  the  way  of  its  organization,  27 — Proceedings  in  Committee,  29, 46. — 
Appointment  of  Secretaries,  29;  and  of  an  Assistant  Secretary,  Accomptant, 
and  Collector,  29. — Committee  new-modelled,  30,  46. — .4  second  g-eneral 
meeting,  32 ;  attended  by  W.  Wilberforce,  Esq.  33. — The  revised  constitu- 
lion  of  the  Society  sanctioned,  ib. — New  Committee,  34. — A  new  prospectus 
published,  ib. — Lord  Teignmouth  becomes  its  President,  35. — Patronized  by 
several  prelates,  38. — Further  revision  of  its  laws,  ib. — Extracts  from  its  First 
and  Seventh  Reports,  relative  to  its  title  and  objects,  39,  noic. — Appointment 
of  Honorary  Life  Members  and  Governors,  «6.— Copy  of  its  Laws  and  Regu- 
lations, 40. — Reflections  on  its  progress,  42. — Labours  of  its  CommiUees, 
46.— Sub-Committees  appointed,  ib.  52,  141.— Correspondence  relative  to  the 
Chinese  MS.  in  the  British  Museum,  48.— The  printing  of  a  Chinese  transla- 
tion of  the  New  Testament  postponed,  51.— The  China  and  Oriental  Sub- 
Committee  appointed,  52.— Correspondence  with  India,  on  the  subject  of 
translating  the  Scriptures  into  the  Eastern  languages,  ib. — Origin  of  the  So- 
ciety's institutions  at  Calcutta,  Bombay,  Colombo,  Batavia,  &c.  53— Corres- 
pondence with  Europe,  on  the  extent  to  which  Bibles  are  wanted  in  Switzer- 
land, Germany,  and  Denmark,  53,  54,  59—66,  91,  97,  99,  120,  124.-Grant 
of  assistance  towards  forming  a  Bible  Society  for  Austria,  54,  59,  97;  see 
Nureuberg. — Engagement  for  a  number  of  Stereotype  Bibles  and  Testaments, 
for  the  supply  of  England,  Wales,  and  Ireland,  55,  102. — An  edition  of  the 
Welsh  Bible  resolved  on,  56,  73.— Address  to  the  Society  for  promoting  Chris- 
tian Knowledge,  in  London,  and  to  the  Dublin  Association  for  Discountenan- 
cing Vice,  &c.  to  request  their  co-operation,  57— Result,  58— Addresses  to 
,the  Parochial  Clergy,  Dissenting  Ministers,  &c.  ib. — Result,  66. — Success  of 
the  correspondence  with  Nurenberg,  59;  Stuttgardt,  60;  Sweden,  ib.  Hol- 
land, 61';  Berlin,  62,  99.— Grant  towards  the  formation  of  a  Bible  Society  at 
Berlin,  62.— Communication  from  a  Roman  Catholic  Clergyman  in  Swabia,  ib. 
—New  Testaments  placed  at  his  disposal,  for  distribution  in  Swabia  and  Ba- 
varia, 65.— Success  of  the  Society  at  home,  66,  84,  85,  87,  88,  90,  102,  120, 
209— 217.— Translation  of  St.  John's  Gospel  into  the  Mohawk  language, 
printed,  66,  et  aeq.—k  Biblical  Library  set  on  foot,  71.— Discussions  relative 
to  the  text  to  be  adopted  for  a  new  edition  of  the  Welsh  Bible,  73.— Commu- 
nications from  Basle,  79 ;  from  Alsace,  80 ;  from  India,  81 — First  attacked 
in  a  hostile  manner,  by  "  a  Country  Clergyman,"  82.-Assembly  of  Prelates 
on  the  occasion,  83— The  Publication  answered,  84.— Progress  of  the  So- 
ciety in  Wales,  84,  88,  119,— in  Scotland,  85,  88,  119,  216.— Third  general 
meeting,  or  first  anniversary,  86.— State  of  Ireland,  88,  120,  190,  214.— So- 
ciety in  Scotland  for  propagating  Christian  knowledge,  88.— Slow  progress  of 
the  Society  in  England,  during  its  four  first  years,  91— Communication  from 
Halle,  in  Saxony,  97.— Grant  towards  a  new  edition  of  the  Bohemian  Bible, 
100,  194.— The  first  stereotype  edition  of  the  New  Testament  completed, 
102';  and  circulated  in  Ireland,  103.— Other  Societies  admitted  to  participate 
in  the  benefits  of  the  arrangements  with  the  Cambridge  University,  103.— 
State  of  the  Gaelic  Scriptures  first  brought  under  the  Society's  notice,  107.— 


INDEX, 


625 


Aw  impression  resolved  on,  108  ;  and  completed,  164. — Resolution  to  supply 
prisoners  of  war  with  the  Scriptures  in  their  own  languagres,  110, 142,  206. — 
Spanish  Testaments  and  French  Bibles  printed,  110. — Inquiry  respecting  the 
Germans  in  Loudon,  111. — The  Society  charged  with  ostentation,  112. — Its 
conduct  justified,  113. — An  Aysociation  formed  in  London,  to  assist  its  finan- 
ces, ib.;  another  at  Birmingham,  115. — Again  attacked,    and  an  endeavour 
made  to  detach  its  Episcopal  Patrons,  116,  140. — The  author  of  the  attack 
discovered,  and  his  pamphlet  withdrawn,  118. — Second  Anniversary,  ib.— 
State  of  the  Society's  funds  at  the   commencement  of  its  third  year,  119.— 
Advances   towards  a  correspondence  with   Russia,    130. — Application  from 
Dsthonia,  ib. — State  of  the  Christian  Mission  at  Karass,   ib. — Arabic  types, 
paper,   &c.  sent  to  Karass,   for  printing  the  Scriptures  in  the  Tartar  dialect, 
132,  156. — Correspondence  with  Sarepta,  near  Astrachan,  132. — Bibles  sent 
to  the  German  colonists  on  the  VVolga,  ib.  201. — Letter  to  the  Greek  Metropo- 
litan in  Russia,  133. — Acknowledcrment  from  Governor  Collins,  136. — The 
Welsh  ySew  Testament  completed,  137 — Activity  of  the  Committee  in  pro- 
curing and  circulating  English  editions  of  the  Scriptures,  138. — Care  to  pre- 
serve the  integrity  of  the  text,  139.— Prisoners  in  Newgate  supplied  with  the 
Scriptures,  140 ;  also  workhouses,  hospitals,  and  gaols,  throughout  Great  Bri- 
tain, 141,  206.— Oriental  translations,  143 — 151. — Third  Anniversary,  148. — 
English  and  German  Bibles  sent  to  India,  151. — The  exertions  of  the  Society  in 
India,  unfavourably   looked  upon,    152,   188— Grant  towards  printing  the 
Scriptures  in  the  Calmuc  dialect,  154.— Professor  Cailyle's  Arabic  Bible,  160. 
—New  Testaments  sent  to  Iceland,  162— Pleasing  accounts  from  India,  167- 
— Mr.  Twining's  pamphlet,  169;  answered,   173.— The  Society  attacked  by 
other  writers,  179 — Mr.  Twining  declines  his  proposed  motion  in  the  court  of 
proprietors,  181.— The  Society  defended  by  Bishop  Porteus,  and  Lord  Teign- 
mouth,  183,  185. — Grants  of  the  Scriptures  in  difterent  languages  to  Goree, 
Sierra  Leone,  New  South  Wales,  Nova  Scotia,  New  Brunswick,  and  Canada, 
189.— Grants  to  Schools,  &c.  190.— Bible  Societies  in  Ireland,  ib.  213.— In- 
telligence  from  America,  191.— The  Spanish  Testaments  suppressed  by  the 
Roman  Catholic  Bishop  of  Buenos  Ayres,  192. — Fourth  Anniversary,  193. — 
Rapid  distribution  of  the  Bohemian  Bible,  printed  at  Berlin,  194.— Grant  to- 
wards a  new  edition  of  the  Polish   Bible,  195;  another  for  supplying  New 
Testaments  and  Bibles  to  the  Protestants  in  the  South  of  France,  196.— Grants 
to  the  Evangelical  Society  at  Stockholm,  197,  201.— New  editions  of  the  Scrip- 
tures  in  the  English,  Wel.sh,  Portuguese,  Italian,  Greek,  Dutch,  and  Danish 
languages,  203— 206.— Grants  to  the  Philadelphia  Bible  Society,  207,  209, 
236.— Reading  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  the  first  of  its  kind,  formed,  209.— 
Other  Auxiliaries,  210,  212,  224,  225.— Fifth  Anniversary,  217— Death  of 
Bishop  Porteus,  223. — Importance  of  Auxiliaries  to  the  Parent  Society,  225, 
229,  242.— Romanese  New  Testament,  230.— Prosperity  of  the  Swedish  So- 
ciety, 231. — Success  of  the  Philadelphia  .Society,  236. — Several  new  Societies 
e.stablished  in  the  American  States,  237-- Domestic  transactions,  238— Wide 
extent  of  the  Society's  labours,  240 — Assistance  rendered  by  the  Moravian 
brethren  in  North  America,  the  West  Indies,  and  South  Africa,  i.— A  propo- 
sal  to  print  a  "  Harmony"  of  the  Scriptures  rejected,  ib. — Distribution  of 
Bibles  and  Testaments  by  a  Lady,  at  a  seaport,  241. — Grants  to  ti.e  Hiberniaa 
and  Cork  Societies,  and  to  the  Synod  of  Ulster,  ib.  242.— Cr.  Wordsworfh  at- 
tacks  the  Society,  245.— Answered  by  Lord  Teignmouth,247;  and  by  th« 
78 


626  INDEX. 

Rer.  W.  Dealtry,  251.— Conciliatory  pamphlet  of  the  Rev.  W.  Ward,  253.— 
Sixth  Anniversary,  258. — The  Society's  affairs  in  the  East  recover  from  the 
stagnation  they  had  fallen  into,  261. — Declines  connexion  with  Dr.  Bucha- 
nan's "Christian  Institution"  in  India,  264. — Remittances  to  India,  for  pro- 
moting Oriental  translations  of  the  Scriptures,  266,  282,  290. — The  Calcutta 
Corresponding  Committee  formed,  267- — Communications  with  it,  268 — 272. 
Singular  letter  from  a  native  Hindoo,  279. — Proceedings  in  consequence  of  the 
unexpected  tide  of  prosperity  in  India,  280,  313,  390,  493. — Operations  on 
the  Continent  of  Europe,  282,  301,  312,  378,  457—491 — Assists  the  Berlin 
Society  in  printing  the  Polish  Scriptures,  282;  and  in  their  distribution,  301. 
— Promotes  the  formation  of  a  Bible  Committee  at  Konigsberg,  283. — Inqui- 
ries into  the  state  of  the  Scriptures  in  the  Russian  empire,  ib. — Grant  of  mo- 
ney towards  the  establishment  of  a  Bible  Society  in  Livonia,  284. — Progress 
of  the  cause  of  the  Society  in  Germany,  Switzerland,  &c.  285,  312,  378,  457. 
— Distribution  of  Italian  Testaments  at  Malta,  ib. — Successes  in  America,  286, 
319,406. — Domestic  operations,  289 — The  Irish  and  Manks  New  Testaments 
completed,  and  distributed,  ib. — Revenue  Cutters  supplied  with  the  Scrip- 
tures, ib. — Bibles  and  Testaments  sent  to  the  British  prisoners  of  war  ia 
France,  290. — New  Auxiliary  establishments,  290,  321,  414. — Their  activity 
and  usefulness,  292. — Dr.  Wordsworth's  second  attack,  294;  which  produces 
Mr.  Dealtry 's  "  Vindication,"  &c.  ib. — Advantages  produced  to  the  Society 
by  the  controversy,  296,  325. — Various  tributes  of  gratitude  for  the  Society's 
bounty,  297. — Seventh  Anniversary,  298. — Review  of  the  Society's  condition 
at  the  beginning  of  its  eighth  year,  300. — Assists  the  Konigsberg  Committee 
to  distribute  the  Polish  Bibles  printed  by  the  Berlin  Society,  302. — Assists 
the  Evangelical  Society  at  Stockholm,  in  printing  new  editions  of  the  Swedish 
Scriptures,  ib. — Particulars  of  the  Laponese  edition  of  the  New  Testament, 
303. — Memorial  from  Stockholm,  respecting  the  want  of  Bibles  in  Finland, 
ib. — Proceedings  in  consequence,  304. — Assists  at  the  formation  of  a  Bible 
Society  at  Prcsburg,  309,  ct  scq. — Proceedings  in  Malta,  Sicily,  and  the  Greek 
isles,  311. — The  Italian  Testaments  approved  of  by  the  Clergy  of  Messina, 
312. — Operations  in  Germany,  ib. — Prosperity  of  its  concerns  in  India,  313, 
390,  493. — Establishment  of  the  Calcutta  Auxiliary  Society,  317. — Grant  to 
the  establishment,  and  increased  assistance  to  the  Corresponding  Committee, 
319- — Patronage  of  Auxiliary  Societies  in  Great  Britain,  321. — Dr.  Marsh's 
opposition,  334,  352,  568  ;  replied  to,  by  the  Right  Hon.  N.  Vansittart,  335; 
and  by  others,  354,  545. — Organization  of  a  general  plan  for  Auxiliary  and 
Branch  Societies,  and  Associations,  349,  535,  583. — Means  to  procure  a  com- 
petent supply  of  the  Scriptures  circulated  in  various  languages,  349. — French 
Stereotype  Bible  completed,  250. — Copies  of  the  Scriptures  circtilated  in  va- 
rious languages,  351. — New  opposition,  352. — Eighth  Anniversary,  357- — 
Great  cordiality  on  that  occasion,  359. — Dr.  Marsh's  Appendix  to  his  Inquiry, 
363.— His  "  Answer"  to  Mr.  Vansittart's  Second  Letter,  &c.  367.— Dr.  Malt- 
by's  attack,  ib. — Defended  by  Mr.  Cunningham,  368. — Mr.  Otter's  "  Exami- 
nation," &c.  369. — Mr.  SteinkopflTscut  on  a  tour,  to  promote  the  object  of  the 
Society  on  the  continent  of  Europe,  371.— His  success,  and  return,  372. — 
Grant  to  the  Zurich  Society,  378 — Successes  iit  Wurtembcrg,  Saxony,  IIol- 
stein,  and  Swedish  Pomerania,  279. — Case  of  the  German  Roman  Catholics, 
ib. — Grant  for  extending  Professor  Van  Ess's  translation  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment, 380.— Mr.  Putcrson's  jonrney  to  St.  Petersburg,  and  the  institution  of.'* 


INDEX.  627 

Bible  Society  in  that  city,  383.— Farther  proceedings  in  India,  390.— Exer- 
tions on  occasion  of  the  fire  at  Serampore,  393. — Interview  of  the  Committee 
with  Sir  Alexander  Johnston,  relative  to  the  state  of  Christianity  in  Ceylon, 
400 ;  which  leads  to  the  formation  of  an  Auxiliary  Society  at  Colombo,  401. — 
Port  Louis  Auxiliary  Society  for  Mauritius,  Bourbon,  kc.  formed,  404. — The 
Esquimaux  Gospels  printed,  410. — Successes  in  Jamaica,  411. — Domestic  pro- 
ceedings, 414,  et  seq. — City  of  London  Auxiliary  Society  instituted,  427- — 
Increase  of  patronage,  432. — Renewed  hostilities  against  the  Society,  438- 
— Increased  prosperity,  441. — Progress  in  Ireland,  ib. — Ninth  Anniversary, 
442. — Objects  with  which  the  Society  was  occupied  at  the  commencement  of 
its  tenth  year,  443. — Number  of  English  Bibles  and  Testaments  issued  from 
the  Depository,  ib. — Welsh  Bibles,  444- — Gaelic,  Irish,  and  Mauks  Bibles,  ih. 
— Scriptures  in  the  continental  languages,  ib. — Greek  Testaments,  446. — Es- 
quimaux Gospel  of  St.  John,  447- — Ethiopic  Scriptures,  ib. — Syriac  New  Tes- 
tament, 449. — Grant  to  the  Abo  Bible  Society  towards  the  Finnish  Scriptures, 
454. — Assistance  given  to  the  Bdsle  Society,  455. — Transactions  in  Switzer- 
land, ib.;  and  in  Germany, 457- — Grant  to  the  Wurtemberg Bible  Institution, 
ih. — Increased  interest  in  Sweden,  459. — Operations  in  Denmark  and  Ice- 
land, 466, 467. — Proceedings  in  Russia,  471 — Intercourse  with  HoIland,485; 
and  establishment  of  two  Bible  Societies  at  Amsterdam,  486.--rSupplies  of 
Bibles  and  Testaments  sent  to  various  parts  of  Europe,  488,  et  seq. — Sufferers 
by  the  late  war  supplied,  489. — Cordiality  between  the  Catholics  and  Pro- 
testants of  Germany,  in  favour  of  the  Society,  491. — Successes  in  the  East, 
492,  495. — Progress  in  China,  501. — Vote  in  aid  of  Mr.  Morrison's  Chinese 
translation,  502. — Proceedings  in  Africa,  503- — Communications  with  Ame- 
rica, 505 — Grant  to  the  Philadelphia  Society,  for  distributing  French  Tes- 
taments in  Louisiana,  510. — Bibles  and  Testaments  destined  for  Nova  Scotia, 
captured  by  an  American  Privateer,  511. — Generous  conduct  of  the  Massa- 
chusetts Society  on  the  occasion,  ib. — Favourable  disposition  of  the  British 
provinces  of  North  America,  514- — Calumniated  in  America,  but  without 
effect,  ib. — Domestic  prosperity,  516,  529. — Attacked  by  the  Rev.  H.  H.  Nor- 
ris,  and  defended  by  J.  W.  Freshfield,  Esq.  the  Bishop  of  St.  David's,  and  the 
Rev.  W.  Dealtry,  516. — New  Auxiliaries  in  Wales,  524;  and  in  Scotland, 
526,  531 ;  and  in  Ireland,  226. — Juvenile  Associations,  530- — Female  Asso- 
ciations, 532. — Benefits  derived  from  the  increase  and  improvement  of  Asso- 
ciations, &c.  535 — 544. — Increased  scale  of  operations,  544. — The  Dean  of 
Carlisle's  strictures  on  Dr.  Marsh,  545.— Dr.  Marsh's  "  Reply,"  568. — Bibles 
and  Testaments  supplied  to  the  foreign  prisoners  of  war,  returning  home, 
on  the  cessation  of  hostilities,  569. — Tenth  Anniversary,  576. — List  of  the 

President  and  Vice  Presidents,  579. — Treasurer,  Secretaries,  &c.  580. Rules 

for  Auxiliary  Societies,  ib.;  Branch  Societies,  582;  and  Associations,  583. 
— List  of  Auxiliary  and  Branch  Societies  in  the  United  Kingdom  and  adja- 
cent Islands,  585- — Bible  Societies  established  in  foreign  parts,  and  editions 
of  the  Scriptures  purchased  or  printed  by  them,  586. — Editions  of  the  Scrip- 
tures printed  by  the  Society,  588— Issues  of  Bibles  and  Testaments  from 
the  Society's  Depository,  589. — Grants  of  Money,  Bibles,  and  Testaments, 
'6.— Expenditures  during  eleven  years,  590. — Annual  receipts,  &c.  ib. 
Society  for  Promoting  a  more  extensive  Circulation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  both  at 
home  and  abroad,  the  original  title  of  f  hf  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Societv,  1 T.- 


62a 


LNDEX. 


Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  incapable  of  supplying  an  adequate 
number  of  Welsh  Bibles  for  the  Principality,  2 — 5,  7. — Prints  an  edition,  af- 
ter a  delay  of  seven  years,  6. — Account  of  its  plan,  and  result  of  its  labours, 
II. — Lord  Teignmouth's  address  to,  as  President  of  the  British  and  Foreign 
Bible  .Society,  57. — Returns  no  answer,  58. — Complaint  from,  relative  to  the 
appointment  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Charles,  to  revise  the  Welsh  Bible,  73. — 
Another  edition,  of  20,1)00  copies,  resolved  on,  75. — Question  of  rivalry  be- 
tween it  and  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  decided,  104. — Stimulated 
to  augmented  exertions  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  141,  no/e. — 
Hostility  of  a  PARTY  in,  towards  that  Society,  250. 

. for  Promoting  Religious  Knowledge,  its  plan,  12. 

for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,  its  plan,  12. 

— ,  French  Bible,  concise  account  of  its  establishm»»at  and  dissolution,  13. 

,   Missionary,  testiiuony  of  the  Directors  of,  to  the  value  of  the  Chinese 

MS.  of  the  New  Testament  in  the  British  Museum,  48,  note. 

,  Naval  and  Military  Bible,  its  plan,  &;c.  12. — Assisted  by  the  British  and 

Foreign  Bible  Society,  103. 

. for  the  Support  and  Encouragement  of  Sunday  Schools,  its  plan,  &c.  13. 

for  Distributing  Religious  Tracts,   Committee  of,  first  arranges  the  plan, 

which  ultimately  issued  in  the  formation  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, 9,  note. 

, — ._ —  in  Scotland,  for  Propagating  Religious  Knowledge,  its  plan,  &c.  12. — Re- 
solves on  co-operating  with  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  88 — Its 
public  address  on  the  occasion,  89. — A  sub-counnittee  of  Correspondence  ap- 
pointed, ib. — Correspondence  relative  to  Gaelic  Bibles,  107, 159,  189. 

„„ J  Religious,  at  Basle,  54. — See  Basle  and  Nurenberg. 

„ at  Fiihnen,  in  Denmark,  54- — See  Iceland. 

Pro  Fide  ct  Christianismu^  at  Stockholm,  communication  from,  on  the  state 

of  Bibles  in  Sweden,  60 

,  Evangelical,  at  Stockholm,  inslkuted,  137.-_Its  spirited  exertionr-,  231, 

302,  ct  scq . 

Soldier?,  British,  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  297,  351. 

Somerset  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  414,  516. 

South  America,  see  America. 

Southampton  Branch  Society  formed,  435. 

South  Carolina  Bible  Society  formed,  286. 

Southwark  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  427 — Extract  from  its  first  Report, 
541. — Its  numerous  Associations,  539,  540. 

Spanish  Testaments  printed  for  the  use  of  prisoners  of  war,  1 10. 

. ,  printed  and  circulated  by  the  Society,  351,  444,  588. 

New  Testaments  sent  to  iMonte  Video,  192^  and  suppressed  by  the  Roman 

Catholic  Bishop  of  Buenos  Ayres,  ib. 

prisoners  of  war  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  on  returning  to  their  own 

country,  206. 

Spencer,  Earl,  extract  from  his  letter  on  accepting  the  office  of  Vice  President  of 
the  Southwark  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  427. 

Speransky,  His  Excellency  Mr.  304. 

Spry,  Rev.  J.  H.  extract  from  his  "  Inquiry  into  the  claims  of  the  British  and  Fo- 
reign Bible  Society."  112. 


INDEX.  g29 

Staffordshire  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  343— Extract  from  its  Report,  348. 

Stainforth,  R.  Esq.  34. 

Stanhope,  Earl,  his  improvement  of  stereotype  printing",  55. 

Stara  Russa,  Bishop  of,  accepts  an  appointment  as  member  of  the  St.  Petersburg 
Bible  Society,  481. 

Staunton,  Sir  G.  on  the  state  of  religion  in  China,  and  the  value  of  the  Chinese  MS- 

of  the  New  Testament  in  the  British  Museum,  48 His  testimony  to  Mr. 

Morrison's  Chinese  translation,  501,  note, 

Steiuheil,  Count,  304,  454. 

Steinkopff,  Rev.  C.  I'.  A.  tenders  his  services  to  promote  the  design  of  circulating 
the  Scriptures  on  the  Continent,  10— Impression  made  by  his  speech  at  the 
■  general  meeting  for  the  formation  of  the  British  aud  Foreign  Bible  Society, 
23.— Appointed  one  of  its  Secretaries,  29— Obligations  of  the  Society  to  his 
exertions  in  procuring  foreign  communications,  45,  47,  468,  580— Unfair  re- 
port of  his  speech  at  the  formation  of  the  Cambridge  Auxiliary  Society,  364. 
—His  tour  to  the  Continent,  370— Projects  the  Wurtenburg  Bible  Society, 
457 —His  visit  to  Gothenburg,  462}  and  to  Altona,  489. 

Stephen,  James,  Esq.  34. 

Stephens,  Rev.T.  Registrar  to  the  Bishop  of  Sodor  and  Man,  289. 

Stereotype  printing  improved  and  brought  to  perfection  by  Earl  Stanhope  and  Mr, 
A.  Wilson,  55. — Proves  of  great  advantage  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
.Society  in  promoting  its  views,  ib.  56 — First  applied  to  the  Holy  Scriptures 
by  the  Society,  102. 

Steven,  Robert,  Esq.  3i. 

Stewart,  Rev.  James,  translates  part  of  the  New  Testament  into  Gaelic,  108. 

Stirlingshire  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  526. 

Stockholm  Evangelical  Society  established,  197— Its  spirited  exertions,  231,  301, 
et  seq. — .See  Society  pro  Fide,  &c. 

. Bible  Society,  373,  451.— Bibles  and  Testaments  distributed  by,  586. 

Stockport  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  423. 

Stocktou-upon-Tces  ditto,  424. 

Stourbridge  ditto,  424. 

Strasburg  Bible  Society,  586. 

Stratton,  G.  F.  Esq.  promotes  the  institution  of  the  Oxford  Auxiliary  Bible  Society, 
522. 

Stroud  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  423- 

Stnttgardt,  letter  from,  expressive  of  the  joy  with  which  the  news  of  the  establish- 
ment of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  was  received  in  Germany,  60. 

Bible  Institution,  457. 

Sub  Committees  for  various  purposes,  appointed,  47,  48 One  for  Oriental  trans- 
lations of  the  Scriptures,  52. 

Subscriptions  and  donations,  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  by  whom 
received,  580. 

Sufferers  by  the  Continental  war  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  489. 

Suffolk  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  329. 

Sundius,  Christopher,  Esq.  19,  34,  47,  148. 

Sungskreet,  see  Sanscrit. 

Surrey  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  414. 

Sussex,  His  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of,  433,  434,  442. 


630  '^'^^*- 

Swabia,  cjommunication  from  a  Roman  Catholic  Clergyman  in,  62.— One  thousand 
New  Testaments  ordered  for  his  distribution,  65,  91. 

Swansea  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  290,  291,  292. 

Sweden,  inquiry  into  the  state  of  the  Scriptures  in,  60 — Success  of  the  views  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  in,  197,  231 —Extract  of  a  letter  from  the 
Royal  Chancery  of,  expressive  of  the  satisfaction  of  the  King,  at  what  had 
been  done  for  promoting  Christianity  among  the  Laponese,  303. — Effect 
of  the  Society's  exertions  upon  the  population  of,  428. — Distribution  of  Bibles 
in,  by  Dr.  Brunnmark,  488. — ^Tribute  of  gratitude  from  a  pastor  and  his 
flock,  ib. 

Swedes  in  Great  Britain  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  445. 

Swedish  Bibles  and  Testaments  printed  by  the  Evangelical  Society  at  Stockholm, 
302,  586.— Great  demand  for  them,  302— See  also  443. 

, Bible  Society  instituted,  586. 

Lutheran  Church  in  London,  extract  from  an  "  Address  of  the  President,'' 

&c.  445. 

Switzerland,  a  correspondence  with,  begun,  53. — Early  success  of  the  British  and 
foreign  Bible  Society  in,  59.— Progress  of  the  views  of  the  Society  in,  285, 
455.— Mr.  Steinkopff'a  visit  to,  377.— The  interdiction  of  reading  the  Scrip- 
tures removed  by  the  late  Catholic  Vicar-General,  457. 

Syriac  version  of  the  Scriptures,  449. 


Taraul  translation  of  the  Scriptures,  269,  273, 276, 277,  290,  314,  492. 

Tanjore,  state  of  religion  in,  167.— A  printing-press,  types,  paper,  &c.  sent  to  the 
Missionaries  at,  for  the  Tamul  Scriptures,  281,  290.— Distribution  of  Tamul 
and  Portuguese  Scriptures  at,  314. 

Tarn,  Mr.  Joseph,  concerned  in  the  measures  preparatory  to  the  formation  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  9.— Appointed  Assistant  Secretary,  30.— 
Noticed,  432,  580. 

Tartar  translation  of  the  Scriptures,  154, 156. 

version  of  St.  Luke's  Gospel,  587. 

Tavistock  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  424. 

Tchernegoff,  Greek  Archbishop  of,  his  zeal  in  promoting  the  interest  of  the  St. 
Petersburg  Bible  Society,  480. 

Teignmouth,  Right  Hon.  Lord,  an  early  promoter  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
Society,  32— Becomes  its  President,  35— His  letter  on  the  proposed  edition 
of  the  Welsh  Bible,  and  the  pretensions  of  the  Society  for  Promoting  Chris- 
tian Knowledge,  76 — Defends  the  Society  against  Mr.  Twining's  attack,  185. 

Replies  to  Dr.  Wordsworth's  attack,  247-— Presides  at  the  formation  of  an 

Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  434. 

Telinga  translation  of  the  Scriptures,  265,  270. 

Temple,  Earl,  321,346. 

Tennessee,  increased  demand  for  Bibles  in,  511,  vate. 

Terrott,  Rev.  W.  opens  a  connexion  between  the  Society  and  Malta,  285. 

Teulon,  Miss,  a  Juvenile  Association  formed  by  the  young  ladies  of  her  School  at 
Hackney,  530. 

Thaeher,  Rev.  S.  extract  from  his  letter  on  occasion  of  the  capture  of  the  Bibles  and 
Testaments  destined  for  Nova  Scotia,  512. 


INDEX.  g3j 

Theodosian  Bible  Society,  587. 

Thomason,  Rev.  T.  267,  319,  392— Succeeds  the  Rev.  D.  Brown,  as  Secretary  to 

the  Calcutta  Society,  396. 
Thompson,  Rev.  Mr.  278.— On  the  reception  of  the  Malayalim  Gospela  among  the 

natives  of  Malabar,  494,  note. 
Thorkelin,  Mr.  Justiciary,  125. 

'i'hornton,  H.  Esq.  first  treasurer  to  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  38,  580. 
Thuringia  Bible  Society  instituted,  586. 

Tindale  Ward  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  424.— Extract  from  its  first  Re- 
port, 541. 
Tiverton  Branch  Society  formed,  529. 
Tolfrey,  William,  Esq.  497. 
Tranquebar,  letters  to  the  .Missionaries  at,  from  his  late  Majesty,  King  George  I. 

178.— Distribution  of  Tamul  and  Portuguese  Scriptures  at,  314. 
Translations  of  various  portions  of  the  Scriptures  into  the  Mohawk  language,  66. 

of  the  Scriptures  into  Welsh,  73—79;  Gaelic,  107,  108,   164,'  189  • 

Tartar  dialect,  131.  ' 

,  Oriental,  143,  15Q. 

,  Malayalim,  167. 

Transport  Board,  its  readiness  to  facilitate  the  operations  of  the  Society,  290. 
Travancore,  .Syrian  Churches  in,  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  250— Anecdote  ol 

a  Nayr  of,  494. 
Trent,  council  of,  see  Council. 

Take,  Mr.  Henry,  his  speech  at  the  formation  of  the  York  Auxiliary  Bible  Society 
342.  ' 

Tweddell,  Rev.  Robert,  227, 229. 

Twining,  Thomas,  Esq.  his  pamphlet  against  the  exertions  of  the  British  and  Fo  ■ 
reign  Bible  Society  in  India,  169— Declines  his  promised  motion  in  the  CouM 
of  East  India  Proprietors,  181— Answered  by  Lord  Teignmouth,  185. 
Twisleton,  Hon.  and  Rev.  493,  496. 
Tyrolese,  the,  supplied  with  the  l^ew  Testament  in  their  own  language,  330. 


Valentia,  Viscount,  448. 

Valpy,  Rev.  Dr.  211. 

Vandersmissens,  Messrs.  489,  nolc. 

Van  Diemen's  Land,  the  British  settlers,  &c.  there  supplied  with  the  Scriptures, 

135.— Acknowledgment  from  Governor  Collins,  136. 
Van  Ess,  Rev.  Leander,  his  translation  of  the  New  Testament,  380. 

Vansittart,RightHon.  Nicholas,  369, 579.— His  Answer  to  Dr.  Marsh's  "Address," 
&c.  335  ;  and  to  the  same  writer's  "  Inquiry,"  354,  356  -His  services  in  pro- 
niotmg  the  object  of  the  Society  in  Russia,  386,  rto^e.- Extracts  from  his 
speech  at  the  formation  of  the  City  of  London  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  429, 
541.-Extract  from  his  letter  to  John  Cokcr,  Esq.  435,  Ho/e— Singular  reali- 
zation of  his  warning  to  Professor  Marsh,  438  -Reference  to  his  «  Three  Let- 
ters on  the  subject  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,''  520. 

Venn,  Rev.  John,  extract  from  his  introductory  Address,  on  the  formation  of  the 
Clapham  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  426. 

Versions  of  the  Holy  Scriptures,  a  library  of,  instituted  for  (he  use  of  the  British 
and  Foreign  Bible  Society.  71 


632       -  ^^^^ 

Vidalin,  Ion,  Sheriff  of  South  Mule  Syssel,  in  Iceland,  extract  fiom  his  letter  to 

the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Societj-,  470. 
Vice  Presidents  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  list  of,  579. 
VietiiighoiT,  Baron,  476. 
Vincent,  Rev.  Dr.  250,  530. 
Virginia  Bible  Society  formed,  508. — Extracts  from  its  public  Address,  ih. 


Udney,  George,  Esq.  55,  267- 

Ukase  of  the  Emperor  Alexander,  in  favour  of  the  St.  Petersburg  Bible  Society, 

387. 
Ulster,  a  Bible  Committee  instituted  by  the  Synod  of,  190. — Grant  to,  ih. 
United  Netherlands,  see  Amsterdam. 

States  of  America,  number  of  Bible  Societies  in,  588. — See  America. 

Usko,  Pvev.  J.  F.  159,204,  451. 

Uttoxeter  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  291. 

Uxbridge,  Earl  of,  414. 

Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  414. 


Wagner,  Anthony,  Esq.  34. 

Wald,  Rev.  Dr.  124. 

Wales,  scarcity  of  Bibles  in,  first  occasion  of  the  British  ajul  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety, 2 — Various  extracts  from  letters,  &c.  relative  to,  3 — 5,  7. — Extraordi- 
nary exertions  of  the  inhabitants  of,  in  favour  of  the  Society,  85. — Increase 
of  Auxiliary  Bible  Societies  in,  414,  525,  530. — Their  number,  585. — See 
Welsh  Bibles. 

—- ,  Her  Royal  Highness  the  Princess  of,  321. 

,  New  South,  supplies  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to,  135,  189. — Convicts  em- 
barked for,  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  351. 

Wall,  Charles  Baring,  Esq.  531,  noic. 

Ward,  Rev.  W.  53,  267,  326. — His  conciliatory  pamphlet,  on  occasion  of  Dr. 
Wordsworth's  attack  upon  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  253. 

Waring,  Major  Scott,  endeavours  to  procure  the  expulsion  of  the  Society's  agents 
from  India,  179. — Better  informed  of  the  object  of  the  Society,  he  becomes 
friendly  to  it,  182. 

Warren,  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Bishop  of  Bangor,  promotes  the  object  and  interest  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  in  Wales,  84. 

Warrington  Branch  Society  formed,  291. 

Warsaw,  a  supply  of  Polish  Bibles  sent  to,  301. 

Warwickshire  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  291. 

Wearmouth,  Bishop,  do.  291. 

Welling'ton,  (Somerset)  do.  423. 

Wells,  Very  Rev.  the  Dean  of,  see  Ryder. 

Welsh  Bibles,  scarcity  of,  occasions  the  rise  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  So- 
ciety,  2. — A  new  edition  printed  by  the  Society  for  Promoting  Ciiristian 
Knowledge,  6  ;  but  insutTioient  to  answer  the  demand  for  them,  7. — Proposal 
u>r  another  edition,  by  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  8,  47,  55.  .56, — 


INDEX.  ^33 

Unpleasant  discussion  relative  to  the  choice  of  the  text,  73 — 79. The  New 

Testament  completed,  137 ;  and  received  with  great  demonstrations  of  joy 

by  the  peasantry,  /ft.— Another  impression,  203. — Distribution  of,   239. 

Number  of,  printed  by  the  Society,  588. 
VVesleyan  Methodists,  liberal  contributions  from,  217- 
Westeras  Bible  Society  formed,  460,  586.— Copy  of  its  Address  to  the  President 

of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  461. 
West  Indies,  Bibles  and  Testaments  sent  to,  for  the  use  of  the  Negroes,  298,  351. 
West  Lothian  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  291. 
Westmania  Bible  Society  formed,  459. 
West. Death,  Countess  of,  532. 
Westminster,  Very  Rev.  Dean  of,  530. 

■ Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  424,  427,  434. 

Ladies'  Bible  Association  formed,  532. 

West  Renfrewshire,  see  Greenock. 
Weymouth  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  291. 

Whitbread,  Samuel,  Esq.  extract  from  his  speech  at  the  formation  of  the  Bedford 
and  Bedfordshire  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  323 ;  and  at  that  of  the  Westmin- 
ster Auxiliary,  435. 
Whitby,  Rev.  Thomas,  extract  from  his  speech  at  the  formation  of  the  Stafford- 
shire Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  344. 
White,  Right  Rev.  Bishop,  his  address  to  the  Philadelphia  Female  Bible  Associa- 
tion, 533. 
Wied  Runckel,  see  New-Wied. 

Wilberforce,  W.  Esq.  promotes  the  formation  of  a  Society  lor  distributing  the 
Scriptures,  10. — Influence  of  his  speech  at  the  se'^ud  general  meeting  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  33. — Apr^mted  on  the  Committee,  34. — 
Becomes  a  Vice  President,  38, 579. 
Wilson,  Mr.  Andrew,  his  improvement  oi  Stereotype  printing,  55. 

,  Joseph,  Esq.  34- 

,  Right  Rev.  Bishop,  extract  from  his  Address  to  an  unknown  benefactress, 

441. 

,  William,  Esq.  High  Sheriff  of  Oxfordshire,  523. 

Wilts  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  414. 

Windsor,  failure  of  an  attempt  at,  to  form  an  Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  531,wo/e. 

Wingard,  Right  Rev.  Dr.  Bishop  of  Gothenburg,  462. 

,  Professor,  463. 

Wisby  Bible  Society,  see  Gothland. 

Wittman,  Rev.  Mr.  Director  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Seminary  at  Ratisbon,  publishes 
an  address  to  Christians  of  the  Roman  Catholic  persuasion,  in  favour  of  Bible 
Institutions,  91,  381. 
Wolff,  George,  Esq.  19,  34,  471,  note. 

Wolga,  German  colonists  on  the,  supplied  with  Bibles,  131,  201. 
Woodford  and  South- West  Essex  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  424,  425- 
Woolwich,  supplies  of  the  Scriptures  sent  to  the  convicts  at,  141. 
Worcestershire  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  424. 

Wordsworth,  Rev.  Dr.  his  attack  upon  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  II2, 
213, 245, 325.— Extract  from  his  "  Reasons,"  &c.  246.— Reply  to  Lord  Teign- 
mouth,  247. — His  second  attack  upon  the  Society,  294. — Answered  by  Mr. 
Dealtry,  ft.— Etiloginm  on  his  character,  296 
79 


634  i^DEX. 

Workhouses  supplied  with  the  Scriptures,  141,  206,  351. 

Woronege  Bible  Society  instituted,  587. 

Wurteaiberg,  success  of  the  Society  in,  379-— See  Stuttgardt. 

— Bible  Institution  formed,  457. — Number  of  Bibles  and  Testauaents 

distributed  by,  586. 
Wycomb,  High,  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  formed,  539. 
Wynne,  Sir  W.  W.  414, 525. 

,  C.  W.  Esq.  525. 

Wyttenbach,  Rev.  Mr.  54. 

Y. 

Yarmouth,  Earl  of,  321. 

YaroslaflT  Bible  Committee  formed,  478,  587. 

Yeoland,  George,  Esq.  285. 

York,  H's  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of,  433. 

,  Her  Royal  Highness  the  Dutchess  of,  530. 

Auxiliary  Bible  Society,  321,  345,  424. 

Juvenile  Bible  Association,  the  first  regular  establisbraeut  of  its  kind,  531. 

Subsidiary  Bible  Association,  531. 

Yorkc,  Rev.  Philip,  246, 326. 
Young,  Professor  of  Heidelberg,  54. 


Zante,  Greek  Testament,,  sent  to,  351,  446. 

Zay,  Baroness  De,  promotes \he  formation  of  the  Hungarian  Bible  Society,  310. 

Zealand,  Right  Rev.  Bishop  of,  tvtract  from  his  letter,  announcing  the  formation 

of  the  Danish  Bible  Society,  467. 
Zurich  Bible  Society,  377,  455,  457.— Number  of  Bibles  and  Testaments  issued 

by,  586. 


THE  END 


BISHOP  HOENE'S  WORKS. 


JAMES  EASTBURN  h  CO. 

AT  THE  LITERARY  ROOMS,  CORNER  OF  BROADWAY  AND 
PINE-STREET,  NEW- YORK, 

PROPOSE    TO    PUBLISH    BY    SUBSCRIPTION, 
THE 

WORKS 

OF   THE 

RIGHT  REV.  GEORGE  HORJVE^D.D. 

LATE  LORD  BISHOP  OF  NORWICH. 

TO    WHICH    ARE    ADDED, 

MEMO  I  R  S 

OF   HIS 

LIFE,  STUDIES,  AND  WRITINGS. 

BF  WILLIAM  JOJ^ES,  M.  A.  F.  B,  S. 

ONE  OF  HIS  LORDSHIP'S  CHAPLAINS,  AND  LONG  HIS  MOST  INTIMATE 
AND  CONFIDENTIAL  FRIEND. 

i.  This  Work  shall  be  comprised  in  Three  Volumes,  octavo,  which  is  one-half  less 
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press  as  soon  as  a  sufficient  number  of  Subscribers  have  been  received. 

For  the  recommendations  of  the  Bishops  6f  the  Episcopal  Church  of  the  United 
States,  -we  refer  to  our  Circulars.  Should  the  works  of  Bishop  Home  meet  with 
success,  i.  E.  &  Co.  intend  to  issue  proposals  for  those  of  his  distinguished  Friend, 
the  Rev.  William  Jones  of  Nayland. 


Kew  Evang^blical  JMagaziwe. 


JAMES  EASTBURN  &  CO. 

AT    THE    LITERARY    ROOMS,    CORNER    OF    BROADWAY 

AND    PINE-STREET,    NEW-YORK, 

PROroSE  TO  PUBLISH  BY  SUBSCRIPTION, 

THE 

EVANGELICAL  GUARDIAN 

^aj^n  REVIEW. 

CONDUCTED  BY  AN  ASSOCIATION  OF  CLERGYMEN 
IN  NEW-YORK. 

X  HE  work  shall  be  entitled  "The  Evangelical  Guardian  and  Review," 

Conducted  by  an  Association  of  Clergymen  in  New- York. 

It  shall  be  devoted  to  the  interests  of  Sacred  Truth ;  to  the  propagation,  support, 
defence,  and  application  of  the  Doctrines  of  the  Christian  Relig^ioii,  which  are  so 
admirably  expressed  in  those  forms  of  sound  words,  the  Belgic  and  the  Westmin- 
ster Confessions  of  Faith,  and  the  Westminster  and  the  Heidelberg  Catechisms. 

The  contents  of  the  work  shall  bfe  parity  original.  Essays  on  the  prominent 
Truths  of  God's  Word  ;  Addresses  to  the  heart  and  conscionce,  founded  on  those 
Truths  -,  Brblieai  Criticisms ;  Reflections  on  Remarkable  Providences ;  and  Obi- 
tuary Notices  of  Eminent  Christians,  shall  be  inserted. 

Its  contents  shall  be  partly  selected.  It  is  intended,  in  those  selections,  to  use 
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who  now  sleep  in  Jesus,  but  who  yet  speak  to  us  in  their  writings.  It  is  contem- 
plated to  prepare  and  introduce  Translations  from  Standard  Authors  of  Treatises 
or  of  Sermonsy  written  in  the  Latin,  in  the  French,  in  the  German,  or  in  the  Dutch 
Language. 

In  its  pages  may  be  expected  Biographical  Sketches,  Portions  of  Ecclesiastical 
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Denominations.     Some  of  these  articles  will  be  original,  and  others  will  be  selected. 

It  shall  contain  also  Religious  Intelligence,  both  Domestic  and  Foreign ;  and 
Reviews  of  Modern  Publications  on  Theological  Subjects. 

Such  is  the  outline  of  the  work ;  and  hence  its  design  is  manifest.  It  is  to  in- 
culcate important  Truths;  it  is  to  resist  Errors,  however  imposing  and  however 
disguised ;  it  is  to  pay  a  tribute  to  the  memory  of  eminent  Christians ;  it  is  to 
spread  the  knowledge  of  the  gracious  acts  of  the  Lord  which  he  is  performing  in 
our  day  ;  it  is,  in  all,  and  by  all,  to  bring  glory  to  JEEIOVAH. 


NETT  WORKS. 

AS     CONTRIBUTORS     TO     THE     WORK,      THB     FOLLOWING     PERSONS     ARE 
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Rev.D,,PMlipMilledoler,  Hev.  James  31.  Matheu,s, 

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Rev.  Dr.  Alexander  M^Leod,  R^v.  Robert  B.  E  M'Leod 

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AND    A    NUMBER    OF    OTHERS. 

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under  the  direction  of  the  Association.  ^^' 

The  work  shall  be  published  iu  Numbers,  containing  forty-eight  pages  each  in 
an  octavo  for.:  and  shall  appear  in  the  early  part  of  eve 'y  inth'  The  p^  " 
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tT:;:;  ";r  ''^""'"^^ ''-'- ''"--'''-'  -*"  ^^  -^^^-^  - "  wi 

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IKT  PRESS. 

AN  INQUIRY  INTO  THE  EFFECT  OF  BAPTISM,  according  to  the  sense 
of  Holy  Scripture,  aud  of  the  Church  of  England:  in  Answer  to  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Mant's  Two  Tracts  on  Regeneration  and  Conversion,  circulated  with  the  last 
annual  packet  of  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge.  By  the  Rev. 
John  Scott,  M.  A.  Vicar  of  North  Ferriby  ;  Lecturer  in  the  Holy  Trinity  Church, 
Hull,  and  a  Member  of  the  above-named  Society.  Together  with  an  Appendix 
from  the  Christian  Observer. 

PREPARING  FOR    PUBLICATION  BY  SUBSCRIPTION. 

THE  WORKS  OF  JOHN  OWEN,  D.  D.  to  be  edited  by  John  B.  Romeyn, 
D.  D,  and  Alexander  M'Leod,  D.  D. 

A  DICTIONARY  of  all  Religions  and  Religious  Denominations,  Jewish,  Hea- 
then, Mahometan,  and  Christian,  ancient  and  modern,  with  an  Appendix,  contain- 
ing a  sketch  of  the  present  state  of  the  world  as  to  Population,  Religion,  Toleration* 
Missions,  &c.  and  the  articles  in  which  all  Christian  Denominations  agree.  By 
Hannah  Adams.  Prove  all  things — holdfast  that  which  is  good. — Apostle  Paul. 
Fourth  edition,  with  corrections,  and  large  additions. 

JAMES  EASTBURN  ^  CO.  have  also  constantly  for  sale,  a  great  variety 
of  Theological  Works  ;  and  they  expect  very  soon  an  extensive  collection  of  Scarce 
and  Valuable  Books  from  Europe,  both  Classical  and  Theological,  and  in  various 
languages. 


M'  * 


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